iPads, Tablets and Androids - To be or not to be...

 

The last two years has seen a revolution. A tablet revolution.  You have seen them, you have heard about them and you have probably even been tempted buy them. The question I get these days more than anything is, “Should I get an iPad?” And my almost immediate response is, “Why do you want one?”  No one really seems to know why. They just want one, like little kids and ponies.

Furthermore, when someone shows me their new iPad, I invariably ask the question, “What do you use it for?” (Most of the answers I receive surprise me. Most people own an $800 paperweight/email machine.)

Let’s find out what the fuss is all about.

First off, I want to make the distinction about iPads and Android tablets. An iPad is like a “Band-Aid” or “Kleenex” or “Xerox”, the brand has been so popular and it was the first of its kind, more or less, that it has become its own product and brand. I will use the term Tablet since there are many, many other options aside from the iPad (more on that later).

Pros for Tablets

• Lightweight and portable
• Applications (or apps) that number in the hundreds of thousands for all uses for all interests
• Because of these “apps”, you can do more on them than you can do on your average computer (see the other side of this bullet point below)
• Thousands of books, songs, pictures, videos and more can fit on one!
• Built in camera and microphone
• Wireless and 3G (most devices)
• No mouse of keyboard needed, just type and swipe! (I just made that up!)

Cons for Tablets

It is not a computer, so a few things are not available that we may be used to, including:

• No USB or HDMI port* (so no printing, camera connecting, and other external devices)
• Aside from apps, there is no software, so no Word, Excel, etc.
• No external keyboard/typing mechanism, can be awkward

• In order to have internet you must be connected (wireless or 3G)
• Additional data plans = more $$$
• Although they have cameras, they will not be a substitute for the quality of the real thing, plus it is too big and awkward for camera/video camera use
• They will become obsolete the day you buy them (but that’s no reason not to! Just buy another…that’s the world we live in after all!)
  
  

*Some Android devices have mini HDMI’s

If you ask me, it’s all about the APPS! There is no reason to own one of these expensive toys unless you use the amazing Apps that are out there. There are hundreds of thousands out there for all things including organization, games, business, music, travel, research and learning, food and lifestyle, movies, books, shopping and so much more! And if you travel a lot and since the entire planet is wired these days, it could be a good tool (toy) to take with you.

iPad vs Android

 

So you are convinced you want to take the tablet dive, but which do you buy and why? The two options out there are iPad vs Android.  Android is the operating system that can be found in numerous makers of the hardware including Samsung, Motorola and HTC.

 

More pros and cons

 

iPad Pros

• A bit more apps than Android and growing more and more everyday
• Apple offers training
• Better known name
• More cache
• If you have an iPhone, they are very similar and therefore, no learning curve
• If you have Apple’s MobileMe, it integrates well with it
• If you have an Apple computer and use the tools on it like Mail, iCal and Addresses, it integrates well with it.
• Updates to the operating system are frequent

 

iPad cons

• More expensive
• Does not show Flash website (however, you can get an app for that!)
• Elements within the unit are not customizable, mostly what you see is what you get
• Only one button - no back button, no menu button (slick design can be a drawback) and icons on screen tend to be cryptic and small
• New iPads come out often, making yours obsolete pretty quickly
• No widgets for easier interactivity with your apps
• Must connect to iTunes for almost everything (or they upsell you to another Apple product)
• Add-ons are expensive

 

Android Pros

• Less expensive
• Easily customizable including the ability to change nearly every component to your liking including keyboard, music player, camera, calendar and more
• Numbers of apps almost rivals iPad and growing (the Android operating system is found in more devices than the so called iOS)
• More options for purchasing the unit since it is made by several companies
• More buttons on the device = easier and more intuitive navigation and more options
• Widgets for more practical tools
• Integrated with Google technology so much of Google products and intelligence is built-in
• No need to use software like iTunes for apps or for synching, uses your normal file manager
• Many of the add-ons for Apple come stock with Android (FM Radio, eg), no extra purchase

 

Android Cons

• Since you are not buying from a company like Apple, there is no training
• Many apps are specialized just for iPad
• Some of the apps found within Android can be lower quality since Apple has a higher standard of allowing apps
• Since they do not sell as well, the support for the product may become less or the product may disappear

 

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/11/ipad-alternatives-android-tablets_n_834029.html#s249795&title=Motorola_Xoom