At my school we are beginning to demo a class set of iPads, 20 iPads intended for student use. After a recent introduction one teacher asked me about the difference between the iPad and some other tablets, like Amazon's new Kindle Fire or any of the NOOK eReaders. Each tablet seems similar enough, yet which one is better? Some are more expensive than others, so what do I need to just get the job done?
I kindly told her that she was asking the wrong question. In a classroom setting, you want to ask the question, How do I plan to use my tablet? The answer to that question will determine which brand you choose and which model. Whether you're planning to use a tablet for personal use, in the classroom, or for any other purpose, you have to know what the intention is. Just as you use a hammer and a screwdriver for different tasks, each individual tablet will benefit each audience differently.
So, let's sift through the options without getting bogged down by the technical aspects of each.
What's a tablet and an eReader? I thought we were talking about iPads!
I suppose the first question to answer is this one. First, "tablet" is the generic term for iPads, Kindles, NOOKs, the Motorola Xoom, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and the rest. Because of the prevalence of the iPad, all of these products have become known as iPads. It's just like a Xerox machine. Xerox is a specific company, whereas the common and generic product name is a copy machine. So, Xerox is to a copy machine as iPad is to a tablet.
A tablet is a computer that has been slimmed down so it fits into a smaller container, yet allows you to do simple tasks. It fits in the void between smartphones and computers. The idea is that there are tasks you don't need a computer to do, like surfing the Internet or sending an email, and those are the things you'd do on a tablet. They are more mobile than a computer, but more robust than a smartphone.
Within the large collection of tablets exists a smaller group of
text-only devices. These devices, which are designed for reading text
without the ability to surf the Internet, are known as eReaders. The
earliest versions of the NOOK and Kindle are eReaders. They may provide
access to the Internet to purchase additional titles from a bookseller,
but their primary purpose is to display text.
$ v. $$$
Money
always raises the questions of "Why should I pay a lot of money when I
can get the same product for less?" and "Why is one company charging so
much more than the others?" These questions usually stem from the price
difference between the iPad, which is roughly $500, and its
competitors, the Kindle Fire at $200 and a NOOK, which can duck under
$100. The simple answer is that when you pay more for a device, you are paying for a higher quality machine and one that will--or should--provide you with greater capabilities. According to iSuppli, it costs $259.60 to build an iPad (source) and $326 to build an iPad 2 (source). On the other hand, iSuppli declares Amazon's Kindle Fire can be built for $201.70 (source).
The reason you're paying so much more for the iPad is that it is a
much higher quality machine, one that is more powerful and is made with
more reliable parts of a better grade than its competitors. The iPad's
inner parts make it a superior product in terms of power, speed,
reliability, and capability. As the numbers show, Apple is using superior parts to build their iPads, which helps consumers feel more confident using an iPad while providing the Kindle Fire with only lackluster reviews.
Text Only v. Text and Pictures
Again, the question we must keep in our minds is "How do I plan to use my tablet?" In regards to this particular aspect, are you looking for device that will allow you to read text-only documents, as you would do with a traditional book, or would you like to view magazines and websites that include photos? If you are only wanting to read traditional text, an inexpensive eReader, such as a NOOK Simple Touch, which sells for less than $100, may be the way to go. However, if you're looking to jump online and catch up on how your fantasy football league is performing, you're going to need something a little more substantial.
WiFi v. 3G
This is a question of how your tablet connects to the Internet and it is one of the first determinants of price. All tablets are equipped to connect wirelessly to the Internet via WiFi, but not all tablets are designed to connect using a 3G service. While WiFi is standard, 3G is an add-on that requires you to purchase an additional service from a cellular company, like AT&T or Verizon.
Question to ask yourself: How important is it for me to take my tablet anywhere and access the Internet?
Many shops and restaurants are beginning to offer free WiFi service, which means you could take your tablet into the shop and access the Internet. If you plan to use your tablet primarily at home or in a coffee shop you should be okay with the baseline tablets. However, if you plan to use your tablet in the car on long trips or in locations that will not have WiFi service, you may want to consider going with the 3G option. If the tablet is going to be used within your school, and your school is equipped with wireless Internet, you don't need the 3G service.
16GB v. 32GB
These numbers refer to the amount of memory in your tablet, so the bigger the number the more information your tablet can hold.
Question to ask yourself: What will I put on my tablet?
Tablets allow you to keep all kinds of things in one place. You can put music, pictures, movies and TV shows, games, and programs on a tablet and access them at any time. However, each program consumes a certain amount of space, which will require you to figure out what you want to put on your tablet. If you don't plan on keeping your photos or movies on your tablet you can get away with using a tablet with a smaller amount of memory.
- Movies: Movies require huge amounts of memory, so if that is a "must have", you'll need a tablet with a lot of memory. Movies consume roughly 1GB. "So, roughly, I can put 16 movies on my tablet?" Yes. But, don't forget that you're going to have many other things on your tablet, not just movies. Those other programs and apps will also require memory, so you need to consider everything else you'll be using. If you're hoping to put movies on it for your kids while on long trips, you'll want more memory.
- Songs: Each song uses a different amount of memory, but a safe assumption is that 1GB will hold about 160 songs. Got 1000 songs you're planning on putting on your tablet? You'll need 6GB of memory.
- Pictures: Just as songs consume different amounts of memory, the same can be said for photos. High quality photos will obviously require more space and you can plan on 1GB of memory holding about 370 high quality photos.
Final Summation
If you're looking to purchase a tablet for yourself or your classroom, the baseline question to consider is this: How do I plan to use my tablet? This question will guide much of your decision. However, spend some time working and familiarizing yourself with a variety of tablets. Since these are expensive purchases, you want to feel confident that you are getting exactly what you're wanting. Just as you wouldn't buy a car without taking it for a test drive, make sure you know what you're getting before you fork over such a large sum of money! Happy searching!
