Trying to Decide: Windows Laptop or Windows Tablet?

[golf nut]

I am trying to decide on a laptop or a tablet as a second "PC" for my family - right now I just have a desktop in my office. Here is my list of wants:

• 
  - Portable (not a 17" laptop) - thinking 12" to 14" screen size
  - Windows (wife not ready to learn Mac)
  - Wifi or corded internet access is fine - no cellular data requirement
  - Large enough internal storage to offload pictures from camera memory cards when on vacation
  - Touch screen
  - HD display
  - Ability to run Photoshop to work on Canon 7D RAW files if needed

Will a tablet like the Surface Pro 3 do the trick, or do I need something more powerful?

Sorry if this is a noob thread, I'm probably way behind the times. Thanks in advance for your patience and your thoughts!

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

For me, no optical reader/writer would definitely be a deal breaker. So that rules out all tablets and most (maybe all) netbooks.

 

[velo3100]

It depends on what you do in photoshop as it can be very demanding on the gpu which tablets are not made to do. If it is simple image editing then a tablet. Also remember that tablets have less storage space which means you have less space to store you images.

But if it complex image editing then a laptop is preferred.

 

[Voarkin]

The Surface Pro 3 is a great option! Not only because it is portable, but because of its RAM and i5 or i7 options for processors please do not be fooled, it is a full on laptop or ultra-book rather without a keyboard. The Surface Pro 3 also offers the ability to get a home dock, so when you do go home, drop it on and it has your favorite keyboard, mouse, and monitor hooked up. Also, as Phillip commented, it does not have a optical drive. This can or may not be a problem, there are many drives on the market that are "Slim Drives" powered off the USB port, but that is another part and cord you would have to carry with you.

 

[golf nut]

I doubt I would need an optical drive (CD/DVD/Blu-Ray) for this device. And the image editing I would be doing is simple Camera Raw adjustments, maybe a layer or two, and then converting to JPEG. Maybe the occasional HDR or panoramic stitching, but nothing crazy. I am not a pro photog.

My guess is a 256GB or 512 GB SSD is going to be plenty for what I need. It will be more of a media consumption device, than a media creation device...

 

[velo3100]

Then the sfp3 is perfect for you.