By: iPadfanzz staff on March 4, 2013
If you are looking for a good tablet for you and your loves ones, this guide will set you on the right path. Deciding the right tablet can be a baffling decision, as most of the details available about them gives you a vague guidance. Google in its marketing material says its seven-inch Nexus “is designed to go wherever you go” and its larger 10” tablet is perfect for “couch or coffee table companion”
Over the past few years, tablet market has undergone sea changes in terms of quality, performance and features offered. It is hardly a surprise that Apple is still the undisputed leader in the tablet market with an amazing 58 million iPads sold in 2013. While going for a high-end small tablet, your obvious choice should be an iPad Mini. Although Apple may have publicly dismissed the idea of small tablet, the response it has received for the iPad Mini is amazing. If data from research firm Display Search is to believe then smaller tablets will outsell larger ones in 2013. One of the reasons, the firm mentioned is the lower price point, which is the driver of the sales of the tablets. Apple’s newest iPad starts at $499 while a Kindle Fire, Nexus tablet, or iPad, for example, start at $159 to $329.
At the same time it would be inappropriate to say there isn’t a market for larger tablets. They’s good at productivity and media consumption due to their large screen. In other words, the demand for Apple’s 9.7-inch iPad isn’t going to fade away pretty soon; nor will the Google Nexus 10, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, Asus Transformer, or any number of other large slates.
Here are few rules that you should keep in mind while going for purchasing the tablet.
Screen size and storage
Both screen real estate and storage capacity of a tablet is an important thing to consider. You need to remember, 7-inch tablets are considered small-screen, while 8.9- to 10-inch tablets are considered large screen. All major tablets – Apple iPads, Google Nexus tablets, Amazon Kindle Fires, and B&N Nook HD – are all available in both small- and large-screen iterations. For instance, Samsung gives you a range of tablets in sizes like 10.1, 8.9, 7.7, 7 inches, and even a phone/tablet hybrid, the Galaxy Note II with a 5.5-inch display and a stylus. Since the size really matters, so small tablets are more portable and fits easily into the palm of your hands and small bags and purses. You can even keep them in pockets, depending on their width. The tablets with 7” size are much better e-reading alternatives as compared to large tablets, especially if you love reading in bed. For those with limited space, 7-inch tablet are best entry points in the market. Moving further, the 8.9” and 10.1” category falls into mainstream tablets category and have more screen real estate and higher resolution compared to their 7” counterparts. Tablets with large screen are more suitable for movie watching, and playing games.
Interestingly, there are few tablets available in above 10.1 inch size they usually come with higher price tags. Due to their larger size and hardware keyboards, manufacturers have started calling these "hybrids," in that they're both tablets (portable, touch screens) and PCs (full Windows 8 compatibility, faster processors).
Another important point to remember here is the screen resolution of the tablet Screen resolution is important especially for e-book reading and web surfing. So if you can get a sharp, bright display then your purpose is fulfilled. At the moment, Google Nexus 10 has the sharpest 2,560-by-1,600, 300-pixel-per-inch resolution. At the same time, the iPad 4 offers screen resolution of 2,048-by-1,536-pixel (264 ppi) Retina display is no slouch either. Thus, if you are going for a 10” Android tablet then look for display with at least 1,280-by-800 resolution.
Another important point to mention here is the weight of the tablet since you’d be carrying it all over the place: be it in your office, home or some outside place where you are visiting. This is true for both large screen and small screen tablets. For instance, carrying a heavy tablet for 30 minutes in metro would be more tiresome than carrying the a tablet of lesser weight. Setting it flat in your lap, rather than propped up on a stand, can also be a little awkward.
The storage capacity plays an important role while buying a tablet. In terms of storage, most tablets come with between 8 GB and 64 GB of space. This will not be critical for those who want to just browse the web, read books, and stream videos. However, if you are planning to view high definition movies on your tablet then considering a higher capacity model would be first preference. Although it is not possible to extend the memory size in tablets by Apple, in Android based tablets you can easily extend the storage space expanded compared to other tablets.’
Operating System
While choosing a tablet, the decision mainly comes down to Apple’s iOS operating system and Google’s Android. At the moment, the top two contenders are Apple with its iPad 4 and iPad Mini, and among Android based tablets, the likes of Acer, Amazon, ASUS, Barnes & Noble, Google, Samsung, and others. A recent entrant in the tablet space is Microsoft with its Surface tablet, which runs on Windows RT, a slimmed-down version of Windows 8. First we would touch upon the strengths of Apple’s iOS, the operating system on the iPads and iPad Mini. The iOS inherently is very clean and intuitive and works uniformly well with very few exceptions.
Here is a comparison:
Jelly Bean UI vs iOS 6 UI
An interface is core to a tablet platform through which a user interacts and this is what’s you’ll be greeted with day in, day out. iOS 6 due to its locked-down approach gives you little control over what can be changed and customised, with just basic functions such as changing the wallpaper and moving app icons available. In comparison, Android gives you home screen where you can place apps, widgets, and make you tablet more tailored to your needs. iOS hasn't changed a great deal since its inception back in 2007 and it is starting to feel its age, especially as we're seeing rivals making significant advancements on their platforms.
Google Maps vs. Apple Maps
Google Maps is a much better option over Apple's home-cooked version. Google just recently revamped their Maps to include 3D mapping and offline maps. The offline maps are a killer feature, they are useful when you have no service. On the other hand, Apple has a long way to go if it wants its Maps app to be at par with Google. Offline Maps, transit, and walking directions give Google a certain edge.
Siri vs. Google Now
Apple has greatly improved the featured provided in siri and now it is making the virtual assistant more than just a novelty. Siri's newest features include her ability to speak sports scores and standings. In addition, Siri can also make a reservation for you at your favorite restaurant via OpenTable. On the other hand, Google Now – Google’s answer to Siri, is less concerned with voice and more concerned with actually providing useful information. Google Now takes everything it knows about you — your schedule, location, the weather, etc. — and provides relevant information based on the time and place. For instance, Google Now shows you shopping and food nearby, helping you translate words when you’re in a faraway land.
Android Beam vs Shared Photo Stream
Android Beam allows you to share photos, videos and all other content. If your handset supports NFC, you can send stuff from one device to another. While with Apple’s Shared Photo Stream, you can just share photos with the people you choose.
App Store
Google Play Vs Apple’s App Store
Apple App Store is a store that focuses on apps, games and other digital content for your tablet or mobile phone. For a long time, Apple has maintained its lead in the App Store where over 40 billion iOS apps have been downloaded, generating over $7 billion in revenues. The App Store now plays host to 700,000 apps, (with 250,000 specifically for iPad), and 90 percent of App Store’s apps are downloaded every month, and customers use more than 100 on average. At the same time, Google is playing a catch up with Apple. According to market researcher App Annie, sales of Google Play apps have doubled in Q4 from the previous three months.
Processor
The processing speed of a tablet is crucial when opting for buying a tablet. The speed of a processor is largely determined by its clock rate and number of cores. If you are buying a tablet with the propose of browsing the Web, checking e-mail, or watching movies and other streaming content, then just any model out there will do the job. But if you want to use your tablets for lots of gaming and movies and chatting, then you need a tablet with much more powerful processing speed. For instance, Apple in iPad Mini uses a A5 dual-core processors, the same processors that powered the iPhone 4S and iPad 2.
Majority of tablets use a processor architecture that was produced by ARM This company. The most prevalent of the ARM processor designs to be used within tablet PCs is Cortex-A. This series is comprised of four different designs that vary in their performance and features. Below is a list of the four models and the features they have:
Cortex-A5 - Lowest power consumption, generally single core, frequencies between 300 and 800MHz
Cortex-A8 - Modest processor with better media performance than A5, generally single or dual core, frequencies between 600MHz and 1.5GHz.
Cortex-A9 - Most popular of the processors, typically dual core but available with up to four, frequencies between 800MHz and 2GHz.
Cortex-A15 - Newest processor design that is not very common yet, typically dual or quad core, frequencies between 1GHz and 2GHz
The actual speeds can differ though because of the amount of memory, the operating system run on each platform and the other hardware such as the graphics processor.
Connectivity Options
In order to connect a tablet PC to an internet connection, a user has to depend on dual connectivity option- WiFi and WiFi + 3G . It is better to choose the device which has support for new and better WiFi 802.11n standard, as WiFi 802.11n is much faster and an improvement over the previous version of WiFi i.e. WiFi 802.11b/g. The 802.11a is a 5GHz band traditionally used by businesses. 5GHz is also used in newer dual-band consumer-grade routers and can result in a better connection, simply because there are fewer devices using it. The iPad 2 supports 802.11a, as does the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, but many others do not. Tablet buyers can also have 3G support either internally or externally. If the device comes with a SIM card slot, then 3G support is internally, allowing you to make even phone calls and also access data on an EDGE/3G network. There are also tablet which support 3G via USB dongles.
The USB requirement will depend on whether you want to store and transfer files, and whether you want to leverage USB peripherals (such as a mouse, gaming pad, or keyboard). iPad lacks any integrated ports, and only a handful of Android tablets, including the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet, the Acer Iconia A500, and the Toshiba Thrive, have full-size USB ports that will power an external drive.
Cameras
The iPad Mini has a 5MP camera on the rear. While the front camera has a 1.2MP sensor that help take some above-average profile pictures. Indeed, many tablet cameras are capable of taking 720p high definition video, so check that out if it's important to you
Digital Pens
For serious drawing purpose you need a special pen-and-tablet combination.
Security
Security and data encryption are important issues for many business users. Windows 7 has Bitlocker (Ultimate and Enterprise versions only) and numerous third-party apps that implement security; Android 3.0 ("Honeycomb") and later offers system encryption; and the iPad has encrypted everything stored on it since day one.
Battery life
Look for it as it is important since a tablet with good battery life will go a long way. The benchmark is you tablet should hold a charge for a few days.
If you are looking for a good tablet for you and your loves ones, this guide will set you on the right path. Deciding the right tablet can be a baffling decision, as most of the details available about them gives you a vague guidance. Google in its marketing material says its seven-inch Nexus “is designed to go wherever you go” and its larger 10” tablet is perfect for “couch or coffee table companion”
Over the past few years, tablet market has undergone sea changes in terms of quality, performance and features offered. It is hardly a surprise that Apple is still the undisputed leader in the tablet market with an amazing 58 million iPads sold in 2013. While going for a high-end small tablet, your obvious choice should be an iPad Mini. Although Apple may have publicly dismissed the idea of small tablet, the response it has received for the iPad Mini is amazing. If data from research firm Display Search is to believe then smaller tablets will outsell larger ones in 2013. One of the reasons, the firm mentioned is the lower price point, which is the driver of the sales of the tablets. Apple’s newest iPad starts at $499 while a Kindle Fire, Nexus tablet, or iPad, for example, start at $159 to $329.
At the same time it would be inappropriate to say there isn’t a market for larger tablets. They’s good at productivity and media consumption due to their large screen. In other words, the demand for Apple’s 9.7-inch iPad isn’t going to fade away pretty soon; nor will the Google Nexus 10, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, Asus Transformer, or any number of other large slates.
Here are few rules that you should keep in mind while going for purchasing the tablet.
Screen size and storage
Both screen real estate and storage capacity of a tablet is an important thing to consider. You need to remember, 7-inch tablets are considered small-screen, while 8.9- to 10-inch tablets are considered large screen. All major tablets – Apple iPads, Google Nexus tablets, Amazon Kindle Fires, and B&N Nook HD – are all available in both small- and large-screen iterations. For instance, Samsung gives you a range of tablets in sizes like 10.1, 8.9, 7.7, 7 inches, and even a phone/tablet hybrid, the Galaxy Note II with a 5.5-inch display and a stylus. Since the size really matters, so small tablets are more portable and fits easily into the palm of your hands and small bags and purses. You can even keep them in pockets, depending on their width. The tablets with 7” size are much better e-reading alternatives as compared to large tablets, especially if you love reading in bed. For those with limited space, 7-inch tablet are best entry points in the market. Moving further, the 8.9” and 10.1” category falls into mainstream tablets category and have more screen real estate and higher resolution compared to their 7” counterparts. Tablets with large screen are more suitable for movie watching, and playing games.
Interestingly, there are few tablets available in above 10.1 inch size they usually come with higher price tags. Due to their larger size and hardware keyboards, manufacturers have started calling these "hybrids," in that they're both tablets (portable, touch screens) and PCs (full Windows 8 compatibility, faster processors).
Another important point to remember here is the screen resolution of the tablet Screen resolution is important especially for e-book reading and web surfing. So if you can get a sharp, bright display then your purpose is fulfilled. At the moment, Google Nexus 10 has the sharpest 2,560-by-1,600, 300-pixel-per-inch resolution. At the same time, the iPad 4 offers screen resolution of 2,048-by-1,536-pixel (264 ppi) Retina display is no slouch either. Thus, if you are going for a 10” Android tablet then look for display with at least 1,280-by-800 resolution.
Another important point to mention here is the weight of the tablet since you’d be carrying it all over the place: be it in your office, home or some outside place where you are visiting. This is true for both large screen and small screen tablets. For instance, carrying a heavy tablet for 30 minutes in metro would be more tiresome than carrying the a tablet of lesser weight. Setting it flat in your lap, rather than propped up on a stand, can also be a little awkward.
The storage capacity plays an important role while buying a tablet. In terms of storage, most tablets come with between 8 GB and 64 GB of space. This will not be critical for those who want to just browse the web, read books, and stream videos. However, if you are planning to view high definition movies on your tablet then considering a higher capacity model would be first preference. Although it is not possible to extend the memory size in tablets by Apple, in Android based tablets you can easily extend the storage space expanded compared to other tablets.’
Operating System
While choosing a tablet, the decision mainly comes down to Apple’s iOS operating system and Google’s Android. At the moment, the top two contenders are Apple with its iPad 4 and iPad Mini, and among Android based tablets, the likes of Acer, Amazon, ASUS, Barnes & Noble, Google, Samsung, and others. A recent entrant in the tablet space is Microsoft with its Surface tablet, which runs on Windows RT, a slimmed-down version of Windows 8. First we would touch upon the strengths of Apple’s iOS, the operating system on the iPads and iPad Mini. The iOS inherently is very clean and intuitive and works uniformly well with very few exceptions.
Here is a comparison:
Jelly Bean UI vs iOS 6 UI
An interface is core to a tablet platform through which a user interacts and this is what’s you’ll be greeted with day in, day out. iOS 6 due to its locked-down approach gives you little control over what can be changed and customised, with just basic functions such as changing the wallpaper and moving app icons available. In comparison, Android gives you home screen where you can place apps, widgets, and make you tablet more tailored to your needs. iOS hasn't changed a great deal since its inception back in 2007 and it is starting to feel its age, especially as we're seeing rivals making significant advancements on their platforms.
Google Maps vs. Apple Maps
Google Maps is a much better option over Apple's home-cooked version. Google just recently revamped their Maps to include 3D mapping and offline maps. The offline maps are a killer feature, they are useful when you have no service. On the other hand, Apple has a long way to go if it wants its Maps app to be at par with Google. Offline Maps, transit, and walking directions give Google a certain edge.
Siri vs. Google Now
Apple has greatly improved the featured provided in siri and now it is making the virtual assistant more than just a novelty. Siri's newest features include her ability to speak sports scores and standings. In addition, Siri can also make a reservation for you at your favorite restaurant via OpenTable. On the other hand, Google Now – Google’s answer to Siri, is less concerned with voice and more concerned with actually providing useful information. Google Now takes everything it knows about you — your schedule, location, the weather, etc. — and provides relevant information based on the time and place. For instance, Google Now shows you shopping and food nearby, helping you translate words when you’re in a faraway land.
Android Beam vs Shared Photo Stream
Android Beam allows you to share photos, videos and all other content. If your handset supports NFC, you can send stuff from one device to another. While with Apple’s Shared Photo Stream, you can just share photos with the people you choose.
App Store
Google Play Vs Apple’s App Store
Apple App Store is a store that focuses on apps, games and other digital content for your tablet or mobile phone. For a long time, Apple has maintained its lead in the App Store where over 40 billion iOS apps have been downloaded, generating over $7 billion in revenues. The App Store now plays host to 700,000 apps, (with 250,000 specifically for iPad), and 90 percent of App Store’s apps are downloaded every month, and customers use more than 100 on average. At the same time, Google is playing a catch up with Apple. According to market researcher App Annie, sales of Google Play apps have doubled in Q4 from the previous three months.
Processor
The processing speed of a tablet is crucial when opting for buying a tablet. The speed of a processor is largely determined by its clock rate and number of cores. If you are buying a tablet with the propose of browsing the Web, checking e-mail, or watching movies and other streaming content, then just any model out there will do the job. But if you want to use your tablets for lots of gaming and movies and chatting, then you need a tablet with much more powerful processing speed. For instance, Apple in iPad Mini uses a A5 dual-core processors, the same processors that powered the iPhone 4S and iPad 2.
Majority of tablets use a processor architecture that was produced by ARM This company. The most prevalent of the ARM processor designs to be used within tablet PCs is Cortex-A. This series is comprised of four different designs that vary in their performance and features. Below is a list of the four models and the features they have:
Cortex-A5 - Lowest power consumption, generally single core, frequencies between 300 and 800MHz
Cortex-A8 - Modest processor with better media performance than A5, generally single or dual core, frequencies between 600MHz and 1.5GHz.
Cortex-A9 - Most popular of the processors, typically dual core but available with up to four, frequencies between 800MHz and 2GHz.
Cortex-A15 - Newest processor design that is not very common yet, typically dual or quad core, frequencies between 1GHz and 2GHz
The actual speeds can differ though because of the amount of memory, the operating system run on each platform and the other hardware such as the graphics processor.
Connectivity Options
In order to connect a tablet PC to an internet connection, a user has to depend on dual connectivity option- WiFi and WiFi + 3G . It is better to choose the device which has support for new and better WiFi 802.11n standard, as WiFi 802.11n is much faster and an improvement over the previous version of WiFi i.e. WiFi 802.11b/g. The 802.11a is a 5GHz band traditionally used by businesses. 5GHz is also used in newer dual-band consumer-grade routers and can result in a better connection, simply because there are fewer devices using it. The iPad 2 supports 802.11a, as does the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, but many others do not. Tablet buyers can also have 3G support either internally or externally. If the device comes with a SIM card slot, then 3G support is internally, allowing you to make even phone calls and also access data on an EDGE/3G network. There are also tablet which support 3G via USB dongles.
The USB requirement will depend on whether you want to store and transfer files, and whether you want to leverage USB peripherals (such as a mouse, gaming pad, or keyboard). iPad lacks any integrated ports, and only a handful of Android tablets, including the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet, the Acer Iconia A500, and the Toshiba Thrive, have full-size USB ports that will power an external drive.
Cameras
The iPad Mini has a 5MP camera on the rear. While the front camera has a 1.2MP sensor that help take some above-average profile pictures. Indeed, many tablet cameras are capable of taking 720p high definition video, so check that out if it's important to you
Digital Pens
For serious drawing purpose you need a special pen-and-tablet combination.
Security
Security and data encryption are important issues for many business users. Windows 7 has Bitlocker (Ultimate and Enterprise versions only) and numerous third-party apps that implement security; Android 3.0 ("Honeycomb") and later offers system encryption; and the iPad has encrypted everything stored on it since day one.
Battery life
Look for it as it is important since a tablet with good battery life will go a long way. The benchmark is you tablet should hold a charge for a few days.
