Make the Right Decision Re: The Best Tablet PC for You

With every new technology comes a new learning curve on the market and tablets are no different. So with the huge selection of models available from a growing number of manufacturers, how do you know which one will give you the best bang for your buck? Let's look at five simple questions to point you in the right direction. Click here to know more information about this article.

1. What will you use your Tablet PC for?

This question seems obvious, but it is worth answering honestly. Are you going to use it to check email from time to time and play some games? If so, then you probably don't need one! If you already own a smartphone, you have access to email and games. If it's the games, buy a PlayStation Portable or a Nintendo DS and save yourself a few hundred bucks. If you insist on buying a tablet, go for a cheap one because that's all you'll ever need.

Tablets are out of the "impulse buy" range for most people, but they're cool enough, and the buzz is very positive! - to make you really, really want one. Just make sure you know what your needs are before you get sucked into paying more than you wanted for something you really won't get the most out of.

If, on the other hand, you think you'll use it for studying and/or doing business (eg, taking notes, making presentations, reading reports and documents, researching online, etc.), then look for one with good processing speed. , expandable memory, a large screen and good connectivity. There's always a balance with tech "toys" between not missing out on some of the cool features and spending too much on things you'll never use.

2. How much are you willing to spend?

And that brings us to money. You will be pleased to know that there is a wide variety of prices in the world of tablets. At the lower end of the price scale, you can get a very basic tablet with very few bells and whistles; which, however, gives you the benefits of the portable tablet. At the top end, you get full-blown awesomeness with more features than you can shake a stick at!

The trick is knowing what the good value is. And that's where knowing your needs is critical. Hopefully this article can help you clear that up.

As a basic guideline, once you've determined your needs, I'd recommend buying the best you can afford without overburdening yourself financially. This gives you the functionality you'll use today, plus allows for a lot of good services before your needs grow (which always does as you become more tech-savvy) and you're due for an upgrade.

3. Which operating system do you prefer?

Actually, another way to ask that question is "What kind of apps do you think you'll want to use?" That's because the operating system will dictate what apps and other features are available to you. Apple was first to market and had already established the iPhone app store, so there are now more apps available for iPad than for other models. However, the uptake of Android tablets has been huge (and growing), so don't be surprised if Apple loses its edge in the app market.

What it means for you is that before you make a decision, you should take a look at both marketplaces (iPad App Store and Android App Store) to see if there are any "make or break" apps for your purposes. Also, be sure to compare the built-in apps that come with each model you're considering. Having said that, most of the apps are quite cheap and many are free to download and install.

4. Do you need heavy-duty Internet connectivity?

Almost all tablets come with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity. However, what you need to consider is whether the wi-fi will be sufficient for your needs. Wi-Fi "hotspots" are everywhere these days in most urban centers. However, if you need to be connected all the time, even away from a wi-fi hotspot, you should probably consider looking for a model that has 3G or 4G network access. Also, if you don't live in a big urban center, chances are basic Wi-Fi connectivity isn't good enough.