A short while ago, tablet computers were chunky and clunky,
devices that only geeks could get on with.
Apple’s first iPad, when introduced in April 2010, revolutionised
the tablet market by demonstrating that what people really wanted was a sleek, thin
and light device with useful battery life.
More importantly, users showed they were willing to sacrifice power and
flexibility to get what the iPad had to offer.
A couple of years on and, in many cases, the competition has
released many good alternative products which means there’s now a credible
choice of tablets from a range of manufacturers. No longer can Apple just
assume that the iPad will be every tablet buyers number 1 choice.
I’ll now attempt to categorise the multitude of tablets into
logical groups:
Apple iPad – the original 10-inch tablet, which is now on
its fourth generation with more than 100 million of them sold in less than
three years. Staggering number!
Premium Android tablets – devices like the Google Nexus 10
and Samsung Galaxy Tab offer a very similar experience to the iPad for a very
similar price.
Microsoft Surface – Microsoft are late entrants to the tablet
party, but they’ve arrived with a product that could upset the market. However, the first-generation models come
with some compromises: The Surface has a cut-down version of Windows (Windows RT) that doesn’t run existing Windows
desktop software, and a thin veneer of touch-enabled apps that vanish to reveal
old Windows controls that are not very easy to control via a touch screen. Windows 8 as a tablet operating system is work-in-progress,
perhaps, but, in my opinion, needs to mature. The Surface Pro model does, at least, support the full range of Windows desktop apps.
Mini tablets – Google’s Nexus 7 and Amazon’s Kindle Fire are
the pack leaders in the 8-inch-and-under market, but are facing fresh
competition from Apple’s newly released iPad Mini.
Budget tablets – Google’s Android operating system, being
free and open, has allowed hundreds of small vendors to develop and release
their own tablets. These tablets are typically sold for under £100, appear to
offer good value but with limited support and poor quality control they are a
relatively high risk option unlikely to withstand much use and abuse.
The right option for you will depend on your budget and the intended
use of the tablet. Here are my top
recommendations based on intended usage:
As a laptop alternative
If you’re looking for a tablet to use at home instead of a
laptop, or if you need a device that lets you stay productive on the road, then
the 9.7-inch iPad is probably the best choice.
The iPad’s excellent build quality combined with a vast
selection of apps positions the iPad still quite a way ahead of the
competition.
But which model to go for?
The third-generation iPad – confusingly named the “new iPad” – has been
discontinued, leaving a choice between the older iPad 2 and the brand new
fourth-generation model.
Size, weight and performance is very similar between the two
models, so the choice is most likely going to be down to the screen. The iPad 2
has a pretty standard computer display while the fourth-gen model has an
ultra-sharp screen, aka Retina, that packs in four times as many pixels.
If you have good eyesight, the difference is stunning – on
the Retina display text and pictures that appear sharper and brighter than on a
printed page – but those whose vision isn’t so sharp may not appreciate the
higher definition in the retina display, so it’s worth testing both models in
person before finalising your choice.
The entry-level storage on the iPad is 16GB which is enough
for thousands of books, a couple of hundred audio albums or around six
feature-length movies. If you need more
storage then the fourth-gen model is your only choice. And unfortunately the
associated jump in price from iPad2 16Gb WiFi to iPad Retina 32Gb WiFi is currently £150.
It’s an extra £100 to buy the cellular connectivity, either
3G or 4G depending on the model. Making
use of this mobile connectivity requires a suitable SIM card and contract (from
around £7.50 per month).
Very occasional mobile users would be better served with the
cheaper Wi-Fi only model. These can be
wirelessly ‘tethered’ to both iPhone and Android handset for mobile access,
usually for around £2 per day but this is only paid on the days that you use
it.
As a pocketable entertainment device
If you’re looking for a tablet for reading, watching video/movies
or playing games and place a higher priority on portability then the new 7-inch
tablets are likely to be more appealing.
There are loads of tablets available for sale starting at around
£59.99. Personally, I wouldn't recommend any of the little known brands in this
price range. Cheaper models tend to be low spec, unresponsive, don’t receive
the latest software updates and, crucially, are often unable to access the content
in the app marketplaces that transform a basic tablet into a useful device.
Instead, consider the Google Nexus 7 or Kindle Fire HD, both
of which have entry level models with an almost identical specification priced
at £159.
In fact the choice between these two is most likely going to
come down to content. If you’re already familiar
with and like Amazon’s Kindle books, MP3 downloads or Amazon Prime then the Fire
HD makes a lot of sense. If not, the slightly more flexible Nexus 7 will
probably appeal more.
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