Consumer Report: Go Banking Rates Savings Expert Finds iPad Mini Preferred over Generic Tablets

Dec. 18, 2012 - PRLog -- Budgeted shoppers this season are considering the option to purchase a low-level tablet for loved ones in hopes of saving money on the cost of an iPad Mini, but Jennifer Calonia, frugal shopping expert of Go Banking Rates, investigates whether generic tablets are truly the value shoppers seek, or if consumers can expect to look forward to software headaches and wasted money shortly after their purchase.

According to a survey by the National Retail Federation, electronics like tablet PCs occupied 25.2% of 2012 Cyber Monday purchases alone. And a separate International Data Corporation (IDC) report revealed that in Q3, Apple dominated 50.4% of the tablet market over generic tablets and brands with lower demand such as Samsung, Amazon.com and Asus.

These numbers clearly are no exaggeration, as when Go Banking Rates surveyed Americans in a head-to-head battle between generic tablets and iPads, consumers heavily favored the luxury-branded iPad over its competitors for different reasons, but two specific justifications kept coming up.

iPads and iPad Minis both were a fan favorite this holiday season due to:

1.The Apple brand securing users’ social status among peers

2.The iPad’s unquestionable build quality and functionality

“Whether or not letting go of more than $500 for an iPad Mini is truly merited is really a matter of preferences,” explains Ms. Calonia. “Those who are used to a particularly higher level of performance or have an inclination toward buzzy, brand name products may get a greater sense of satisfaction -- and get their money’s worth, in a sense -- by steering clear of generic tablets.”

While Apple, Inc. dominates the tablet market, many consumers are turning to more affordable devices that fit their holiday budgets more comfortably.

In her report, Ms. Calonia discovers that three specific non-Apple tablets are deftly winning over Americans with their lower price tags and ease of use.

View the Full Report Here. (http://www.gobankingrates.com/savings-account/holiday-sho...)

Ms. Calonia reports on personal finance, with a specialty in saving money, budgeting and lifestyle. She is available to comment on any of these topics and can be reached via e-mail at JenniferC(@)ConsumerTrack(dot)com.

About Jennifer Calonia

Jennifer Calonia is a reputed journalist covering personal finance subjects like banking, saving money and debt. Her features and helpful savings tips encourage and empower households across America to achieve financial balance. In November 2012, she launched her bi-weekly newsletter series called, “Breaking Up with Debt” where she teaches readers how to use Dave Ramsey’s Seven Baby Step Plan to break free of debt.

Her work is featured in major publications like US News & World Report, Yahoo!, Yahoo! Finance, LearnVest, Business Insider, Can Do Finance and Consumerism Commentary.

About Go Banking Rates

www.GoBankingRates.com is a national website dedicated to connecting readers with the best interest rates on financial services nationwide, as well as informative personal finance content, news and tools. Go Banking Rates collects interest rate information from more than 4,000 U.S. banks and credit unions, making it the only online rates aggregator with the ability to provide the most comprehensive and authentic local interest rate information.

Additionally, Go Banking Rates partners with a number of major media outlets such as Business Insider and US News & World Report to provide compelling and edifying personal finance content, and its expert editors have been featured and quoted on several premier finance websites like Yahoo! Finance, LearnVest, The Motley Fool, Money Talks News, Forbes, The Street, Huffington Post and more.

GoBankingRates.com belongs to a network of more than 1500 finance websites, including GoInsuranceRates.com and GoFreeCredit.com. These sites receive more than 2 million visits each month.

For questions or comments, please contact our Director of Public Relations, Jaime Catmull at JaimeC(@)GoBankingRates(dot)com, or give her a call at 310.297.9233 x261.