Final answer:
The transistor is better than the vacuum tube because it is smaller, more robust, and requires less wiring. Transistors are fabricated from silicon and metal, making them smaller and physically stronger than vacuum tubes. They also do not require a glass tube to contain a vacuum, reducing the need for complex wiring.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics that made the transistor better than the vacuum tube are its smaller size, increased robustness, and reduced need for complicated wiring that took up space. Unlike vacuum tubes, transistors are fabricated from silicon and metal, which allows them to be made much smaller. This smaller size also makes transistors more physically robust than vacuum tubes. Additionally, transistors do not require a glass tube to contain a vacuum, reducing the need for complicated wiring that took up space.