So, you want something smaller to do your computing with, and you’re looking at tablets. How do we select the best one? That’s a good question. There are some things you’re going to want to look at.
Screen Size and Display Quality
Both screen size and display quality are very important considerations. Remember, you want something portable. I have a 7-inch iPad myself. Tablets come in various sizes: Small: 7 inches, Medium: 9 to 11 inches Large: 12 inches and larger
Operating Systems
What kind of operating system do you want? Apple uses iOS. Android devices use Android. Windows run full desktop software that is compatible with both iOS and Android ecosystems
Processor and RAM
You’re going to want to match the processor and RAM to your intended uses. If you’re a gamer, you’re going to want a lot of RAM and storage capacity. If you’re using it primarily to store Kindle books, you can store many books on a small tablet.
Personal Examples
I have two tablets. I’ve got an iOS device – a small 7-inch iPad that I use primarily for reading Kindle books. I also sit on my sofa, browse the web, and look at various sites. I have a good friend who, with his old 7-inch iPad, dictated an entire 240-page book. You can look for it on Amazon – it’s called Drink More Wine: A Simple Guide to Peak Excellence Now by John Palmer Claridge. He went into dictate mode on his iPad and wrote this entire book. I have it, and it’s fascinating. I had another friend who ended up in a nursing home before he passed away. He was a computer enthusiast but couldn’t have a laptop in the nursing home. So his friend got him the biggest iPad available so he could surf the web and dictate emails before he passed. It was wonderful equipment that bridged a lot of gaps.
Storage Capacity
One important consideration is storage capacity for your apps. If you store a lot of videos, I know a friend who downloads movies onto her iPad, watches them later, then deletes them and loads new ones.
Battery Life
Battery life is crucial. My iPad used to last anywhere between 8 and 12 hours. I have an Android that used to last even longer. Now they’re both older tablets, and the battery life has diminished.
Build Quality and Durability
The build and durability of both my iPad and Android are good, but you don’t want to drop them. Make sure you have a good case so that if you do drop it, you’re protected.
Internet Connectivity
How do you connect to the internet? Most tablets are Wi-Fi only, though some, like a friend’s Android, are connected to cellular service.
Camera Quality
I have never taken a picture with either of my tablets, but I did shoot a video on my iPad. At our club meeting one night, I recorded the speaker, and the video quality was remarkable. About a week later, I was driving down Greenbrier Boulevard in Clearwater and saw a production crew making a commercial video in someone’s front yard. They had two iPads on tripods. Curious, I parked and quietly walked up to ask what they were doing. They told me they were making a television commercial that would air on Bay News 9 for a real estate company. I asked, “Really? You’re doing it with iPads?” They said yes – iPads were the best thing ever for their work, and they did all their television production on iPads. I found that fascinating.
Price and Value
Look for good price and value. I actually got my iPad for free by shopping at Walmart and saving receipts. Years ago, they had a program where you could save receipts online, scan them in-store, and build up credit. In a short period, I had enough credit to get an iPad free. They changed how that program worked afterward, making it nearly impossible to earn enough credit for expensive items.
Software Updates
Consider how updates work. If you’re looking at an Android device, there are many different versions of Android available. I can’t say what will be best for you – again, it all depends on what you’re going to use your tablet for.