The tablet market has exploded of late with so many great versatile models and all kinds of price ranges, from the very affordable Kindle Fire to the feature packed and high end iPads and Samsung Galaxy Tabs and lots of choices in between. You may be wondering how a tablet differs from smartphones and laptops, and is it really worth the investment? Here are some reasons why people love tablets.
Unique Tablet Features – Tablets Versus Smartphones and Laptops
Entertainment
Some might think that the tablet is a replacement device for smartphones and or laptops, but this is simply not true, though for some users a tablet can replace a laptop. But, all in all the tablet is great all by itself for mobile entertainment. Yes it’s true that smartphones can stream movies, the display is really small and therefore the user experience is not as good.
On the other hand, laptops do have a big screen, but that means they are much heavier and more clunky to tote around for mobile entertainment. This makes the tablet the perfect compromise, because it is lightweight, ultra portable, and these devices are specially made with media and entertainment in mind with high end displays that offer exceptional video and image quality in HD, like the Vizio 8″ Wifi tablet.
Tablets Are Ideal Portable Work Station
Many tablets are very useful for work and working on the go. Most all models of tablets are compatible with lots of document types, and of course checking email is a breeze, even when sitting on the bus or subway train. Some tablets offer sync features with office email accounts as well.
And, the presentation features of tablets, such as those on the Ipad 3 are another way these devices are great for work. The tablet is much more convenient to manage work tasks on the go than a laptop and it offers a lot more features and usability than a smartphone for work.
Strong Battery Life
Finally, battery life on tablets beats both smartphones and laptops. Most models of tablets, like the iPad 3, Motorola Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab provide for 10 hours of use time without a recharge. This beats any laptop or smartphone in the market. This is a huge advantage for those that need a functioning mobile computer for long periods of time.
Tablet Buyers Guide – Features To Consider
Portability
Make sure to pay close attention to weight, and size because you will want a tablet that is easy to handle, use and carry around. In general, all tablets fit into purses and some fit into pockets.
Screen Size
Screen size in most tablet models varies between 5 to 10 inches. This is a wide range and it is a significant feature to look at since it is very much based on individual need and preference. For those who plan to watch a lot of movies, read online publications or download magazines then a larger screen is a must.
Conversely, for those that just want to email, listen to music or maybe chat and connect with friends online a smaller screen will suffice. Internet
Connections
Internet connectivity is another important feature to consider because this varies model to model. WiFi is the basic one and it means you will have to be in the range of a wireless network to get online.
There is also 3G and now the new 4G available in some areas as well. These types of connections offer a much wider range of connection, and are super fast for downloads, but they will will require a contract with a service provider, and will cost money in data charges. Make sure to compare plans, there is a lot of competition in this field and service providers will try to beat each other for your business.
Storage
All tablets come with on board storage, but the amounts vary from model to model. If you plan to store a lot of data and large files like movies then make sure you get a tablet that comes with expandable memory via a microSD slot so you can add more memory as needed, or else you will quickly outgrow the device.
The iPad and the Kindle Fire provide free cloud storage on their devices once users have reached capacity.
Conclusion
Shop around carefully, go to an electronics store, like Best Buy, where they display tablets and check them out in person. Make sure you get the most features at a price you can afford.It’s also important to read online reviews of the models you are interested in. Amazon features hundreds of reviews for most products and they are usually very helpful and detailed.