NERDS ON CALL: Tablets 2.0 - How to Choose a Tablet to Suit Your Needs

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sept. 3, 2013 - PRLog -- Not all tablets are created equal, but there are some great options available that will give you the functionality that you’re looking for.  The leader in the tablet market is undoubtedly the iPad, with sales figures leaving nearest competitors Samsung and Amazon in the dust.  It’s a proven, reliable product that will definitely handle surfing the net, cruising Facebook, and keeping up on your news and magazines.

Apple products are generally more expensive than their competitors.  This doesn’t inherently make them superior, but the price point is set due to its market share and frankly, Apple charges the price that people will pay to get an iPad.  Just about any tablet from an established, reputable manufacturer would easily perform the functions you need.  There are so many tablets on the market that it can be confusing to try to pick one up off the shelf.  Stick with a well-known brand like Samsung’s Galaxy, Microsoft’s Surface, Google’s Nexus or an eReader from Amazon or Barnes and Noble to ensure reliability.

Speaking of eReaders that offer tablet functionality, Amazon’s Kindle Fire or Barnes and Noble’s Nook are significantly less expensive and will still give you access to Internet, email, and Facebook, as well as books and magazines.  For the basic functions you list in your inquiry, we highly recommend that you consider Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD, starting at $269 for a version with 16GB of storage and a screen size and resolution comparable to the iPad 2 with retina display (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GFRB9E/ref=fs_j).  There are less expensive versions with either a smaller screen or lower resolution, but across the board you’ll save an average of $200 or more going with Amazon over a comparable Apple product.

As for the retina display upgrade offered on iPads, it increases the resolution capability of the screen.  This will improve the clarity of magazine pages, and support viewing HD videos or content from the net.  The best way to decide if it’s worth the price is to view it next to the standard iPad 2 to see if notice a marked difference.

In fact, we’d recommend that you visit a retail outlet that carries several brands (such as Target or Best Buy) to see, touch and play with a few tablets and eReaders before you decide so that you can see how they compare.

Other options to consider before you buy a tablet:

Check Out the Selection:  A tablet’s operating system and manufacturer determines where content originates from and this should factor into your decision if you plan to purchase games, movies, books or magazines.  Amazon has a huge library of reasonably priced media.  Apple’s iTunes and Google Play stores each have a large amount of content but tend to be a bit more expensive. Before you buy a tablet, find out where you’ll need to go to get content.  Make sure there’s a huge selection of apps and media and then review a few games, books or movies that you’d be likely to purchase to compare pricing.

Storage Available:  Storage capacity will determine how many apps you can install and how much data you can store on the device.  Books take up very little space: you can expect to store about 1,000 eBooks in 2GB.  Magazines can take a bit more due to color graphics and interactive features.  Games can take up a lot of space: if they’re detailed and image-rich they can take up 1GB each.  The true space hog is video content.  If you buy an HD movie and want to be able to watch it offline, downloading it to your device will require 2-4GB of available storage.

Many tablet-fans will point you toward cloud storage solutions.  Typically you’ll get a free account to store some additional content on the manufacturer’s cloud server, but you’ll need to have access to the Internet to access your cloud “data locker.”  If you think you’ll store a lot on the device itself, consider a tablet that supports expanding memory via a removable SD memory card like Microsoft’s Surface or the Barnes and Noble Nook (iPads do not).

Wifi Only:  Tablets definitely lose some functionality when they can’t get online. With a WiFi-only device, you won’t have access to new emails or be able to use Facebook when you’re out of range of a WiFi signal. While books and magazines are typically downloaded to your tablet over WiFi (so that they’re later available offline), if you finish your book and want to download another when you’re not in WiFi range, you’re out of luck. Many games and applications rely on Internet access as well, though there are certainly plenty that retain full functionality offline.

While your tablet will be less useful offline, it won’t be a paperweight.  Before you spend more on a tablet that supports cell signal and commit to the cost of a data plan subscription, try to determine how much time you’ll be away from WiFi and whether you’ll still get enough use out of your device when offline.

About Nerds On Call
Established in a spare room in Redding, Calif., in March 2004, Nerds On Call offers on-site computer and laptop repair services (http://www.callnerds.com/) to consumers and businesses. Nerds On Call provides trouble-shooting for PCs and Macs, home and office networks, printers, iPods^® and MP3 players, handheld devices and cell phones, home theaters and game systems, and virtually every other form of digital entertainment.  In 2009, 2010, & 2011 the company was named to Inc. magazine’s list of 5000 fastest growing private companies. With 15 locations across California, Oregon, Washington, & Arizona Nerds On Call serves more than 40,000 satisfied customers per year. For more information, visit www (http://www.callnerds.com/). (http://www.callnerds.com/)callnerds (http://www.callnerds.com/). (http://www.callnerds.com/)com (http://www.callnerds.com/)  or call 1-800-919-NERD.