Android Tablet Buying Guide

How do you choose the right Tablet?  There are a few things to consider to make sure you get the Tablet that fits your needs the best.

Have a look at the following points to help you make an informed decision on your Android Tablet purchase.

What operating system or OS is it running?

There are a few different operating systems for Tablets.  Some are built specifically for Tablets.  Others are modified versions of existing operating systems that have been rewritten for Tablet use.

The Apple ipad holds the largest share of the Tablet market.  It only makes sense that the operating system of the ipad is the most popular.  Ipads and iphones run on the iOS system.

Android Tablets seeing their debut in early 2011 will run on the Android 3.x or Honeycomb operating system.  This is a system written specifically for Android Tablets.  It is based on the Android phone’s operating system.  Some of the earlier Android Tablets are running on Android phone systems like Android 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3….. These earlier version Android Tablets will not effectively run on the updated Honeycomb system as this OS takes full advantage of the newer, faster hardware that comes with these new Tablets.

Some of the other operating systems you may encounter are the Blackberry OS for RIM’s Blackberry Playbook Tablet.  The now defunct HP Touchpad’s WebOS which is on it’s own merit is an excellent operating system that just couldn’t find the right Tablet.

Then there are Tablets running windows 7.  Windows 7 was not written for Mobile Tablet use.  It has been adapted for Tablets.  The upcoming Windows 8 will more than likely be Tablet friendly.

Does size matter?

Try to imagine how you will be using your new Tablet.  Is portability a major issue?  Hand size?  Travel?

You can find Android Tablets with screen sizes from 5 to 10.1 inches. The 5 inch models are a bit of a stretch, more like a big Smartphone than a Tablet.

The ipad has a 9.7 inch screen.

There are some smaller 7 inch Tablets available.  The Dell Streak 7 and Blackberry’s Playbook.

CPU.

All Tablet and Smartphone processor power is built around the Acorn ARM technology.  Android Tablets, non android Tablets and the ipad.
The ipad runs on the Apple A5 chip.  Android 3.x Tablets are using the NVidia Ntegra dual core.

WiFi, 3G?

All Tablets let you use WiFi technology so that you can connect wirelessly to your home network or find a WiFi hotspot when you are on the move.

Some Tablets come in two versions and will have a model that also supports 3G.  Pop in a Sim card and you can connect anywhere in cell phone range.

The 3G option comes with a plan, is always more money but you can get a better price on the Tablet by signing up to a contract similar to buying a cell phone.

The Android Tablet market is quite volatile at the moment and a long term contract is not recommended.

Cameras?

Two cameras is pretty much the standard now for all Tablets.  A back mounted camera is for taking pictures and shooting videos.  This one almost always has a higher Mp rating and will shoot in HD.  The front mounted camera is basically a webcam of lower Mp’s and is used for video chat.

What about the Apps?

Apple has the most available apps in their App Store.  Some are ipad or ipad 2 specific.  Apple Apps must go through an approval process before being accepted into the Apple App Store.

Android Tablet users won’t find as many apps but the basics are covered and more are being added every day.  Because of the Open Source nature of Android apps anyone can write and submit an app into the Android App market place.  There are good, bad and ugly apps available and make sure that you virus check all of them before downloading.

Don’t Forget The Memory.

Generally there are 16 Gig and 32 Gig  Tablet models available.  The ipad also comes in a 64 Gig version.  Some Android Tablets come in an 8 Gig model as well.

Many of the Android Tablets have SD and USB slots so that you can expand the memory.  The ipad doesn’t have any expansion ports.

For music and pictures 16 Gigs is fine but for video and hi def more memory will be needed.

Peripheral connection ports.

Some of the things to look for are…Does it have an HDMI port?  Used to connect your Tablet to a TV or Video monitor.
USB?  Used for extra storage of data with flash drives and it enables you to hook up any USB supported device , like a keyboard, mouse, printer etc.
SD slots?  Again this gives you the choice to expand the storage capability of your Tablet.

Most Android Tablets come with some or all of these ports.

The ipad 2 does not.

Weight and Thickness.

Although these are more aesthetic considerations there is a lot of weight being given to the ipad 2′s sleek thin profile and light weight design.  No doubt the ipad 2 is a very nice Tablet.  However it can no longer claim to be the thinnest or the lightest Tablet.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is thinner and lighter than the ipad 2 and it has a bigger screen.  The gap is narrowing between Apple’s domination of the Tablet market and the various Android Tablets available.

Why not get a Laptop or Netbook Instead?

For the cost of a high end Tablet you can certainly get a very nice Laptop or Netbook.  Certainly one that has more computing power.
As for performance and the ability to get work done a Laptop wins that race.
Tablets are more of a mobile alternative that lets you personalize your device with the Apps that you choose to run.

Motorola is a survivor. Still going strong after huge technological changes over the last decade and corporate challenges that have been hitting the company fast and furiously in the past few years.

Motorola is an innovator. Thousands of patents belong to this proud American business.  From it’s simple beginning in 1928 with the brothers Paul and Joseph Galvin making converters for radios to winning the CES best new product award in 2011 the Motorola Xoom Android Tablet.

Motorola has faced many challenges in the past but something completely different is looming ahead for the company.

Google has purchased Motorola Mobility including the Motorola Xoom for an estimated $12.5 billion.

The future is uncertain for Motorola and the Motorola Xoom under Google’s rule, A new boss that isn’t totally forthcoming about it’s intentions.

Google has made no secret about it’s interest in Motorola’s patents. Owning them would give Google the ammo to defend itself against competitors like Apple and Microsoft in the courtroom where licensing fees are negotiated.

Is Motorola seen by Google as a patents jackpot or is Google genuinely interested in all that Motorola Mobility has to offer.

An additional point of concern for Motorola is that the two tech companies couldn’t be more dissimilar.

Google is in the information and advertising distribution business while Motorola actually makes and ships physical products.

At the very least Motorola could be utilized as a sort of testing facility for Google’s popular Android mobile phone and tablet operating system.

But, Google also needs to keep arm’s length away from Motorola Mobility as many other companies like Samsung, Toshiba, Sony and HTC partner with Google and their Android OS for their smartphones and Tablets.

Kind of a conflict here.  Working with the same companies that you’re competing against.

Google has stated that it will let Motorola run independently. Insiders say that Google could sell off sections of Motorola that conflict with their partners.

There are 19,000 employees of Motorola Mobility that wish they knew just what the plan is.

In recent years Motorola has had hit and miss success.  The Razr and the MicroTac were very successful phones produced by the company.  As the Razr’s popularity began to fade Motorola has seen some hard times.  In the last few quarters Motorola’s fortunes have again begun to rise.

Motorola is no slouch when it comes to making a top of the line techno gadget.  Take the Motorola Xoom for instance.  The new Tablet took the best new product award at the 2011 CES show and is seen as the first real competition to Apple’s ipad 2.

Thank you for visiting Android Tablet PCX and the Motorola Xoom

Well maybe not the world per se but perhaps the ipad’s world.

The ipad rules the Tablet market with an estimated 80% market share.  But remember the iphone used to rule the smartphone world until Android phones pulled out into the passing lane.  Could android tablets pull the same maneuver?

Developers who write apps for Tablets are saying it is possible that

“android tablets could pull up next to and even over take the ipad juggernaut in the near future”.

Apps

One way this could happen involves where you get your apps from.  The ipad is tied to the itunes store.  Granted that the itunes store is the biggest app market place there is, developers believe that bigger is not always better.  The rigid control imposed on ipad app development is a sore spot with many developers who value their app developer freedoms.  Many developers also feel that more than one app store per any given Tablet just like Android market place and Amazon is a good idea.

OS

Then there is the latest operating system available specifically built for Android Tablets, Honeycomb.  Built to take advantage of the larger screen size, multi core CPU’s and a nice suite of built in business tools could turn into a lot of sales.

Bells and Whistles

Apple has this sort of minimalist approach to their designs sort of a less is more mantra.  C’mon, Less is less.  Android tablets come with all the features you would expect in a high end piece of computer gear.  Cameras, front and back.  Expansion ports so that you can increase the storage capacity of your Tablet.  4G.  A range of different sizes to suit your needs and flash support, something lacking in the ipad so that you can surf the web unhindered.

OS again

Stop or control the fragmentation of the different Android operating systems.  Like Android 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 now Honeycomb or 3.0, 3.1, 3.2 are all different versions of the Android OS.  They are all competing with each other for the customers attention.  When you combine that with how each Tablet manufacturer skins out or customizes the Android OS on their particular Tablet well now you’ve got the potential for many different looks and features.  This all adds up to serious consumer confusion.

Sales!

Perhaps the most significant way that android tablets will take over the ipad’s world…..price.  Apple products are expensive.  A whole lot of people tend to not like expensive so much.  An entry level ipad starts at around $500 with the high end model reaching up over $800.  That’s some big bucks for many people.  An Android Tablet will be in competition with like, 90 other models being produced as well as all the retailers that will be discounting these models.  When was the last time you saw an Apple product on sale?

Thank you for stopping by Android Tablet and How Android Tablets Will Take Over the World.