Lost in a Sea of Tablets

On April 3, 2010, Apple Inc. introduced at the time what many considered to simply be a "big iPod Touch". They saw no profound benefit of such a large hand-held device that did not include a physical keyboard and ran a smaller, less powerful version of a full desktop-class operating system. They laughed at how former Apple CEO Steve Jobs desired a "seamless experience where the mouse & keyboard went away", an experience where your personal digital life was at your very fingertips. Although it was initially met with skepticism, the iPad line has been a roaring success. Apple recently reported that in the last 4 1/2 years they have sold over 225 million iPads.

Look who is laughing now.

Although Apple for many has represented the pinnacle of tablet capability, in the last few years an array of diverse and capable tablet products have arisen. Tech giants like Samsung, Google, Amazon, and even Microsoft have brought introduced their own tablets to compete with Apple to be the ultra-thin, ultra-portable solution to your media and productivity needs. With so many options, how could one possibly choose??

Thanks to the power of the internet and over-zealous YouTube personalities, today's consumers have more access to information, reviews, and customer satisfaction responses than ever before. In order to aid in your tough decision as you search for the perfect gift for your Great-Aunt Sally, I've prepared an unbiased look at some key factors you should observe when making this purchase, as well as my personal recommendation based on need. Let's get to it.

How Will You Use It?

The first question you need to ask yourself when looking at purchasing a tablet is how you plan on using it on a day-to-day basis. If you already own an iPhone and/or Mac, it makes the most sense to purchase an iPad so that all of your apps and such sync over seamlessly, as well as the interface and experience will be extremely similar between them.

For those that have Android cell-phones, a similar decision might follow if you are heavily invested in their ecosystem, although the majority of Google's services through Android cross over very well to iPads, so sometimes it comes down to personal preference.

Media junkies that love to stream some Netflix and read books all day should gravitate to Amazon's Kindle Fire line that features fantastic integration with Amazon's services, as well as full access to Amazon Prime features such as unlimited streaming of thousands of movies/TV shows, music, and two-day shipping. Check out this blog post for more information on Amazon Prime.

Finally for those that solely want an extension of their personal computer in order to get work done, the Windows Surface tablet is the way to go. It offers a full Windows 8.1 operating system so all your programs and software will work, as well as the added benefit of the full Office suite and stylus input from the included pen.

Operating System

This might be the most difficult decision you have to make when it comes to purchasing a new tablet. The three main operating systems used by tablets are iOS (Apple), Android, and Windows. Let's take a look at the pros and cons of all three.

iOS

Pros

• Easiest to use
• Offers simplest integration of contacts, music, photos, etc.
• Obtains quickest software updates straight from Apple

Cons

• Restricted customization
• Offered on just a few devices

Android

Pros

• Fantastic customization to suit personal needs & preferences
• Wide range of supported devices at all prices & sizes

Cons

• Less impressive app selection, though the essentials are present
• Receives software updates slower due to wide range of supported devices

Windows 8

Pros

• Offers full Windows 8 experience
• All compatible software works from laptop and desktops
• Potentially can replace laptop as full entertainment/professional device

Cons

• Very limited app selection
• Software updates tend to not be free (possible changes in near future though)
• Difficult to learn for new users

Apps

We all love our applications. Many of these we often feel like we can't for us. With regards to the availability of top-notch apps, Apple wins in a land-slide. Since their app store has existed for the longest time, app developers tend to gravitate to iOS when developing new applications and games. Luckily Android, Amazon, and Windows have made great strides in improving the quality of their applications, as well as the overall selection. Again it typically will come done to what devices you currently are usually, so those using iPhones and Macs should consider iPads, Android users to Android, etc.

Screen Size

Tablet screen sizes typically fall into one of two categories: 7-9 inches or 9-12 inches. Let's take a look at the best of each category.

7-9 inches

This screen size range is meant for ultimate portability. Tablets in this range are typically suited for users desiring a light and portable device they can use for checking e-mail, browsing the web, and reading eBooks and their favorite articles. As the most common screen size range for consumers, the selection in this range is the most diverse and impressive. Popular devices such as the Apple iPad Mini 3, Google Nexus 9, Amazon Fire HDX 7", and Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4" are perfect for cost-sensitive users desiring a tablet for simple every-day use.

9-12 inches

This range is all about productivity and media-consumption. If you want a tablet to stream Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, YouTube, or home movies, this is the range for you. Tablets of this size tend to offer the highest resolution screens, as well as the most premium speakers to enhance your viewing experience. Another common use for tablets of this size is professional and productivity applications. Many companies will deploy large size iPads and Windows tablets to their employees for on-the-go computing as apposed to purchasing a full-size laptop that typically cost much more. If you are looking for a tablet that will give you the ultimate media experience for movies & TV shows or a device that lets you get serious work done on the go, check out tablets in this range like the iPad Air 2, Microsoft Surface Pro 3, and Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.5".

Price

Now we are to the section most of you will really care about: price. This ends up being the most important factor for most people, so it is crucial to observe it from the best options for three price ranges.

$150-300

As the lowest tier of price range, you might expect to receive a low-quality device for your money. Don't be deceived young Padawan. There are some incredible quality tablets in this range that can satisfy many people's needs. Devices such as the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7" ($179), the 2013 Nexus 7 ($175), or the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 7" ($179) & Tab 4 8.0 ($239) are all fantastic products that will give you great bang for your buck. All devices offer great app selection, solid battery life, and wonderful screens that will surely fulfill your tablet needs.

$300-500

Now that we are stepping up our budget a little bit, we will start seeing some really fantastic devices for your hard-earned money. The Apple iPad Mini 3, Google Nexus 9, Amazon Fire HDX 8.9", and Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4" are some of the best tablets you can buy. You will see dramatic speed and performance improvements over the previous price range, including additional features like fingerprint scanners, exceptional screen quality, and much more throughout some of these devices. These are geared toward the really committed tablet users that want a small tablet with the best experience possible. The wonderful screen quality and performance of all four of these tablets will provide a seamless & enjoyable experience for all owners.

$500+

We have arrived at the big guns, the tablets that must warrant this significant purchase that could easily buy a good laptop. These tablets are for those seeking a big screen tablet that can do it all. Tablets like the iPad Air 2 ($500), Microsoft Surface Pro 3 ($799), or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5" ($500) will give you the full experience in their prospective platforms. People searching for a large scale tablet that will provide a big canvas for movies, apps, or document editing will be right at home with any of these choices.

Final Review

Now that we have looked at the key features when looking for a new tablet, it's time for me to make a quick review of the best tablets by need.

Apple/Android Enthusiasts

If you are deeply invested in the Apple or Android ecosystem through an iPhone, Android smartphone, or Mac computer, get the iPad, Nexus 9, or Samsung Galaxy Tab S. Yes they are more expensive than a lot of other choices, but all of these tablets will offer an extremely simple and easy-to-use experience that will provide the richest ecosystem of applications and integration across all your devices.

First-Time Tablet User

If this is going to be the user's first tablet, a Kindle Fire HDX might just be your best bet. They are very reasonably priced starting at $179 and offer an easy-to-use interface that puts what you want right in front: media. For a $99 annual price, you can purchase Amazon Prime which offers free two-day shipping on millions of products, unlimited streaming of thousands of TV shows and movies, as well as over a million songs, a lending library to rent out a free book a month from a selection of nearly a million books, and much more! That's quite the bargain.

Professional Professional

If you are constantly working hard and need to reach maximum productivity at all times, look no further than a Windows 8 tablet like the Surface Pro 3 or Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2. These tablets offer a portable, yet capable experience that allows any hard-worker on the go to get real work done with the full Office suite and support for popular software like Adobe Photoshop and many others.





As you can see, there are more tablets out there than you could ever imagine. I hope that this article has helped you narrow down your choices to give you the very best experience for what you need. Tablets have come a long way in the past few years and it's going to be quite exciting to see where they get in a few more. Please feel free to call us at DormNet for any issues or questions you might have about your new tablet!