3G Tablets

Recently 3G tablets have become very popular, with increasing numbers of people using them on their daily commute. But what exactly is a 3G tablet?

What is a 3G tablet?

A tablet computer, also known as a ‘slate’, is a portable device with a touchscreen, which is usually connected to the internet. In practice it operates much the same way as large smart phone.

If you’re the kind of person that loves interacting online, then a tablet is right up your street. There is so much you can do, from watching movies, listening to music, playing games, reading ebooks and of course browsing the web. The list is endless.

The first popular tablet was the Apple iPad, however we have started to see more and more tablets being launched, with Samsung’s Galaxy Tab a close competitor. Other new entrants include the Dell Inspiron Duo, Commtiva n700 and of course the second generation of tablet from Apple – the iPad 2.

Why buy a 3G tablet?

Many people wonder what the point of a tablet is, if you have a laptop and a smartphone. One main reason could be the fact that it doesn’t take long to switch on and load a tablet compared to a laptop. This makes it ideal for the surfing the web. Also they are small enough to be taken with you wherever you go, and tucked away in your bag easily.

Who makes 3G tablets?

Obviously when something proves to be popular, other companies try and produce their own. This is what has happened with the Apple iPad. Recently companies such as Samsung, Dell, and a few smaller companies, have been developing their own touch screen tablets. Mobile operator Three has launched Dell Inspiron Duo and Commtiva N700 along with the Galaxy Tab and iPad providing real choice and you can expect new tablets to be launched by HP and Blackberry very soon.

What features should I consider when buying a 3G tablet?

It is important when choosing a tablet, to consider all of the following – the price, battery life, the storage capacity, availability of app, the general feel of the tablet, and the operating system.

There is no point in forking out a fortune on a tablet that you simply will not use properly. For example if you want a tablet simply for reading ebooks, you are better off buying yourself an e-reader such as the Kindle, at the fraction of the cost. However if you want the tablet because you love interactive entertainment, then it would be worth you investing in a tablet. Just remember that if you want to use flash player, with the iPad this won’t be possible, so maybe the Samsung Galaxy Tab would be an option for you. It all depends on what you want to use it for, that determines the price.

Many companies claim that the battery life of their product lasts longer then it actually does when in use. For example Apple claims that the battery life of the iPad is 10 hours, but we all know, that when we sit down while watching a movie, the battery would drain faster, in this case, in the real world the battery would only last for about 6 hours. This is simply because certain applications drain the battery faster. So naturally you should expect smaller tablets to have a lower battery life.

A key feature to any tablet is its storage capacity. How many times have you wanted to download a movie or a song, and your storage device has told you that you are out of memory space? The key to this is to get a tablet that has built in memory card slots, so that you can keep down loading songs, movies and even apps with no problem.

It is also important to recognise that some tablets have added features, for example a built in camera. Even though the resolution for the camera is typically low, it could be ideal for you if you frequently video call. Almost all the tablets allow you to play music and watch videos, but before you buy your tablet, make sure that it is compatible with the files you have. No point in buying a tablet for the sole purpose of watching your home movies, and not being able to because the media isn’t compatible.

What are Tablet Apps?

Many of the new tablets feature some kind of apps. The widely known iPad has a massive number of apps, with many more added every day. With the new Samsung Galaxy you have access to over 100,000 apps.  Now for the general feel of the tablet. If you want the tablet for your travelling needs, then it has to be light, and small enough to carry in a bag. However you don’t want to sacrifice the screen size too much, so sit down and decide what is more important, the screen size or the portability.

What are the different Tablet operating systems or OS’s?

Another factor to consider when choosing your tablet is which operating system it has. At the moment you have the choice of using Apple, Android, QNX and Windows operating systems.

iPads, like the iPhones run on Apple’s iOS operating system. This operating system is what gives you access to the App store. The main problem with this operating system is its inability to play Flash player. So for those of you, who would love to browse the web, won’t be able to enjoy the full experience on an iPad, as some content that requires flash player will not load. However the iPad 2 is soon to be launched, so this problem may be cured.

Most of the other tablets rely on Google’s Android operating system. This operating system was previously used in smart phones. With this operating system like Apple’s operating system, you are able to multitask, allowing you to check your emails, documents, maps and contacts. However with the Android you have the advantage of using Flash in your web browsers. Good news for all those internet surfers out there.

The next operating system we have is Windows. Although commonly associated with PCs, the Windows operating system is now being used in media tablets, which will run on Windows 7 with a touchscreen. The advantage of this is that many consumers are already familiar with the Windows interface, so will easily be able to adapt and navigate around the tablet.

Blackberry is soon to launch their own tablet, appropriately called the PlayBook, which is to available in stores later on this year. This tablet will run on Blackberry’s own QNX operating system, which like the Android will be Flash compatible, and will offer many business oriented features.

Each week the number of tablets entering the market is increasing, which means a greater choice for you. Just make sure that you consider how you will use your tablet, as this will help you decide which one is best for you.

3G Tablets, 5.0 out of 5 based on 1 rating