15 Things to Look For When Buying a Tablet

Apple, Guest Post, Portable, tech

A literal barrage of new model tablets has hit the market and more are coming. This overwhelming array of options doesn’t exactly help the average buyer to make the right choice. Tablets are for those who want something more than just a smart phone for their tasks, but don’t want to lug a laptop around. We’ll help you look for all the right things in a tablet to make your decision process a bit easier.

  1. Display Size

The iPad, at nearly 10 inches weighing 1.6 lbs is considered bulky even with all this popularity. The Samsung Galaxy Tab and the Kindle Fire both have 7 inch screens. The tablet size you’re comfortable with depends on the size of your hands as well – if you have excessively small hands, an iPad might be difficult to manage for a long time. The bigger screen size will aid in giving a good exposure to BingoHouse.

  1. Operating System

The OS must allow for multi-tasking, must not take up too much memory for internal processes and must be fast. Android, iOS and Windows 7 make for robust OS while Symbian and other OS are falling by the wayside.

  1. multi-touch Interface

A multi-touch interface allows you to register more than one touch at a time. This speeds up the tablet considerably, since being able to register multiple touches requires a fast processor.

  1. A Robust Library Of Applications

Check if the platform you choose provides a good set of applications for download. For example, the Google Android Marketplace has over 80,000 apps for its users, while iTunes has over three million apps for download.

  1. Storage Space

If you’re one who loves to use multimedia, you need at least 16GB of space. There are the three flavors of iPad which 16, 32 and 64GB storage space. On the other hand, there’s the Dell Streak which has only 2 GB internal space but allows expansion via micro SD to 32GB.

  1. Camera

If you plan to use your tablet for video conferencing and video chat, you need a camera, specifically a front-facing one. iPad 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab have both front and rear facing cameras, while the Kindle Fire has no camera at all.

  1. Support For Adobe Flash

A number of websites still use Flash, so it’s better to get a tablet that supports Flash. Presently, Apple’s devices do not support Flash. If Flash is important to you, get an Android tablet.

  1. Bundled Connectivity

Your chosen tablet should support at least Wi-Fi and Bluetooth options; great if you can get 3G and GPS support as well. For example, iPad comes in Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi plus 3G options as well.

  1. Battery Life

The iPad works for 10 to 12 hours once you’ve charged it to the max. Samsung Galaxy Tab plays video for 7 straight hours, and allows for 10 hours of non-resource intensive work. Apple and Android will be your best options for long battery life.

  1. Choice of Wi-Fi Or 3G

You’ll also need to decide whether your tablet should be 3G compatible or Wi-Fi compatible, or perhaps be able to support both, like the iPad 2. The flip side is that Wi-Fi only models are less expensive, but getting both connectivity options allows for greater flexibility.

  1. Choice of Open Or Closed Source Platform

The advantage of an open-sourced platform such as Android is that you can enjoy greater flexibility and personalization. You’ll also be faced with surprises and changes. If you like constancy, go for a closed-sourced platform like the iOS.

  1. Keyboard Options

Check if your tablet allows you to use a wired keyboard dock or a Bluetooth wireless keyboard as the iPad does. Android tablets offer several great onscreen keyboards such as Swype. Look for a tablet that includes USB port so you can dock your tablet and use a standard USB keyboard for intense content creation.

  1. Voice Command Options

Another aspect to check out for intense content generation needs is voice command. iPad does not allow this unless you jailbreak the device. However, you can download the Vlingo voice control app for Android, or use Windows 7 or 8 tablets that come with built-in voice dictation functionality.

  1. Price Factor

This is probably where all the pondering stops and the actual decision takes place. iPad’s pricing begins at $499 and goes up to $829 based on the configuration. Samsung Galaxy Tab will put you back by $600, while the Kindle Fire is $200. Check out different prices and compare what you get for the price before deciding on the right tablet.

  1. Platform Compatibility

If you use more than one smart device, you’ll want a more or less consistent platform experience on all of them. It doesn’t make sense to work on iOS in an iPad if your smart phone is Android. You may also want to check carrier compatibility; using multiple carriers for different devices will be expensive and impractical.

Dean has written this article for Invesp. Invesp is a conversion optimization company offering a nice collection of free landing page templates that are easy to use and highly effective.