The tablet is a very intuitive device that has seen such remarkable progress in such a short lifespan. Its not that it was invented/designed very recently but the amount of development and consumer interest it has been receiving, very recently, is mind boggling.
Who would have said, a few years ago, that these 10 inch behemoths would be a pride of each family in their dinning/living rooms. They have become a niche product, even after owning laptops and multimedia smartphones, people are still buying them. In this article we will discuss what choices will determine with which tablet you end up with (if you ever think of buying one !).
Who would have said, a few years ago, that these 10 inch behemoths would be a pride of each family in their dinning/living rooms. They have become a niche product, even after owning laptops and multimedia smartphones, people are still buying them. In this article we will discuss what choices will determine with which tablet you end up with (if you ever think of buying one !).
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| Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 |
The need for a tablet?
The original Apple iPad (the first commercial success) was difficult to understand and many bought a product they knew nothing about. Only then we understood how to use tablets, which happened to be more flexible than desktops and laptops. The main advantage here is the weight and impressive battery time, which beats any laptop hands down. A tablet can be activated immediately with one press of a button without any wait time. Your tablet fits your needs and preferences, which defines the requirements to particular models.
As far as e-mail, browser, calendar and associated tools are available in all models there is no need to base your choice on them. To my mind the key points here are the following:
- Screen size, which defines if you can put the tablet in a small bag or not
- Gaming options- availability of games and the chance to connect to a TV
- Operation time
- 3G or WiFi
- Body materials, Quality
Screen
size
The original iPad boasted a 9.7" screen, which became a benchmark for others to follow. The most dangerous rival of Apple is Samsung, which offers different screen sizes – 7", 7.7", 8.9" and 10.1". Steve Jobs claimed any other screen size apart from 9.7" to be inconvenient, but according to rumours now the company may come up with a 7.8 " model (iPad mini). In Samsung, lineup the best sales are enjoyed by a 10.1" model followed by a 7". Many companies start exclusively with 7" tablets to be different from iPad. I think we can speak about two form factors: 7" and 10" with the smaller model capable of fitting any bag or almost any jacket pocket. You cannot do the same with a 10" device, but it stays extremely mobile and takes no more space than a thin paper folder.
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| Apple iPad 2 |
Before you buy your first tablet it is difficult to imagine how you will actually use it. Will it lie on the table at home/office or you will carry it around at all times. Online connection then comes to the fore. Is WiFi (included for all models) enough or you need 3G too? 3G versions cost more, but only such a purchase makes sense to my mind. WiFi is not present everywhere, but you still want to browse the web and check the mail. Some say they receive mail and surf the web via the phone and a tablet is needed for other purposes. Once you buy a tablet the phone will not be enough, so go for a 3G model.
The only disadvantage is the price, but you pay for the gadget only once. The monthly cost of the unlimited Internet connection does influence your choice. As far as you need another SIM card check out the tariffs. If you are ready to pay get 3G.
The only disadvantage is the price, but you pay for the gadget only once. The monthly cost of the unlimited Internet connection does influence your choice. As far as you need another SIM card check out the tariffs. If you are ready to pay get 3G.
Storage size
Traditionally tablets come equipped with the fixed amount of Storage, just like in phones, and you may or may not get a boost with the memory card. Modern tablets have 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB.
How much is your need/do you need?
The answer depends on your style of use (personal opinion). Though 32GB seems to be the sweet spot.
How much is your need/do you need?
The answer depends on your style of use (personal opinion). Though 32GB seems to be the sweet spot.
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| New Apple iPad (3) |
Some Android tablets allow for memory cards of up to 32 GB, but in real life not many capitalize on this option. If you do not know why do you need it ignore this feature with ease.
Operation Time
Asus Transformer is the best in this respect as it offers 16 hours of runtime. It will work for more if you use the optional keyboard attachment. Active gaming gives you 5 hours, which depends on the graphics, volume and Internet connection type. The second best is new Apple iPad (or 3) which has better backup than its previous iterations. Also noteworthy is the next tablet form Asus, conveniently called, the Transformer Prime which seems to better its predecessor.
Materials (Built)
The tablet is a mobile device so it has to be as light as possible and durable in the same time. Apple and Asus use aluminum chassis and their devices are very durable. Samsung and others like Motorola have good quality plastic back (that does not mean they are low on quality but less in weight)
Gaming
Tablets are turning into gaming consoles and already have more new game releases and better ones too (this one is arbitrary but many new titles are released only for tablets not ported from consoles). More and more games are born nowadays with touchscreen controls and even if you are not a gamer you will surely find dozens of games amusing.
Most games are first released for iOS and, then get to Android and lastly to other platforms. You should keep that in mind when you are looking for a new tablet. iOS has got more apps than any other platform but Android is fast catching up.
Android tablets have one big advantage that few people know of: Tegra 2 and Tegra 3 tablets can be paired with our TV so you can play any game one your tablet on a big screen. They can be real gaming consoles and you can even connect PlayStation and XBOX game pads. Young people may find Tegra 2/3 tablets a good and inexpensive substitute for gaming consoles. However, I must add that today there are only about two dozens of games that can fully take advantage of the tablet hardware in this mode but new ones are released all the time.
Other Features: Camera, Stylus etc.
You should not choose your new tablet based on the camera quality: it is a nice extra option but it will hardly impress anyone with quality. Tablet cameras are worse than mobile phone cameras or on a par with them at best.
Creative people might find styluses useful as they can really help you with drawing. Samsung are making Note 10.1, a tablet designed for drawing and HTC Flyer comes with a stylus out of box. If you are a painter or need a stylus for your work then you it might be worth considering a special drawing tablet. In other case you can simply buy a universal stylus that will not be as accurate but do the job just fine.
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| HTC Flyer |
When it comes to accessories you should know that Apple devices have got more of them than any other and they get new accessories earlier than other products. This is a fact worth keeping in mind when you are looking for a new tablet.
Ideology: Apple iOS vs. Google Android
Apple controls most of the tablet market while Android is playing a second fiddle. To choose a tablet also means to choose the OS that will assist you. To a degree it is a choice of ideology because often people extrapolate their views and preferences on devices they use.
I often hear from some people that they will never buy anything Apple because they don’t like the company. I, for example, have a few reasons to detest Apple. Their marketing strategy is poor, price high doesn’t always relate to premium features. I can say that all Android tablets have more features than any Apple tab. I am not going to assess the values of such choices in this article as they don’t have any valid grounds just as the opposite view when people buy only Apple.
In my opinion, Android is still trying to catch up with Apple on the tablet market and needs to work on many things. I recommend reading the dedicated reviews to get acquainted with iOS and Android features on tablets.
The Perfect Tablet
If you have read the whole article you might feel disappointed because I did not recommend any specific products but merely voiced my opinion on some of the features. So now it is time to have a look at the contenders.
I have not considered the dual vs. quad core CPUs dilemma because I think this is solely a marketing issue. The dual core processor in new iPad (3) gets fewer points in benchmarks than the quad core Tegra 3 in Asus Transformer Prime but in actual use new iPad (3) feels a lot faster. So you should not trust benchmark figures and the choice of the CPU should not be a criterion if you are looking for a tablet.
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| Asus Transformer Prime |
So if I want a tablet packed in a good quality chassis with 32 or 16GB of storage, a 10” screen and 3G, with the longest on battery time, with a myriad of apps and games available for it than my choice is Asus Transformer Prime.
Regards,
HellRa1SeR
