[DISCUSSION] Are there too many tablets to choose from?
Knowing how saturated the market is with netbook's and tablet's these days, we want to hear your suggestion's and opinion's. Are there too many options available that make your decision harder when deciding what to purchase? Or do you feel like you should have several choices available? Either way, the decision's not always easy for everyone so this article will help those who are currently shopping for one and aren't sure what to do.
When you begin your search for a cellphone or computer you have several options, we all have been used to that. What we haven't been used to are so many options when it comes to a netbook or tablet. If you aren't sure of the difference, let me break it down for you.
A netbook Computer works on the basis of cloud computing and is usually very small in size and light in weight. These devices run Windows or Linux operating systems. A tablet PC is much more similar to your home PC or laptop and run the iPhone or Android operating system's. I hope this clears up any confusion.
At the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) alone there were over 100 tablets unveiled, some for the U.S and others were for International consumers. However, there are still so many devices available where would you begin to look when you're completely new to the product line? That's what I hope to get answers to and maybe in return help those who are in the market for a new tablet know where to look.
Currently we have access to more than one iPad tablet, more than one Android tablet, a Blackberry tablet and also HTC tablets working their way onto the shelves. Forgive me if I missed any. Do these options make you smile and happy to have them or do they confuse you and make you unsure on which one you want. I guess it's just like buying a phone, you get the one that suits your needs and wants right?
If you were in the market to buy a new tablet and had no clue what you wanted, what would you do? Do you go for looks and style or do you research and learn the specifications first? If you have already purchased one was it a hard decision for you? Did you purchase it because of the manufacturer or did you really compare devices?
If you are looking for tablets and need help, check out this website for starters. It tells you several specifications on more than one. Maybe this will get you started as well as this article and any comments we may get below. Let us know your thoughts!
© 2011, GirlGoneGeek. All rights reserved.
It’s like you’re reading my mind. Been shopping for a 2 months for a tablet, and can’t decide.
I would only compare the forerunners in the competition (ipad, xoom, etc). The rest I would ignore. I mean who has the patience to check the specs on 100 tablets?? There aren’t even half as many smartphones for a single carrier to choose from. (Besides that, are they all compatible with the various cellphone carriers??)
Everyone that I know who’s looked at a tablet had the same problem and they just ended up going for the one that stood out the most. That’s what I’d do too.
there can never be enough…just keep filling the 100-1,000 price range and i will be happy
Only idiots buy tablets. They’re useless. It’s a fad that will go away. Then the idiots will realize that they are just that.
I think that competition is good. Now, these underpowered tablets coming out are ok but they are expensive, I think that through evolution of technology someone is going to come out with something amazing.
The IPAD2 is sexy and… well… surprisingly affordable when compared to some of these new “tablets” being released, not to mention the power that it packs behind it… and the front and rear cameras… I am not an apple fan and wont buy an IPAD but at thesame time, I will not jump on a tablet anytime soon till someone comes up with something that can give me the power (battery life also) and the sleek designs that they provide.
@ alphaxi, I have been using tablets for years. My first one was a Fujitsu stylistic no touch screen just pen. I think they never caught on cause of windows but now with the mobilish interfaces I think they will stick. Although I still prefer a windows install.
i feel you bro but your wrong that this thing will fade because stupid people already buying alot of these things and laptops are taking a hit on sales
My main issue with these tablets is the friggin price. These things are way too expensive for what they are and to think its not even apple with the most expense option. Now for the most part though I wouldn’t call them useless IMO, I think they complement a laptop and not really meant to replace it. I travel a lot for my job and I always travel with my laptop but sometimes the extra weight and bulk, in comparison to a tablet, can get annoying at times.
I totally agree with you with everything you said. Although I see these becoming more mainstream when mass storage (I’m talking HDD level) becomes viable and it has native printing to “your” personal printer via software from it’s manufacturer, not just being able to print PDF docs on the fly.
HP Touchpad Please.
Well I don’t know how anyone can say CHOICE is not a good thing.
You should buy based on your budget really.
I don’t think Pads are going anywhere. They are going to be the new TV, Laptop, Book reader and information device in time.
They are still slightly immature but the technology is maturing everyday.
Eventually the phone and pad market will merge. Phones will become more powerful and you will simply slide your phone into a screen that will give you the extra realestate needed to do pad like operations. We see something like this with the Atrix now. The phone will be the personal data and computing device and the pads will merely be external display devices that use the computing power of the phone to do it’s magic.
This will reduce the cost of the pad since none of the computing power needs to be included and it will negqate the need to sync your pad to your phone since they will be for all intents and purposes the same device.
Pads aren’t going anywhere. The reason they won’t is because 90% of the populations doesn’t really need all the features of a laptop or computer. All they do is read their emails, watch some movies and browse the web.
Only those who actually need to have the computing power will stick to laptops and if the phones progress to the point where they can do it laptops will not be needed by most people.
And if what I propose happens the pad could use all that extra space not taken up by procs and ram and storage to put more battery in and power the phone and screen for more than a day!
Want to charge your phone slide it into the Pad screen!
@PropagandaX
Lets see what you say after typing that 10 page document you need to type. That’s why they will go away. Heck lets see what you say after you type up a comment to one of these threads. That is why they are fads, all you can do is surf the net and play games. That’s pretty useless, unless you are some 10yr old kid who uses it. Most teen through adult users need a keyboard to perform useful task like write a paper for school and who wants to carry multiple pieces of equipment around for different things. Not me. Its like when palm came out with the Palm Pilot, everybody said why don’t you get one their cool. I told them when they make a phone with one integrated into it I will and I did. Its just that it is not an all in one device and I am not going to carry around multiple gadgets when I can get it all in one. Its like carrying around a pager, cell phone and a PDA. If I want to go back in time I already have all of those devices laying around my house. Unless your a kid or a housewife who likes to shop online and buy stuff their pretty useless. So unless you can make them useful for more than playing games and surfing the net they will eventually be gone. I mean how many people have a PSP or gameboy that they use for surfing the net and playing games? Not many and it can do that, hey isn’t that just like a tablet? Yep and only kids use them. Dinosaur.
Laptops can do tons more for alot less..
pads are a waste of money…
@itster,
Only relevant if you actually need to do more.
99% of people who use computers don’t need MORE but they do want something lighter to carry around with them that is geared towards entertaining them on a bus train or sitting “in the passenger seat of a car” and entertaining their children
(This public service message brought to you by….)
@Asphyx, actually on a netbook you can do less and more, which negates the need for a tablet.
I tried an iPad for a week late last year and I think it was great device. The only reason I returned it was because I knew the ipad 2 will show up in a few months and decided to wait it out. Yeah, tablets are not as fully capable as a laptop, but for quick web browsing, e-reader, and game playing, nothing beats it. Obviously, if I was going to write a 50 page school report than yes, a laptop is definitely needed, however, most people don’t do that and so it’s not a big issue.
For the ones that say it’s not needed or too expensive, to each their own, we are not living in a communist society. If you don’t like it, than don’t buy it, nobody is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to buy one. Just like when I see someone drive a Ferrari, I don’t go around dissing the car; I only wish I can afford one myself. As for me, I already have a laptop, a desktop and a HTPC that I can use to do reports and other work on, so the iPad 2 will only be a complement to them, not a replacement.
I honestly feel that tablets/pads are just whats hot right now as well. I think if your a big time gamer then a tablet or pad is good for you. Myself i have an EVO so if i want to play a game i’ll just pull that out an use that as my “tablet”. I don’t need to get an HTC Flyer or an Moto Xoom to do everything i can do on my phone just in a bigger screen size. If anything i will wait until Windows comes out an perfects their version of a tablet like the ASUS one. At least i’ll be able to write up a paper for my MBA class an “look cool” doing it because i have some sort of “tablet” when doing so. If i want to play games i will just whip out my EVO to do that.
One last thing, you can actually do real work on a tablet if you so choose to. You can buy software like Documents 2 Go and hook up a blue-tooth keyboard to it and type away just like any other report. In fact, you can do the same thing on an iphone or Android phone too if you like. The iPhones and Android phones are just as capable as a tablet, however, having a nice big 9″ screen is a heck of a lot better than a puny phone screen.
@NIKKG, so you think documents to go can replace office package? and you’re thinking carrying extra equipment, getting less drive space, less software compatability than a netbook when it comes to the multitude of formats on the market and paying more for it is your netbook replacement idea?
c’mon, you know you think you’re cool holding a tablet in front of others without one.
why isnt it mentioned that there are also tablets that are running win 7 and ones that will be running windows embedded compact 7? as for tablets im with itster there are also netbooks that are smaller in size but still have the functionality as a laptop as well
I give tablets five yrs. before they all morph into Dino.