Peter Nowak wrote a blog post on the Canadian Business website discussing the shift from laptops to tablets in Universities. With a greater number of affordable tablets currently in the market, like the new iPad Mini, this option is becoming more appealing to students. In fact, there may be a noticeable increase in tablet popularity before the end of this school year. A recent survey conducted at the University of British Columbia showed that around 15% of students have tablets. 60% said they would be getting one within the next year. This is not so hard to believe with the holidays just around the corner.

I personally have not seen a single student around campus using anything but a laptop to take notes and do research. Owning an iPad myself, I have never considered using it to do my work with. I would consider it if I had an attachable keyboard, but in that case I may as well have a sleek ultrabook. Despite this, it would be a lie to say there aren’t advantages. Tablets are a lot smaller and more mobile. With eBooks, they also have the potential to eventually eliminate textbooks. This looming trend shift just depends on the majority of individual preferences.