What tablet pc to buy
Tablet computers are the latest buzz. They were years among us, but it is the latest iPad from Apple that made breakthrough for this type of electronic devices. New models of tablet pcs are available almost daily. All mayor laptop, netbook and phone manufacturers are entering this promising market.
To decide which model of tablet pc to buy, use criteria's. Consider factors as price level, purpose of use, weight, screen dimension and display resolution, storage capacity, processor type and speed, available accessories and weight of tablet pc before buying. When you are buying new tablet pc, consider all these factors well and make tablet pc comparison 2012, before your final decision to buy tablet pc.
Where to get more information
- A manufacturer home page is first place to look. There, you will see detailed features and latest news about current and upcoming models.
- Read user reviews. You will find the most comprehensive user reviews of tablet computers in Amazon tablet PC department
. All models are ranked by users, so this could be a good hint which models are worth considering.
- Get informed better by reading Blog reviews on tablet pc you want to buy. You can find short reviews of best and cheap tablets on this site too.
Things to consider before shopping
Price
Price is one of the most important factors when buying tablet pc. Setting a price limit, will narrow down a selection of tablets you can buy.
Main factors that determine the price of tablets are form, screen size and performance. Generally speaking, slate form pcs are cheaper than convertible ones. As well are models with Intel Arm Processors and 7 inch screen much cheaper than those with Intel Core i3 CPUs and 10 inch screens.
Also consider the fact that this products are gaining on popularity recently. As competition is stronger every day, price war is to be expected. Check where to buy tablet pc in order to find out where to get the most out of your money.
What form of tablet pc to buy?
According to their shape, tablet computers can be divided into: slates, convertible netbooks, convertible notebooks and booklets. Slates are typical tablets like iPad while convertible forms derive from netbooks and laptops with added touch screen capability. Booklets, a book like dual screen folded tablets, have a minor market share. In this group slate form tablets are the cheapest ones. The most expensive are convertible notebooks.
How big screen and display resolution?
A minimum screen size of current tablets is 7 inch. Typically all 7 inch tablet computers are of slate form. Tablets with convertible form have 10 inch or bigger screens. A display resolution of majority models is 1024 x 600 pixels. Convertible tablets have better resolution. Typical resolution for this form of tablets is 1280 x 800 pixels. It is cheaper to buy tablet pc with smaller screen size and lower resolution. A bigger screen models are usually more expensive.
Performance factors to consider when buying tablet pc
When it comes to performance, selection should be based upon processor type and speed, quantity of system memory and storage capacity. Typically, CPU Speeds are higher than 1 GHz. Currently in a majority of tablets are installed these processors:
- Intel Atom (built in cheaper models)
- Intel Core-i (built in more expensive convertible notebooks)
- Arm based CPUs (Apple A4 and NVIDIA Tegra processors)
A storage devices used in tablet computers can be
- Flash SDD - solid state drives (semiconductor media)
- HDD - hard disk drive (magnetic media)
Cheaper slate tablets use SDD drives while higher priced notebook convertible tablets use a classical hard drives. Typical RAM memory ranges from half to 4 Gb.
Operating system decision
Three types of operating systems are prevailing in today's tablet pcs
- Microsoft Windows 7 (Starter, Home or Professional edition)
- Google Android OS
- Proprietary operating systems like Apple's iOS
Majority of slates, a cheaper tablet pcs use Android operating systems. Android system is relatively new and derives from cellular phones. It is gaining on popularity lately. Microsoft Windows, a proven personal computer operating system, is powering more costly, convertible form tablets.
Features
When buying a specific tablet pc it is very important what features are integrated into the model. Touch screen, integrated web camera and wireless connectivity are now a must have. But additional hardware features like digital pen, wireless keyboard, wireless mouse and pre installed applications, can be a decisive factor when you buy tablet pc.
