Back in the day, tables were how everyone dived. Today, nearly all scuba divers dive with a personal dive computer and they should.
Your computer calculates depth, time, ascent rate, and NDL in real-time. Tables can't do that. If you change depth partway through, a computer adjusts. A table can't.
Watch-style computers are what most people use these days. They're compact, readable underwater, and you'll wear them as a daily watch as well. Hose-mounted computers are available but less people pick them anymore.
Budget computers run about a few hundred dollars and do everything a recreational diver needs. You get depth tracking, time, no-deco limits, dive logging, and often a basic apnea mode. Mid-range gets you air integration, improved screens, and additional mix modes.
What new divers forget is how the computer handles. Some computers are more conservative than others. A tighter computer means shorter NDL. More aggressive algorithms extend time but with less margin. Neither is wrong. It just your style and experience level.
Worth talking to someone at a Cairns dive shop who dives with multiple brands before buying. Good dive stores will give you a straight answer on what's good and what's marketing. Most good dive stores publish buying guides and website comparisons on their sites as well