Choosing A Tablet: Questions to Ask Before Making a Purchase
Tips for Choosing a Tablet
From iPads to the Windows Tablet, these lightweight, portable gadgets are easy to use. Still, they aren’t the best choice for everyone. When determining whether or not to purchase a tablet, it’s important to be informed and do your research.
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What are you going to use your tablet for? With a wide range of tablets on the market, the options for how much–or how little–you are looking to use it for will greatly narrow the field. Are you going to use it for browsing the Internet, or to watch movies on Netflix? Pleasure reading or for work? Each tablet will have pros and cons for these various uses, so knowing what you will use it for can help narrow your search for the perfect device.
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Which operating system are you comfortable using? This can make a big difference in the ease of use of your new tablet. Apple, Android and Microsoft all make tablets, each having a unique operating system. If you’re typically a PC user, you may want to choose an Android or Microsoft tablet. If you’re a devoted Mac user, you’ll probably want to choose an Apple tablet – simply because that’s the operating system you’re already familiar with. E-readers are also worth considering, depending how you answered question #1. Best Buy, Target, Walmart and other electronic retailers generally have a number of tablets available for people to try in-store. Test several devices to determine the operating system you find most useful and intuitive to your needs.
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Once you have determined which operating system you’d prefer to use, your choices will narrow significantly. Now all you need to do is compare individual tablet model features. Do you want one with 3G/4G capabilities or just Wi-Fi? Check out each device’s details on storage space, battery life, and processing speed, as well as extra hardware features like a camera. In addition, you’ll want to consider size and display quality. If you’re going to be looking at this screen often, you’ll want it to be large enough to comfortably see things and have a backlight adjustment for daytime or evening reading.
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Compare prices. Choose your top 3 tablets, then do a price comparison. Don’t forget the additional cost of accessories and add-ons. This can give you a better idea of your overall investment.
Tablets are fun and easy to use, but doing your research to determine the right choice for you is the first step in choosing a tablet. There are hundreds of different tablets created by big brands (and lesser known companies, too!). As the tablet market continues to grow, complicating your search for the perfect device, consider the four points above to help you choose the type of tablet that will best meet your needs.
