What Is a Tablet Computer? A Guide for Beginners [aboutcomputer99.blogspot.com]

What Is a Tablet Computer? A Guide for Beginners [aboutcomputer99.blogspot.com]

Eli the Computer Guy ventures out into the "real world" to our local Best Buy to give advice on buying a tablet computer. Tablet computers are GREAT, IF you buy the right one. If you buy one that is wrong for you it will be an expensive paperweight. I would like to thank the Best Buy in Owings Mills MD for allowing us to film in their store before opening! PS... I REALLY like the ASUS Transformer... If I didn't have an iPad 2, I'd buy an ASUS...

aboutcomputer99.blogspot.com Tablet Computer Buying Advice

Apple dominates the market for tablet computers, shipping nearly six out of every 10 tablets in the first quarter, according to research firm IHS iSuppli. In the April-June quarter, Apple sold another 17 million iPads, a quarterly record for the ... Top 5 Manufacturers of Tablet Computers in 1Q

What Is a Tablet Computer? Clearing Up the Myths

Many computing beginners are being given a tough decision in 2012, whether or not to buy a tablet computer, Android Tablet or iPad, and many are not sure what is a tablet computer?! With sales tactics as brutal as ever lets try and clear up what you should be looking for in a tablet and what exactly is a tablet computer. Wikipedia defines a tablet as:

A a tablet, is a mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or personal digital assistant, integrated into a flat touch screen and primarily operated by touching the screen rather than using a physical keyboard. It often uses an onscreen virtual keyboard, a passive stylus pen, or a digital pen.

So if you wish you can think of a tablet as a beefed up smartphone. A tablet typically has faster processors, more memory and a bigger screen than a smartphone, it is a computer on the move for most people. Another way to think of a tablet computer is as a smaller Laptop. If you find you do not need all the power a typical laptop can deliver than perhaps a tablet computer will have a good use for yourself.

Why buy a Tablet Computer?

There are many reasons for buying a tablet, but for most it will be the extreme portability and small form-factor. By the standards of 2012 most laptops are too bulky for us, so a tablet is the perfect space saving device. For others you may be convinced to buy a tablet to use as an eBook reader. This is a great alternative to carrying around bulky and heavy books, especially when travelling. Finally you may want to purchase a tablet for the great App Stores and gaming opportunities, which are only getting stronger.

In our opinion the best reason to own a tablet is for easy internet browsing. Since Tablets tend to turn on instantly, you can quickly check your email on the sofa, or the name of the actor in the film you're watching. A great deal of us in 2012 are connected to the internet by WiFi or 3G, and tablets offer both connection methods, making a tablet even better than most laptops for internet on the move.

How does a Tablet differ to my Desktop Computer?

Portability, portability, portability. None of us want to be tied to any desk by our computers. Consider using a cooking recipe on the internet, with a tablet you can take this straight into the kitchen with you. As for most laptops and all desktops this isn't the case, portability is the name of the game, and tablet computers deliver this.

In terms of architecture and processing power tablets have a much lower capability. However, the operating system loaded on a tablet (usually Android) requires much less power to run, and is designed to improve battery life. A decent tablet will have around 5 to 12 hours of battery life for constant use. Typical processor speeds of tablets are between 800mhz and 1.5ghz. Typical RAM memory for a tablet is around the 512mb mark, obviously seek for this number to be as high as possible. Typical memory of a tablet is anywhere between 2gb and 64gb, you should seek an amount which suits your needs. If you use a tablet only as a internet browser then lower (2gb) is fine. If you plan on watching films on your tablet aim for as high as possible (32gb - 64gb.)

What can I do with my Tablet Computer?

There's a huge list of what can be achieved with a tablet computer. This list is constantly growing as more apps are released, improving the capabilities of all android tablets. Lets cover the main points in the following list;

Browse the Internet Use as an eBook reader Create and edit office documents Use as a personal media player A digital photo frame Use your tablet as a personal assistant with alarms, calendars and reminders Send and receive email Edit photographs Take photographs (Built in camera required)

In summary when wondering what is a tablet computer? Just remind yourself, they're just like small laptops or large smartphones. With loads of capabilities and functions, they're lightweight and great for travelling. When buying remember to ask the right questions and always buy the best quality tablet you can afford, so it will last you years to come. Enjoy your new tablet computer, you'll love being able to get onto the internet whenever and wherever you like!

Related What Is a Tablet Computer? A Guide for Beginners Issues

Question by booda2009: How exactly do tablet computers work? I'll be getting a laptop later this year and was considering one with a tablet. The first thing that came to mind in considering this would be the ability to go straight from typing something to drawing a diagram (mostly for taking notes in college). Would something like that even be possible? What else can you tell me about them? Would you reccomend one? Finally, if I did get one, what would be a good choice? I really don't know much about computers. Best answer for How exactly do tablet computers work?:

Answer by Mawe :D
Yes, keyboard is for typing, the screen is for drawing. If you are not into graphics design and stuff, I wouldn't recommend one, they tend to be expensive and not so powerful compared to other laptops at the same price. Get a laptop with a dedicated graphics card, 2GB RAM, 160GB+ hard drive and any Dual Core processor. That would do just perfect for you.

Answer by cnshinn
Re: Mawe D's answer. It used to be that TabletPC's were "weaker" than their laptop cousins, but that's no longer the case in most respects. And convertible-style TPC's are often only $ 100 or so more than a comparable laptop now. They run the same processors now, same RAM, same HDD's. About the only area where they are weaker is in graphics performance. Since they are considered "business" machines they don't have as powerful of graphics cards. But unless you're looking to do heavy-duty 3D gaming you won't notice the difference. Many students use TabletPC's because it lets them use digital ink to take hand-written notes, draw graphs, write complex equations, make drawings, markup notes and handouts, etc. These things are very difficult, or impossible, to do on a regular laptop. Good brands to look at are: Lenovo, HP, Dell, Toshiba, Fujitsu, Acer

[tablet computers]