New Tablets On The Block Go Up Against The iPad2. Is Apple In Trouble?
Tablets are rapidly becoming the main stream device for personal computing on the go. As consumers demand the capabilities of a computer in a conveniently portable package, technology manufacturers are producing tablets that can outperform smartphones. With bigger screens, faster processors and more multimedia capability, the tablet is poised to dominate the next era of mobile technology. Like most technology, no tablet is exactly alike. Below is a breakdown of some currently available models on the market:
Sony S1 & S2 tablets: perfect for gamers and multimedia junkies. Both of these tablets feature the Playstation Suite for gaming; in addition, they both feature Oriocity for music and video streaming. The S1 has more of a traditional design with a 9.4 inch screen and runs the Honeycomb version of the Android operating system. The S2 comes equipped with dual 5.5 inch screens making for a larger, yet more portable tablet. A potential downside to these tablets is their non-business centric nature. The Blackberry Playbook however, is an appropriate choice for business power users and individuals that are obsessed with all things Blackberry. The PlayBook is designed primarily to work with Blackberries and leaves other smartphone owners in search of a friendlier tablet. The only positive feature of this device is it’s 7 inch LCD screen with outstanding quality.
Another available tablet is the Motorola Xoom. Most users may prefer to pass on this tablet. Its cost doesn’t outweigh its set of features. The price tag is definitely heftier than even the mighty iPad. With prices ranging from $599.99 to $799.99 for this device, most casual users may be better served by a less expensive tablet. The HTC Flyer makes an admirable substitute for the Xoom. With a sticker price of $499 it’s affordable and has standard Android features. The downside to the Flyer is poor battery life, lack of a dual-core processor and only runs on Android 2.3. A final alternative to any of these tablets is the HP TouchPad. This particular tablets strength is its multimedia capabilities, such as proprietary streaming music and video. It’s ultimate downfall however is use of webOS, which never made it to the prime time with the Palm Pre. Whatever your needs are there is always a tablet made to suit.
