Shopping for a Touchscreen Tablet? Some Options for Mobile Computing With a Tablet: android touchscreen tablet
Although Apple started the new revolution of mobile computing with its wildly popular iPad, many smartphone and netbook manufacturers are now jumping on the bandwagon. With so many consumers purchasing the Apple iPad, it just makes sense that the PC industry would want a piece of the tablet mobile computing pie. Dell, Samsung, Avaya, Lenovo, and Cisco have all recently announced plans to bring their own touch screen tablets to the market in the next several months.
With all these new tablets entering the market, how can you decide which one will provide the maximum computing, collaboration, and mobile unified communications capabilities? There are several considerations to take into account before shelling out your cash on a new mobile device.
Shopping for a Tablet? Factors to Consider
Let's start with operating systems. Of course, the iPad uses Apple's iOS, but the majority of new tablets hitting the market will be based on the Android OS made popular by the latest smartphones. The Android platform has already proven its exceptional capabilities for a wide variety of utilizations. Lenovo is the sole exception, opting for Microsoft's Windows 7 OS.
Along with the Android OS, all will utilize 3G, the third generation of developments in wireless technology for increased bandwidth. Only one, the Avaya DVD, is instead offering Dongle for security authorization.
What about size and weight? At just a half a pound and with a tiny five-inch screen, the Dell Streak is the smallest of the new tablets. It's also one of the cheapest, with a proposed price of $ 550; of course it also has the fewest features. At the top end of the scale is the Lenovo X201, which weighs in at three pounds but features a screen just over twelve inches.
When it comes to Wi-Fi technology standards, the choices are 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, or 802.11n.Apple and Cisco are the only two manufacturers to currently offer them all.
As far as features in relation to price and size, none of the new tablets really comes anywhere close to what you get with the Apple iPad. Since it's been on the market for a while now, the price has come down and it's the beefiest when it comes to computing capabilities.
Tablet Mobile Computing Success
Unfortunately, tablets are not the best choice if you need heavy-duty computing functionality. But when it comes to communication and collaboration, a tablet is a good smartphone alternative. Email access, texting, and media playing are the best features on a tablet, taking smartphone capability to the next level by offering a larger screen. Another advantage of a tablet over a smartphone is the ability to use it as an eBook reader.
Since communication and collaboration are the two advantages of a tablet, it's best to connect these devices with synchronization service for your business. Choose a service that updates data between devices immediately and wirelessly. It's also a good idea to ensure that the synching works across platforms so that Apple and Android users can share calendars, contacts, and project notes. Some mobile syncing applications will offer extras, such as free antivirus and anti-spam service.
Some Disadvantages of Tablet PCs
The biggest disadvantage of a tablet is data input. Yes, the touch screen is larger than a smartphone, but tablets just aren't set up to easily input data other than through check boxes. Freeform text and graphics are often a requirement of mobile computing in many businesses and any of the tablets currently available or proposed do not address this capability.
Tablets make mobile computing easier but they are not computing workhorses so may not be as productive as you're hoping. You may want one now but look at your options before investing in one, particularly if you already own a smartphone and investigate available apps / software tools that could make your tablet work the way you need it too.
Dana Prince writes for GetSync'd. Learn more about wirelessly synching all your mobile computing devices, regardless of platform, with affordable GetSync'd service: http://www.getsyncd.com. GetSync'd could be great for your tablet and GetSync'd customers also get free GetSecure antivirus and anti-spam protection.
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