Tablet PC's - Is it time to take the plunge?

I must admit, I completely laughed when the iPad came out.  An enormous iPhone without the ability to make phone calls.  But when I sat down and used one for the first time, I thought, "Wow! An enormous iPhone, without a required cellular plan!"  Of course the iPhone is a little different from its iPhone counterpart (mostly as far as its technical specs), but essentially they are the same--running a similar operating system and capable of running the same applications.

But is this necessarily a bad thing?  I use an iPhone myself, and I enjoy the versatility of being able to download and use applications with extreme convenience.  I don't have to boot up, wait for things to load, and so on.  It's just there, waiting for me to use whatever application I need in my work to get the job done.

Tablets are essentially the same.  Both the Apple-branded and Android-based tablets run similar versions (and in Android's case, often the SAME version) of the smartphone operating systems that carry their logos.  The downside: It isn't a computer.  The up-side: It isn't a computer!  No, it won't play PC games. It won't run Microsoft Office (although there are quite a few Office applications that are just as effective for tablets).  But it also won't require you to wait 2-3 minutes to boot up and then "warm up" before you can use it.  It's ready at the push of a button to do what you need it to.

Although I own an iPhone, I am an Android fan at heart.  Their open source mentality and development mindset really speak to me.  Plus, Android tablets are often much cheaper than their iPad counterparts.  Take the Viewsonic G Tablet, for example: 



The Viewsonic G Tablet has some pretty impressive specs.  Like the iPad 2, it has a dual-core 1GHZ processor and 512MB of RAM.  Unlike the iPad or iPad 2, it contains both internal and external SD media--you can simply plug this into your computer and add applications and files without the use of any proprietary software.

Want storage?  Just plug in up to a 32GB micro SD card in and you've got up to 48GB to work with.  Additional 32GB Micro SD cards can easily fit into your G Tablet's case for use whenever you need them.

Need even more than that?  The tablet also supports USB 2.0 and has a full-fledged USB jack on the side.  Just plug in your thumb drive or even a portable hard drive for virtually unlimited storage.  If you're all storage-ed out, you can also plug in a keyboard or mouse and turn your tablet into a laptop replacement.  Some cases, like the one shown below, actually contain a full keyboard and kickstand, giving you something that looks very much like a netbook:



The G Tablet is just one example of the many iPad competitors out there.  It is Android based, so there are always new homebrew operating systems being built for it.  It doesn't require a "jailbreak" to unleash its full potential--it already realizes it out of the box.  

A tablet isn't necessarily for everybody, however.  But there are some things that are just simply more convenient on a tablet that even a Netbook can't compete with.  Like I said earlier, it isn't going to play World of Warcraft for you--but if you want extreme gaming then a 10-inch portable media device is probably not going to be for you anyway.  

There are many affordable options out there just like the G Tablet that you may be interested in, and many for quite an impressive price.  The Archos 101, G Tablet and Nook Color (which can be turned into a regular tablet with a simple software override) can all be found for about $200 to $250 used, and for around $300 or less brand new online.  They can access the Android store, be used to easily surf the internet anywhere there is wi-fi, and even act as a laptop in a pinch (but again, leave the gaming to your home desktop PC).  

If you're interested in buying a tablet but aren't sure which one to get, just send me a message or comment below with your price range and what you want to be able to do, and I'll recommend one for you.  2011 truly is the year of the tablet--and while the iPad may be dominating right now, the open source Android tablet is quickly catching up.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NARCAN: The danger of a "Three Strikes" policy

While speaking with a relative last week, the topic moved to the opiate crisis and the use of Naloxone (NARCAN) to reverse the effects of opiate overdoses.  He said something that I have heard all too often: "I think that once they've been Narcanned three times, we should just let them die."  It's a common sentiment, and one that quite a few people share. I understand where they are coming from.  Opioid abuse and the fallout thereof are a great burden on the EMS system.  Most people who are "brought back" by NARCAN refuse to be transported for further evaluation at the hospital, meaning that the ambulance service generally bears the cost of the medication, equipment, and manpower required to save them. But I hope that those reading will consider something else: rarely ever has anyone woken up and said, "I think I'm going to get addicted to Meth today."  A shocking number of people who abuse drugs of any kind got into it through fairly v
Read more

Arcade Cabinet - PICTURES!

Image
The control panel for the arcade project is nearly finished, and I finally have some pictures of the design.  I still need to add the joysticks (the mounts for these are already installed), and wire the micro switches from the back.  In addition, a nice graphic will be added between the plexiglass and wood, and trim will be added to the sides to give it a smooth, finished look.  Note: Picture taken with substandard camera in substandard lighting, but hopefully should be smooth enough to give a good idea of how it's coming along. The completed board, showing the P1 and P2 buttons as well as the joystick mounts and button configuration for each side. Detail view of the Player 1 side. The most difficult part so far was cutting the fiberglass.  One crack did appear in the fiberglass edge during the drilling of the button holes, but there will be a decal covering that particular part so it may not be necessary to redo the fiberglass entirely.
Read more

Arcade machine - ALMOST DONE! (Painted and Pictures!)

Image
The arcade machine is nearing its completion.  The following things are still on the list: 1: Finish etching the marquee 2: put the speakers, computer, and surge protector in the cabinet 3: Put the keyboard/mouse drawer in. 4: Finish the trim on the control board and add the luan to the front of it. 5: Mount the TV And that's it!  It should be one more full day's work and the project should be finally finished.  I've added a couple pictures of today's progress, one after the first coat of paint and the second after the painting was done and it was moved to our living room. First coat of paint on.  Still haven't added paint to the bottom trim for the door. Final painting is done for the cabinet.  I will be hand painting the controller board before attaching it permanently, but I need to attach the microswitches for the left and right paddle switches (for pinball games) and the coin door switches first.
Read more