Choosing a Tablet That is Right For You

Choosing a tablet can be a complicated task these days. With so many options to choose from it can be frustrating trying to figure out what makes each different. In choosing one for myself I found most information online lacking when it came to everything in one place, so I decided to put something together to make choosing a tablet that is right for you, fairly simple.   I recommend the 7" sized tablet for most people. These are the most portable, lightweight, and reliable on the market. A 7" tablet is easy to fit in a woman's purse, for men to place in some pockets, and hang onto while keeping hold of other important items. The various 9.8" and above tablet sizes out there work well for some business use, but I find them cumbersome to keep with you most of the time and too heavy for lengthy one-handed use. The information provided here is both basic (for those wishing to find out what this newer technology is all about) and partially advanced.   It's not a question of which tablet is better. It's more a question of which is better for you.  

The Basics: What is a tablet?   Ever dream of doing your job while laying on a beach or by the pool? A tablet can help you make that dream a reality. Whether its updating spreadsheets quickly and syncing them automatically back at the office, catching up with e-mails, video conferencing, or lazying the day away while solving a mystery with your favorite author. Listen to the waves and catch up with your favorite TV shows or recent blockbuster movie . A tablet computer is so portable and lightweight, you can take it just about anywhere. Most tablet computers nowadays have the near full-featured capabilities of a desktop PC.

There really is something for everyone with tablets.   How to use this guide:   Each section will note various speciic information describing what to look for with each. This can be used to determine which features are important to you and help you make your decision. You can then, go to the full guide with product recommendations to suit your needs linked below.   Display:   You want an HD dispaly. No bones about it! They are not just for high definition material, but they make all types of display material look better. You typically cannot see the pixels with an HD screen unless you look extremely close. Popular resolutions are 1280x800, so anything of that spec or high is what you should look for. You will also want to check for filters or another type of anti-glare. When there is light in the background, such as windows, lamps, or that beach we discussed earlier, they will really wash-out the screen, so this feature is one to look for as well.   Power and Storage:   Most tablets these days from the major manufacturers include a dual core or better processor. Don't always look at the Ghz speed, as different numbers of cores also affect the overall performance.Included memory varies greatly from 4GB up to 32GB typically. How much storage do you need? Well, the more the better actually. With a tablet you need space for all the apps, your music, and especially any of your homemade video. Video can take up quite a bit of space, especially if it's in HD. I suggest nothing less than 16GB of storage. 32GB is better, but that comes with additional cost. As for power, each of these will provide enough power for virtually all currently available apps.   Battery life:   Battery life is what you may complain about the most after purchasing a tablet. You want to think about how you will be using the tablet and how long you will be using it. Then double it! Choose one with a good trade-off of battery life and the features you want in it, such as a camera and HD screen which eat at the battery's life quickly. A good rule of thumb, is if you can get 8 hours or so you're good to go!   Operating System/User Interface:   Popular operating systems include, Apple's Ios, Google's Android. Both Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook run an altered/trimmed version of Google's Android operating system. Some like it as it works well for not "techies". I personally like anything to do with Android, it is just more open and not limited as Apple's.   Camera:   A camera may seem like a great feature to have, but you will want to really be sure it is absolutely needed as it does seem to add to the weight a bit. If you do want a camera, decide if you will be wanting to take photos with it. It can be cumbersome holding a tablet to take photos, but if needed, you will want a "rear-facing" camera. With front-facing cameras, you cannot see the screen while take a photo to know if it's even in range! If you want to do video conferencing, a front-facing camera is all you need. Again, if you won't be taking photos or video conferencing, skip it... that is, unless it's already included in the tablet you choose.   Size and Weight:   Very important if you are going to take this with you anywhere... which is really what a tablet is for... taking it with you. The lighter the better obviously... but be careful here. lighter can also mean it's not constructed as well. Battery life also tends to be related to the weight of the unit, as longer lasting batteries usually weigh more. So look for the right trade-off of weight, construction, and battery life.  

Connections and Ports:   These are only important if you want to connect to a TV or other monitor. An HDMI port can be helpful at home or a business meeting to quickly show content on a larger screen for everyone in the room to watch. Virtually all tablets come with a headphone jack.   Sound:   Tablet speakers are typicaly a weak point Stereo speakers are great... and even a virtual surround option is nice if you happen to be watching a movie while traveling. Don't go for mono-sound is my recommendation.   Specific Features: 

 It's obvious that each device has access to Apps, TV shows, Movies, Music and Books. There are many features specific to each device, so check out the full guide linked below for them.   You will want to consider if the manufacturer offers "cloud storage" for your content. This will allow you to save the storage space on the tablet for more apps!   Some tablets allow separate profiles for different users. This would allow you to let your spouse or children to use the tablet, yet they would have their own settings and apps to choose from. An option to limit children's time on the tablet can be helpful so they actually get their homework done as well. 

 Conclusion:   You can see there are many things to consider in choosing a tablet that is right for you. I hope this informatin has helped those of you who have been frustrated by wondering "what is this tablet thing all about". For more information and additional product specifics along with recommendations, view the full guide here