Tablets versus e-readers… which is right for you?! (Part 2)
By Joshua Campbell
Tech Geek & Youth Pastor
So you know what e-readers are now and you are wondering what other portable, reading/productivity/web browsing/e-reading devices are out there. Well look no further, we are going to walk you through the world tablets and which one may be right for you!
If you are wondering what a tablet is, you aren’t alone. Tablets are a (relatively) new product that is going to start hitting the shelves (and probably your homes) soon! A tablet (PC- personal computer) is a device that works like a computer (or smartphone) that is laid out on a single, touchscreen interface. These devices lack a physical keyboard, but instead have a virtual touchscreen keyboard built into the software. Tablets come in many sizes and operating systems and offer many different specs. The biggest differences between a Tablet and a Laptop is the lack of a “clamshell” physique (the open and closing mechanisms), the absence of a physical keyboard, the absence of hardware additions such as an optical (CD-ROM) drive and multiple input/output ports (USB, firewire, etc…), and changes in the operating system software. Let’s take a look at some of the options out there and to come.
Because I am an Apple fanboy, I must start with the iPad. The iPad is one of the first modern tablet devices on the market and has set the precedent for tablets to come. It has a 9.7″ screen, 1 ghz processor, wifi, built in mic, speaker, accelerometer, and the option of 3G. You can get it 6 varieties including a 16, 32, and 64 GB wifi version ($499, $599, $699) or 16, 32, and 64 GB wifi+3G version ($629, $729, $829; 3G service extra charge per month with no contract). The pricing does not make this iPad an option for everyone, but if you are looking to supplement your gadgetry at home and you have the dough, this is a great option! The iPad has preinstalled apps including mobile Safari, Mail, iBook (e-reader app), iTunes/App Store/iBookstore, YouTube, Calendar, Maps, Notes, and the iPod music and video interface. In the current OS version, there is no multitasking (having multiple applications opened at once) except for the ability to play iPod music in the background. There are many top level productivity apps available to make this device more usable in terms of productivity including relatively complete versions of Pages (word processing), Keynote (multimedia presentation), and Numbers (spreadsheet) and even with the lack of a physical keyboard, it is not difficult to type out research papers on this device (I have done it!!). This device is also geared toward gaming in that there are plenty of high end games available specifically for the iPad (it can also run most iPhone apps) from companies like EA. The device measures in at 9.56″ x 7.47″ x .5″ and weighs 1.5 lbs for the wifi and 1.6 for the 3G and achieves a 10+ hr battery life even with heavy video and gaming usage. Again, this is a great device that can fill the gap between a portable device and a desktop computer but still has the ease of functionality like a cell phone.
Recently, Samsung has released their Galaxy S line of mobile devices (check out my review of the Captivate) but they are extending that line to a tablet device as well. The Galaxy Tab is a 7″ competitor to the iPad boasting similar specs including a 1 ghz processor, wifi, built in mic and speaker, 3G, ability to download apps (samsung and android market), e-reader abilities, maps/navigation, and music/video/photo playback. However, some of the specs that the Galaxy Tab have added here are 2 cameras, a 1.3mp front facing camera and a 3 mp camera on the back, ability to add storage with a microSD card (up to 32GB), multitasking (part of the Android OS), and Flash support for web browsing. This device has a beautiful and clean design that looks like it would be a good feel while carrying it. It is literally half the size of an iPad (7.5″ x 4.75″ x .5″ and weighing 13.4 oz) which could lend to more portability depending on how and what you use it for. There are productivity apps in the Android app store that you can download to do word processing, presentation, and spreadsheet work as well as games (some of the same titles in the Apple App Store) that run flawlessly on this device. Another interesting and nice addition is the e-reader interface that opens up to give you 3 stacks of media to read: books, magazines, or newspaper. The bookstore is the Kobo bookstore and provides plenty of titles both classic and new release for competitive prices. Preinstalled apps include Maps, E-Mail, Browser, Calendar, e-reader, Samsung’s Media Hub, and more. The only problem I have with the device is that it is not yet available. It is destined to be sold on all the major US carriers (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile) but the prices have not been released yet. However, this is a very real device that will be hitting the market probably in November just in time to get all the black Friday shoppers all riled up!
Our next tablet of discussion will be the Blackberry Playbook. This is one of the newest released tablets in the mainstream and is based on the new Blackberry Tablet OS. Like the Tab, this device boasts a 7″ screen, wifi, 3G (and 4G), mic/speaker, front and rear cameras, appstore, and media playback. However, some of the specs that make this tablet stand out over the rest is the addition of a 1ghz dual-core processor, a 3 mp front camera and a 5 mp rear camera, a brand new OS, and a microHDMI output. The Playbook has access to the Blackberry App World in which you can download various utilities, games, productivity, and entertainment apps to add to the functionality of the tablet. This device measures in at 5.1″ x 7.6″ x 0.4″ and .9 lbs which puts it as the thinnest of the three devices listed here and one thing to notice with this device is the orientation. While the iPad and Galaxy Tab function and accommodate for both portrait and landscape, the placement of the cameras and external buttons would suggest a landscape use for the majority of the time. A lack of a dedicated e-book store also points to the more productive use of the tablet as opposed to being an upscale e-reader. One of the issues with this device, similar to the Tab, is that it is not on the market and there is still some unknown about the device; however, this device will be fully released in early 2011.
So there are a few options for you in terms of tablets. There are others on the market and to come, and we will get info on ones we see as major competitors on this level. So hang out for a while, keep your eyes open and we will be bringing out more info as it comes!