Tablet Buying Demystified: 10 Tips
Tablet shoppers face an ever-growing number of options beyond the iPad. We break down 10 key considerations.
The tablet computer will reach a milestone this year. For the first time ever, global shipments of tablets will exceed those of notebook PCs, according to market researcher NPD DisplaySearch. In fact, more than 256 million tablets will ship in 2013 versus just over 203 million notebook PCs, the firm estimates. And by 2017, tablets will outsell PCs by a 3-to-1 margin.
The tablet phenomenon has gone global. In addition to selling well in developed nations, slates are popular in emerging markets where laptops remain prohibitively expensive.
"The mobile PC industry is undergoing significant change this year," said NPD DisplaySearch senior analyst Richard Shim in a statement. "The rapid rise and establishment of white box tablet PCs (tablets made by small local brands, mainly in China) is putting pressure on traditional notebook PCs."
The iPad remains the industry's top dog, but its market share is slipping and will continue to do so as more Android and Windows slates arrive, each targeting a specific niche. Although the iPad is an excellent tablet, it isn't necessarily the best tablet for every environment. For instance, the Clear Creek Independent School District near Houston, Texas, recently chose Windows 8-based Dell Latitude tablets for its student technology program that starts in the fall. Why did the district choose Dell's relatively obscure Latitude over the mighty iPad? Because it runs standard Windows software, including Microsoft Office, according to school district CTO Kevin Schwartz. Obviously, Microsoft hopes organizations worldwide reach the same conclusion.
Consumers and enterprises are realizing they don't need new PCs; their current laptops work just fine. Lighter and less expensive tablets can perform tasks previously reserved for laptops, and do so with considerable less complexity. However, this tech revolution requires slate shoppers to do a bit more research before buying.
As the tablet market expands, segmentation is growing. A sub-$200, 7-inch slate attracts a different customer than a hybrid computer such as Microsoft's $1,000 Surface Pro with keyboard. And yet both function as tablets. In fact, many of us might soon own two or more slates: an inexpensive, 7-inch device for email, reading and maybe VoIP calls; a larger, full-size iPad-style device for movies and Web browsing; and a work-oriented hybrid tablet-laptop with a full-size detachable keyboard.
We've assembled a slideshow of 10 important considerations when choosing a tablet. The ranking of these considerations depends on how you'll use the tablet. Add your own suggestions in the comments section below.
Cellular-ready slates aren't new -- even the original iPad had a 3G option -- but tablet buyers overwhelmingly have preferred Wi-Fi-only models, at least so far. According to new research from NPD Connected Intelligence, just 12% of tablets in the U.S use cellular. However, cell connections for tablets were up 48% in the first quarter of 2013 -- so things might be changing.
For organizations, cellular-enabled tablets open the door to uses that aren't feasible with Wi-Fi-only slates. As long as there's cell coverage, the slate has Internet access. Take, for example, insurance adjusters filing reports from disaster scenes. Samsung offers several cellular-ready tablets, including members of its 7- and 10-inch Galaxy Note and Galaxy Tab family. Other options include the iPad, of course, as well as the 4G LTE version of the Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9" and the Google Nexus 7 with HSPA+ (3G).
Android and iOS slates do many things well. But like that school district near Houston, an organization might decide to simplify its IT management tasks by standardizing on Windows devices. Microsoft's much-maligned Windows 8 Start screen, with its touch-friendly Live Titles, is designed to inspire organizations to go Windows-only, although its efforts have fallen flat thus far.
For full Windows compatibility, the best choice is a Windows 8 tablet, not an ARM-based Windows RT model, which doesn't run legacy Windows desktop apps. Microsoft's own Surface Pro is an obvious pick, but it's just one of many options. Contortionist devices like the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 and Acer Aspire R7, for instance, quickly convert from conventional Windows 8 laptops to touch tablets. The main drawback: hybrids are heavier than slate-only tablets.
The Apple iPad, Google Nexus and Amazon Kindle Fire tablets all lack one important feature: expandable storage. If you buy a slate with, say, 16 GB of on-board flash, there's no way to upgrade. Granted, this might not be a big deal in an era of cheap and plentiful online storage services, but expandable storage is nice to have, particularly if you work with large volumes of data and frequent areas with spotty Wi-Fi or cellular coverage.
So which slates are expandable? Microsoft's Surface RT and Surface Pro each have a microSD card slot that provides up to 64 GB of additional storage. The HP Slate 7 has a microSD slot and also can be upgraded to 32 GB of storage. The same goes for several Samsung tablets, including the Galaxy Note 8.0 and Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, as well as the 10-inch Acer Iconia A200-10g32u.
Consumer tablets, even those with aluminum backs, aren't engineered to provide enterprise-grade durability or security. Sure, you can use a ruggedized case to protect your slate from dust and drops, but the device itself isn't built to withstand freezing temperatures, grit and water.
For extreme tableting, check out Xplore Technologies' iX104C5 Dual-Mode Sunlight-Readable (DMSR), which is designed to survive a seven-foot drop and operate in temperatures ranging from -30°F to 140°F. Another option: Panasonic's Toughpad series, which features daylight-readable screens, hardware data encryption and the ability to shake off four- to five-foot drops, depending on the model.
Which tablet operating system -- iOS, Android or Windows -- is best for business? At first glance, Apple and Android would seem to have a big edge over the fledgling Windows 8/RT ecosystem in popularity among end users -- we're living in a BYOD world, after all. They also have an overwhelming numerical advantage in apps. But Microsoft might be the better choice.
According to a March 2013 study by Moor Insights and Strategy, a tech industry research firm, Windows 8 and RT tablets are easier to integrate with Windows-based networks than either iOS or Android hardware. "In a typical Windows enterprise deployment, IT already has the tools to encrypt device storage with BitLocker, restrict apps installed, and provide conditional access to confidential data through group policies. When IT rolls out iPads, they need to buy additional software, hardware or services to accomplish the same thing," the Moor study says. True, perhaps, but Microsoft still has a steep hill to climb in the tablet market.
Full-size tablets with 10-inch or larger screens, as well as hefty hybrids such as the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13, get heavy after an hour or so of use, particularly if you're cradling the device while standing or walking. Even the svelte 4th-generation iPad weighs 1.46 pounds including cellular.
Anything lighter out there? Yes! The Sony Xperia Tablet Z, a 10.1-inch Android slate, is a comparative featherweight at 1.09 pounds. If you're wondering how Sony's designers trimmed the fat, check out this interview. Also, Apple reportedly is working on a slimmer full-size iPad, one that incorporates the thin-frame design of the iPad Mini while retaining a 9.7-inch screen.
Why pay $320, or even $200, for a 7-inch tablet? Competition is driving down the prices of Android slates, including models from name-brand manufacturers. For instance, the HP Slate7 costs just $170 and has Android 4.1, a 1.6-GHz dual-core ARM processor, 8 GB of storage, and a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera. Not killer specs perhaps, but pretty good given the price. The Asus Memo Pad ($150) has similar features, only its 1-megapixel camera is front-facing. Maybe those rumors of a $99 Google tablet aren't so crazy after all.
When will Microsoft release native versions of Office for iOS and Android? An April rumor said Microsoft is in no hurry to bring its popular -- and highly profitable -- productivity software to the world's top two mobile operating systems, and that it might wait until the end of 2014 to do so.
If you need Office today, there are workarounds such as OnLive Desktop, which brings the Windows 7 desktop, as well as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, to iPad and Android tablets. But if your organization wants to run Office natively on tablets, Windows 8 or RT devices are the way to go, at least for now.
Upcoming tablets likely will include a micro-USB 3.0 port to enable faster charging and to connect to newer peripherals such as speedy USB 3.0 drives. Today's situation is a little messy, however. Your average slate might have a microUSB, miniUSB or full-size USB port. It might support USB 2.0, not USB 3.0. The latest version of the world's most popular tablet, the iPad, has no USB port at all, only the proprietary Lightning connector. Apple does sell a Lightning to USB cable ($19), but the peripheral supports only USB 2.0, not USB 3.0.
If you need USB 3.0 connections today, a full-size USB 3.0 port is your best option. The Acer Iconia W7 and Microsoft Surface Pro are two examples of tablets with full-size USB 3.0 ports.
You'll have to wait a while longer for this emerging technology, but perhaps not too long. Both LG Display and Samsung have demoed flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays for mobile devices. The potential benefits include thinner, lighter and more malleable screens for smartphones and tablets. This in turn might spur development of more durable devices or devices with bendable, curved or foldable screens. LG said in April that it plans to unveil a smartphone with a flexible screen in the fourth quarter of 2013. Tablets that can fold or that have roll-up screens might not be far behind.
You'll have to wait a while longer for this emerging technology, but perhaps not too long. Both LG Display and Samsung have demoed flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays for mobile devices. The potential benefits include thinner, lighter and more malleable screens for smartphones and tablets. This in turn might spur development of more durable devices or devices with bendable, curved or foldable screens. LG said in April that it plans to unveil a smartphone with a flexible screen in the fourth quarter of 2013. Tablets that can fold or that have roll-up screens might not be far behind.
The tablet computer will reach a milestone this year. For the first time ever, global shipments of tablets will exceed those of notebook PCs, according to market researcher NPD DisplaySearch. In fact, more than 256 million tablets will ship in 2013 versus just over 203 million notebook PCs, the firm estimates. And by 2017, tablets will outsell PCs by a 3-to-1 margin.
The tablet phenomenon has gone global. In addition to selling well in developed nations, slates are popular in emerging markets where laptops remain prohibitively expensive.
"The mobile PC industry is undergoing significant change this year," said NPD DisplaySearch senior analyst Richard Shim in a statement. "The rapid rise and establishment of white box tablet PCs (tablets made by small local brands, mainly in China) is putting pressure on traditional notebook PCs."
The iPad remains the industry's top dog, but its market share is slipping and will continue to do so as more Android and Windows slates arrive, each targeting a specific niche. Although the iPad is an excellent tablet, it isn't necessarily the best tablet for every environment. For instance, the Clear Creek Independent School District near Houston, Texas, recently chose Windows 8-based Dell Latitude tablets for its student technology program that starts in the fall. Why did the district choose Dell's relatively obscure Latitude over the mighty iPad? Because it runs standard Windows software, including Microsoft Office, according to school district CTO Kevin Schwartz. Obviously, Microsoft hopes organizations worldwide reach the same conclusion.
Consumers and enterprises are realizing they don't need new PCs; their current laptops work just fine. Lighter and less expensive tablets can perform tasks previously reserved for laptops, and do so with considerable less complexity. However, this tech revolution requires slate shoppers to do a bit more research before buying.
As the tablet market expands, segmentation is growing. A sub-$200, 7-inch slate attracts a different customer than a hybrid computer such as Microsoft's $1,000 Surface Pro with keyboard. And yet both function as tablets. In fact, many of us might soon own two or more slates: an inexpensive, 7-inch device for email, reading and maybe VoIP calls; a larger, full-size iPad-style device for movies and Web browsing; and a work-oriented hybrid tablet-laptop with a full-size detachable keyboard.
We've assembled a slideshow of 10 important considerations when choosing a tablet. The ranking of these considerations depends on how you'll use the tablet. Add your own suggestions in the comments section below.
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