Posted on 7th Oct 2011 @ 2:02 PM

When it comes to ergonomics, you're probably best off working at an old-fashioned desktop computer. You know, like the kind the pilgrims used, with the usual ergonomic setup: monitor at or below eye level, keyboard and mouse tray, ergonomic chair with plenty of back support. Still, with the mobile workforce increasing every day, we're doing more and more work on portable computers. So which is better for your poor, overworked joints -- tablets or notebooks? Let's look at the evidence:

Tablets:

• It’s lighter than notebooks, and thus easier on your shoulder while traveling.
• Viewing angle is less than ideal, without accessories. By itself, requires the user to place the tablet on a horizontal surface and crane her neck at an awkward angle to view, or to hold the tablet in one hand and scroll with the other. Neither option is very ergonomic.
• Without an external keyboard and mouse, you're asking for wrist and shoulder problems. Think of the cramping you get in your thumb from overusing your smartphone and multiply that by however many hours you'd use a tablet as a computer substitute. It's not pretty.

Notebooks:

• Even the lightest notebook will likely be heavier than most tablets … but there are some pretty great thin and light models out there, for example, the Apple MacBook Air, which is small enough to fit in an interoffice envelope. (Although we don't recommend that for storage.)
• Viewing angle is significantly better than the tablet, in that users don't have to hold their necks at a 45 degree angle to see the screen, but it still isn't the recommended distance or angle from users' eyes. Also, laptops, like all portable computing devices, encourage typing from the couch or guest chairs at the DMV -- not the best ergonomic situation.
• They offer a hard keyboard, which is better than touchscreen keypads, but still isn't as easy on the wrists as a separate keyboard on a tray.

Verdict: The notebook is still the better option, ergonomically speaking, for a long-term desktop replacement. However, companies should encourage their workers to work at a desk as much as possible and to observe ergonomic guidelines.