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herlife | working women
Deciding
Which Tablet is
Right for
by catie watson
Blending the best elements of a smartphone and a laptop, the tablet has
become an indispensable mobile gadget for many early adopters.
E
ver since Apple introduced the iPad tablet in 2010, other computer
makers have scrambled to introduce their own version of
the tablet computer. Blending the best elements of a smartphone
and a laptop, the tablet has become an indispensable mobile gadget for
many early adopters. You can watch videos, take and share pictures, use
video chat, read e-books, play games and browse the Internet anytime and
anywhere, all without having to lug around a heavy laptop or squint at a
tiny smartphone screen.
The iPad’s hefty price tag (the latest version starts at $499) has caused
many consumers to hold off on purchasing a tablet. It has also caused
some people to question the usefulness of this next-generation gadget. Although
a tablet can be used as a digital portfolio by decorators, designers,
artists and other professionals who make heavy use of graphic images and
photographs, the lack of a fully functioning keyboard means that a tablet is
not a laptop replacement when it comes to professional applications. The
vast majority of people who buy a tablet are looking for a fun way to enjoy
online multimedia.
If you’ve decided that you want a tablet, gaining a basic understanding
of the technology will help you find the tablet that’s right for
you. Apple has retained control of the tablet market for the past two
years, but now there are a growing number of alternatives. If you’re
looking for specific features at the lowest price, it pays to do a little
research before you start shopping.
The majority of tablets currently use one of two operating systems:
iOS or Android. The operating system (OS) is what keeps everything running
on a computer, smartphone or tablet. The OS also controls the look
and feel of the on-screen interface. Each OS has a different look and feel,
and a different set of strengths. Here’s a quick summary:
Apple’s iOS runs on the iPhone and iPod Touch as well as the iPad.
If you use one of these other gadgets, then you’ll already be familiar with
the iOS interface. Many people believe that Apple has cornered the
market on usability, and that iOS offers the optimal look and feel. Another
advantage of iOS is the availability of hundreds of thousands of apps that
can be downloaded from Apple’s App Store. The main disadvantage of
iOS is that it’s only available on the iPad so there’s no price competition.
Google’s Android, which is available on millions of smartphones, is
also offered on a variety of tablets. Android is considered the leader in multitasking.
This means you can easily perform several activities at the same
time, such as watching a video while surfing the Web and reading email.
Android also offers seamless integration with popular Google applications
like Google Maps, Gmail and Google Talk for video chat. While the iPad
is only available with a 9.7 inch display, Android tablets come in a variety
of sizes. Android’s biggest shortcoming is far fewer apps when compared to
Apple’s iOS.
To get a feel for these two different OS flavors, try out some demo
tablets at your local electronics store. If you decide on the Apple iOS,
38 HERLIFEnewyork.com