How To Compare PC Formats To Decide If You Need A Tablet PC
Tuesday, August 30th, 2011Should you buy a super mobile tablet PC or a laptop? There are many questions to ask when trying to make this decision. To find the answers though you’ll need to be able to decipher all the jargon and quickly compare hardware and software features.
So where do you start? Here’s some questions to make this decision easier:
1) Is a tablet computer or a laptop right for you? a. Where would you be using it? b. Is mobility important – do you take many long journeys? c. How do the features of a tablet compare with those of a laptop?
Don’t part with your money until you’re clear on the answers to these questions.
Tablet PCs are lighter and more portable than a laptop or desktop PC but the trade off is that they have less functions and it’s much harder to create content on a virtual keyboard on a tablet screen.
2) If you do decide you still want a tablet computer then what are the next set of questions?
How do you ensure you pick the right size?
Slates vary in size with the majority falling between 7-inch and 10-inch formats (measured diagonally). Smaller tablet computers give you more options to slip into a pocket – very portable. Larger tablet PCs aren’t so portable but give you much more screen real-estate to watch films, browse the web and perform other tasks.
Where will you use the device?
Can you get away with only having a Wi-Fi slate PC that you connect to a home network or Wi-Fi hotspot or do you need a 3G slate PC that connects to a mobile network?
How long is the battery life?
Long journeys require a long battery life. Some more premium tablet PCs give you up to 10 hours video playback on a single charge of the battery, others will run out of power in 2-3 hours. If you choose the wrong one for your needs then it will get frustrating very quickly
3) An operating systems that meet your requirements?
Another key choice to make so you can ensure your slate PC gives you the best user experience. You can choose from a number of operating systems from the best known such as iOS (iPad), Android and Windows, to lesser known WebOS and Blackberry OS.
4) What are the top tablet computers available now and what are their strengths and weaknesses.
There are good and bad tablet PCs available and a wide variety of price. slate PC reviews exist that will give you a great deal of insight into what are the features, what performance each tablet PC delivers and where you can save some money if you’re prepared to trade-off some features.
From here it’s a case of understanding the features of individual devices and which are best for you. The best was to do this is to compare tablet PCs and check out the tablet PC reviews.
