Selecting A Tablet (Sept./2013) Ron Watt
General 1 in 8 people in the world will have a Tablet by the end of 2017 (>900M) PCs number 1.5B (total) in 2013 Small Tablets can also be cell phones All have touch screens Keyboards are optional wired, bluetooth Tablet 'need' can be debatable but many 'want' one For heavy production work, use a Windows tablet or all in one with a keyboard Ideal for media viewing
Choices: Operating Systems Types Operating Systems - Android Computer Configurations Physical Size Purpose Ease Cost Connectivity Printing Accessories Brand Notes Ratings
Operating Systems Android (by Google) (Tablets, phones) IOS 6 (by Apple) (Tablets, phones) Windows 8 (by Microsoft) (PCs, portables) (Windows phone) Windows 8RT (by Microsoft) (Tablets only) Android Versions Gingerbread 2.3 Honeycomb 3.0 3.2 Ice Cream 4.0 4.2 Jelly Bean 4.3 KitKat (KeyLimePie) 4.4 (Release Oct/13) Combo: Win 8 + Android (New)
Computer Configurations Personal Computers UltraBooks Notebooks NetBooks Tablets
Physical Size 7 (Purse size) 8 10 12 X 20 (Desktop all in one)
Purpose (self-opinion) Email, texting, weather 7-8 Surfing 10 MultiPurpose, gaming 10 Travel, reading 10 Special 12+
Ease (self-opinion) Apple: Mini, Ipad #1 Microsoft: Win 8, RT #2 Android: #3
Connectivity Wi-Fi (b/g/n/ac) -need wireless router Wi-Fi + 3G/4G LTE Phone -w. or w/o data package ($$$$ for cell data connection plan)??? USB (Std, mini, micro) HDMI (Std, micro) Charging port (NearFieldCharging) Expansion cards SD/micro-SD Headphone jack, Speaker volume GPS functionality, Bluetooth Cameras (0, 1, 2) Apple products have only a new Lightning connector No flash or USB on Apple products
Apps Android: Google Play, Amazon App Store + 200 small outlets 2.5 billion download/month 1,000,000+ Apps Apple: itunes 2 billion downloads/month, expensive 900,000 Apps, including 300,000 IPad Apps Microsoft: Microsoft Store Limited downloads, Apps Note: Apps available generally by download only, not available as Cds/DVDs from shops
Accessories Stores: -limited selection -$$$$ Ebay:vast selection -$ Examples: Extra chargers, screen protectors, cases, cables, adapters, keyboards,...
Brand Notes (self-opinion) Apple: Initiator of tablets 3 years ago Unique hardware accessories Expensive across range Excellent quality, engineering No battery replacement IOS 7 download date: Sept. 18/13 High pixel count screen Easy to use, intuitive, clean Mini 8, Ipad 10
Brand Notes (self-opinion) Google Nexus: 2nd release in 2013 Latest Android O.S. (Android developers) Best Android Tablet since introduction (cost/features) High pixel screen count 7, 10
Brand Notes (self-opinion) Samsung Tab 2/3, Note 8: Many variants Widely available White cases
Brand Notes (self-opinion) Amazon Kindle: No Playstore access Amazon App Store
Brand Notes (self-opinion) No Name: No Playstore access No O.S. upgrade Poor screens, no cameras Resistive (poor) touchscreens Low RAM and storage memory (often only 4Gb or 8Gb)
Brand Notes (self-opinion) Microsoft: New Player (1 year, next release very soon) RT- few apps, cannot run standard Windows programs Surface- Win RT Surface Pro- Win 8 (128Gb, Intel i5/7)) Expensive
Ratings (Consumer Reports(Aug/13) 7-8 1)Samsung Galaxy Note 8, $400/16Gb 2)Apple Mini, $330/16Gb 3)Google Nexus 7, $230/16Gb, Android 4.3, no card expansion, $270/32Gb, $350/4G LTE 9-12 1)Google Nexus 10, $400/16Gb, Android 4.2 2)Apple Ipad, 4th Generation, $500/16Gb 3)Asus TF600, $500/32Gb Avoid: Archos GamePad 8, Coby MID7065-8 ($ USA, US market)
Suggested Apps Android: AVG Antivirus ES File Explorer VLC Video Player A second browser Skype Kingsoft Office, Google Docs, Documents To Go DropBox Adobe Reader Yelp Google Maps Weather App Outlook
Suggested Apps Apple: Navigon GPS $$ Google Maps Find My Phone Light TuneIn Radio Skype DropBox Remote Around Me Track Flight Wi-Fi finder Adobe Reader Angry Birds Weather Sign My Pad Skype Chrome
Choosing A Printer... Ron Watt
Choosing A Printer Functionality: Print Print, Scan, Copy Print, Scan, Copy, Fax Connectivity: USB (PC, Portables, Tablets) (cable rarely supplied with printer) Wireless (PC, Portables, Tablets) Bluetooth (Portables, Tablets) (slow, popularity declining) Network (PC, Portables) Share PC connected printer (PC must be on)
Choosing A Printer Technology: Inkjet, Bubblejet (slow) Laser (slow, fast) B&W, Colour Pricing: Colour -Inkjet, Bubblejet $50+ B&W -Laser $100+ Colour Laser $200+
Choosing A Printer Cartridges: OEM $$$ Copy cartridges $ Cheaper the printer, the more expensive the ink Low print volume, heavy evaporation, not water safe Usually 4-5 cartridges, Toner: (Laser) OEM $$$$ Copy toner $$ Prints 1000 5000 pages No evaporation, water safe Usually 4-9 cartridges
Choosing A Printer Tablet with legacy (non-wi-fi) printer: Use Google Cloud Print & Chrome browser (print from anywhere in world) (printer assigned an email address, or Gmail/Google Docs/Chrome (Kodak, HP printers) or Chrome browser via PC with legacy printer) Use HP eprint with HP legacy printers Tablet Android Wireless: PrinterShare App ($15) (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB printers) PrintHand Mobile Print (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, Google Cloud)
Choosing A Printer Tablet Apple Wireless: Airprint printer (via router), IOS in-built App HP eprint, Brother iprint, Canon Easy Photoprint, Epson iprint Apps Tablet/PC Wi-Fi Direct (HP Wireless Direct): No router required Few suppliers Tablet Apps (corresponding wireless printers) HP eprint, Brother iprint, Canon Easy Photoprint, Epson iprint
Choosing A Printer Happy Printing