By Carl Weiss
Listen to internet radio with workingthewebtowin on Blog Talk Radio
If you are thinking about buying a tablet PC, you should be aware that there are now many variations of the device that was first brought to the world by Apple Computer on April 3, 2010. It’s hard to believe that in less than three years the tablet PC market has exploded to the point that there are tablets galore being manufactured by everyone from Acer to Vizio. As a result it is getting more and more difficult to decide which tablet is right for you.
Apple, Google and now Microsoft?
While Apple did invent the tablet PC, Google quickly
followed suit. In fact, in a CNet interview in October, Google’s executive chairman Eric Schmidt admitted that , "The
Android-Apple platform fight is the defining fight in the industry today." He
also went onto intimate that within a year, more than one billion devices were
expected to be running on Android. So
when it comes to choosing one platform over the other, it is simply a matter of
preference, since both offer millions of apps from which to choose.
The problem is that another mover and shaker, Microsoft, has just entered the fray with their Windows 8 compatible Surface. This has also spawned a whole slew of
other hardware vendors from Dell to Samsung creating their version of a Windows
8 compatible Tablet. Microsoft Surface is their first real foray into the
hardware tablet/PC platform arena.
Even though Microsoft
is a late comer to the Tablet wars, they could prove to be a player! With Microsoft’s
worldwide distribution channels and large installed customer base, they will
make inroads quickly. If the sell out of their first manufacturing run is any
indication of this product sell ability it will be one to watch. Microsoft's design is innovative, high tech and
offers many features not available on competing models. Plus it runs Microsoft Office, the number one office suite in the business world. Microsoft’s entry is
not a cheap knockoff, it’s a real hybrid with high end competing features and
it is priced accordingly. Currently the MS Surface is only available in a 10.1
inch model but if you love Microsoft it’s worth a look.
Size Matters
While there are variations on a theme, for the most part
tablets are most commonly available in either 7-inch or a 10-inch models. While
size matters, it’s not in the way you would at first think. While many people deride the 7-inch tablet,
Steve Jobs having been chief among them, there is most definitely a time and a
place where less is more. To make
matters worse, there are hybrid devices that blur the line between smart phone
and tablet. Both Samsung and LG have release smart phone in the 5+ inch size
that have all the capabilities of full size tables (and of course they are cell
phones too). Not to be out done Apple recently released its new IPad Mini with
a 4 inch format.
A report from CNet: Nearly 60 percent of units shipped this year will
be 9-inch screen tablets with the iPad at the top of the list, according to the
firm. But the 7-inch tablets are cutting into the iPad's hold on the market --
those shipments account for 32 percent, up from 26 percent last year.
Other than size, 7-inch units are decidedly cheaper. Google’s Nexus 7 which is one of the best in
the business can be had for right around $200, while typical 10 inch tablets
retail for four to five hundred dollars.
Besides 7-inchers are much more portable, which is a huge advantage when
carrying around other gear. 7-inch
models can also be slipped into a
pocket. 10-inch tablets are closer to a
laptop in size versus a smartphone. This
means that if you want to do a lot of typing, a 7-inch tablet isn’t for you.
How Low Should You Go?
While size, operating system and speed are three of the variables
that many people use to make a final decision on the best tablet to buy, there
are always bargain hunters. With the
sheer amount of competition in the marketplace, you would think that prices
would start dropping. To a certain
degree you would be right. But price
shouldn’t necessarily be the final arbiter in choosing a tablet. You still need it to perform the tasks that
are near and dear to you. For example, while I have
seen tablets such as the Archos Arnova 9 G3 for as little as $149.95 on Amazon,
the question you have to ask yourself is, “How much performance do I need to
get out of my tablet?”
A review of the Arnova 9 from PC Advisor states that,” The
Arnova 9 G3 display has a 1024x768 resolution but as with the iPad
2, it lack crispness. Text
is readable in larger fonts but falls foul of pixelation when browsing
text-heavy websites. Video playback can also look patchy at times with colors
not blending seamlessly. Colors weren't as vibrant as on the best budget
screens, such as Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2.
We managed to squeeze only 5 hours of viewing out of the Arnova 9 G3
before the battery gave in. That's not to say you couldn't use it for casual
YouTube perusing, but you'll have to do this via the browser as Arnova hasn't
installed the Google Play app store and no YouTube app is pre-loaded.”
So if you are looking for a powerhouse, don’t necessarily
expect a bargain. You may find that the
bargain tablet you purchased doesn’t have the speed, battery life, resolution
or app availability that you desire.
Besides the differential in price between the low and high end of the
spectrum is only a few hundred dollars for the most part. So why split hairs?
Need a Tablet You Can
Get Wet?
Of course, if you are looking to take your tablet on the
high seas or into the rainforest then you definitely need to find a tablet
that’s up to the task. AT& T’s
Pantech Element is designed to be submerged in up to three feet of water for up
to 30 minutes. While you can’t exactly
take it scuba diving, it’s tough enough to take boating or camping. While most Android tablets come in either a 7
or 10 inch variant, the designers of the element decided to go with an 8-inch
screen. Other than that, it’s a fairly
straightforward 16 GB Android Honeycomb tablet that is available for $299.99
with a two-year contract, or $449.99 without.
Winning the Battle and Losing the War
Remember, choosing the best tablet for your needs is not
something you should take lightly. The
last thing you want to do is buy a tablet online based on your research only to
find out once it arrives that you absolutely hate it. So before making a purchase, take the time to
go to a retailer that carries the unit in order to hold it in your own two
hands and put it through its paces. If
you fail to do this then you might wind up in the unenviable position of
winning the battle only to lose the war, in which case you could wind up putting your latest purchase up for
resale on EBay or Craigslist. Actually if you wait till after Christmas you may
find the tablet of your dreams in the same place for half the money.
Carl Weiss is president of W Squared Media Group a digital media agency
located in Jacksonville, Florida. He also owns and operates Jacksonville VideoProduction and cohosts the weekly “Working the Web to Win Radio Show,” that
airs at 4pm every Tuesday on Blog Talk RadioPC
