Note for the ones who can't make a difference between trolling and a serious discussion: this is a serious discussions, I am waiting for arguments, and for a valid reason, I am not going to say "nuu it is useless !!1!1!" (and I never did something like that).

So yeah, tablets are everywhere, yet I don't understand why. I'll explain here why I don't see the point of them, and of course, I hope the discussion won't stop here. I don't say "why" in a rhetorical manner, expecting a "no reason", I'd like reasons.

• So when you are at home, you have a computer (we are talking about people who can afford a tablet, I guess they all have a computer at home), so your tablet is useless since when you need to browse the internet, you can use your computer. An argument in favor of tablets would be that you can use it in any room. But that is the same with laptops. And even if you only have a desktop, I think that walking 10 meters is not a big loss when you can get a keyboard instead of a touchscreen.
• When you are outside, you have a smartphone (not everyone has, but again, I am talking about people who can afford a tablet). An argument in favor of tablets could be the size of the screen, which is much more convenient to browse the web. But that is a lot less convenient to carry in a pocket than a smartphone, and if you have enough space to carry a tablet, why not a laptop which has a large screen too, and a keyboard moreover ?

So the question is, is there something I missed about tablets so that "everyone" buys them ?

I don't get it much either, but I think one of the main selling points is the touchscreen. Sure, there are laptops with touchscreens (even ones that have the keyboard come off) but it's kind of awkward switching between keyboard and screen, and what's the point of buying a switcher if you aren't going to use the keyboard half the time? Seems like it's either full laptop or full tablet for most people, unless they go out and buy a Surface or something.
For the record, I've yet to see a Surface IRL, and this area's pretty densely populated

From what I've seen around my house, tablets are mostly used for their games. Laptops/computers are more of a 'serious business' sort of a thing (except for large, graphics-card-requiring games, but there's not many around this house), where one could do better with a typical, often quicker physical keyboard/mouse combo.

Also, tablets are lighter than laptops, so that's a point I guess?

To me it's just another portable gadget to play with. For others I'd guess:

-People think they are easier to use than a PC.
-Usually they have larger screen than phones.
-Angry Birds, and other portable gaming.
-Watching videos/ internet/ebooks/social media etc.
-More portable than a laptop?
-The convience, (they do boot up awful fast).
-To be Trendy

I have a small one (more of a media player), but I hardly ever use it. I either have my shitty phone or sometimes a laptop with me. Oh, and I've no idea why someone would use one at home. If I'm in my room I use the PC. If I'm in the den, I can use my laptop. I guess they're kind of middle ground between a laptop and a phone and some people find them convenient and cool. and I guess if you didn't have a laptop you might use it at home for convenience.

As I said: it boils down to this:
People want to feel fucking sophisticated when they bring over their new iPad to Starbucks.

Agree, that is a large part of it for many. Also: many of them have keyboard attachments that prop the screen up essentially making them a netbook...

I guess people get them because they feel smartphones are too weak, hardware-wise, but find laptops too big.

I personally never felt like carrying a computer that can't fit in my pocket everywhere I go, because i like to keep my hands free, so I prefer a smartphone.

Just get a Samsung Galaxy Note or something if you want a powerful phone. They are almost tablets, due to their size.

* They boot up faster than laptops or desktop PC's. People always leave their tablet on standby, so it starts up in an instant.

Not if you use a SSD. Also, nothing prevents you from leaving your netbook on standby, so that argument doesn't only apply to tablets.

* To play candy crush

That game could run on half a z80.

I don't get it much either, but I think one of the main selling points is the touchscreen. Sure, there are laptops with touchscreens (even ones that have the keyboard come off) but it's kind of awkward switching between keyboard and screen, and what's the point of buying a switcher if you aren't going to use the keyboard half the time? Seems like it's either full laptop or full tablet for most people, unless they go out and buy a Surface or something.
For the record, I've yet to see a Surface IRL, and this area's pretty densely populated

I've seen a Surface IRL. It is more a PC with a detachable keyboard and a touchscreen than a tablet.

From what I've seen around my house, tablets are mostly used for their games. Laptops/computers are more of a 'serious business' sort of a thing (except for large, graphics-card-requiring games, but there's not many around this house), where one could do better with a typical, often quicker physical keyboard/mouse combo.

Well, "large, graphics-card-requiring games" usually are the best games. I agree that spending 2000€ just for that can be hard, but in my opinion, spending 300€ to play JetPack JoyRide on a tablet is not a smarter move since it runs on your calc.

According to some research I read recently, tablets are almost exclusively used to check mails and post on facebook. And therefore, they are entirely useless in my book, thanks to lack of a proper keyboard. Maybe that will change when tablets with flexible softscreens that can form keys are introduced next year. But until then, they're just overpriced gadgets that people buy because of peer pressure and advertisement hype.

Also, the point about them having more processing power is kinda invalid, thanks to tablet OSes being bloated and inefficient. Heck, when the Ipad came out it couldn't even multitask. How ridiculous.

Well yeah, this is why I was wondering why there were a hit. I was thinking that I might have missed an interesting point about tablets.

I guess people get them because they feel smartphones are too weak, hardware-wise, but find laptops too big.

But tablets are not any more powerful than smartphones. I have yet to hear about an octo-core tablet while the S4 exists in an octo-core version.

I personally never felt like carrying a computer that can't fit in my pocket everywhere I go, because i like to keep my hands free, so I prefer a smartphone.

Just get a Samsung Galaxy Note or something if you want a powerful phone. They are almost tablets, due to their size.

I completely agree with that, and what you say about the inconvenience of computers applies to tablets too.

A samsung galaxy note is a tablet, not a smartphone (or at least, there are tablets that are called samsung galaxy note)

I don't know about Note tablets, but Galaxy Note is also the name of a smartphone.

An other argument for tablets is that they have tons of free or cheap games, that are very easy to download and install.

Free and cheap games are usually not the best ones. I don't say "they are all crap" but the best ones usually are paid. Moreover, there could be stores with free and cheap games for PCs too.

Finally, an other important factor may be that you can get them for free in a lot of places.

Bring me to one of those places lol. I have never heard of such a thing (I don't say "LIES !", I just say that if that happened in France, there was not much advertising about it).

Oh, and by the way, they are useful to have an even surface to move the mouse on when your using your laptop while sitting in the couch (yes, I did that once).

Lol.

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So here are the "arguments" in favor of tablets I'll remember so far (I didn't include repetitions).

People want to feel fucking sophisticated when they bring over their new iPad to Starbucks.

Also, tablets are lighter than laptops, so that's a point I guess?

Further, there's the battery life. Most laptops have a very crappy battery that only manages to power it for an hour or two, while a tablet can often last a lot longer witouth needing a recharge. This makes it very suitable to use it in a train, bus, boat,...

And for the touch screen, it makes it look and feel more modern, and it makes the device a lot more user-friendly. Even very young children (from 4-5 years) can use a tablet because of it's touch screen.

If you have other arguments coming to your mind, please share !

Oh, and by the way, they are useful to have an even surface to move the mouse on when your using your laptop while sitting in the couch (yes, I did that once).

This. Though usually I end up using on of those huge hardback Dr. Seuss books, and those are bigger anyway