Buying a Tablet for Your Business – 6 Considerations

Tablets are everywhere, but which one is right for your business? There is a wide variety to choose from, both for consumers and businesses. There is no question that the iPad is the most popular

tablet with consumers. However, it may not be the best solution for business users for protection from the bumps and bruises of business travel and for sharing presentations. Below are a few key considerations to think about when you are looking to purchase a tablet for your business.

1. Operating System – Tablets are powered with different operating systems. The two most common ones are Windows and Android. A few tablets come with proprietary OS, such as the Apple’s iOS and BlackBerry.

·         Android - the most common OS for tablets. It was initially developed as a mobile phone OS and is available from several manufacturers. Full Adobe flash support. Strong integration across Google's rapidly growing services.

·         Windows 8 Pro & Windows RT – The majority of convertible netbooks and notebooks are equipped with a Windows OS. Both versions of Microsoft’s new OS use a touch-optimized interface and run apps developed for it. Since there is a common interface spread across devices, if your organization develops any custom applications, you’ll only need to make one for desktops, notebooks and tablets. If you need to get a lot of work done on your tablet, especially creating or manipulating documents and spreadsheets, a Windows tablet might be the way to go.

·         Proprietary OS – Some manufacturers integrate their proprietary operating systems into the products, such as Apple iOS and BlackBerry’s Playbook.

 

2.       Portability - The weight and size of the tablet are a major factor when it comes to portability. 10” inch tablets are pretty much the standard size, but manufacturers have started experimenting with smaller sizes with the 7” being the most popular.  While a 10” may be good as a reader, a 7” tablets will fit easily into your jacket pocket or your hand bag. In terms of weight, a little difference can make a huge difference in the handling comfort. 

3.       Tablet Form Factor – Slate or Hybrid (tablets with a detachable or integrated keyboard).

 

4.       Wi-Fi or 3G/4G– All tablets connect to the internet via Wi-Fi, but some models also let you use 3G or 4G mobile internet connections. Do you want to be able to use your tablet if a Wi-Fi hot spot is not available? Browsing plans can be expensive and purchasing a tablet with SIM card is more expensive in the beginning. 

5.       Features:

·         Storage – To save a few dollars you may buy a tablet with a storage space of 16 GB. While these may be sufficient for a few hundred photos, some videos, 2 or 3 movies and about 50 apps, you may find that you are struggling with memory space in a few months’ time. If you anticipate your need for memory to be higher, look for a tablet with more storage.  32 GB and 64 GB tablets are standard memory storage sizes with most manufacturers.

·         Expansion slots, USB slots and others -  If you have a HD TV, you might want a HDMI slot out from your tablet that can be connected to your TV to watch the photos or videos you have taken, or stream a movie from the internet. A USB slot or SC card can also come in handy for viewing files or pictures.

·         Processor - This is typically what decides how fast or how efficiently your tablet runs various programs including your regular browsing, watching videos and running your favourite apps.

·         Battery life – The down side to higher processing power on your tablet is that it may need more battery juice to keep it running optimally and the tablet may generate more heat as it starts to process more information. A look through the manufacturer rating on the battery power should give you a fair idea of how long the tablet is going to last. Most tablets give 6+ hours of battery life when in constant use with some l 10 hours or more.

 

6.       Price - If you've set a budget for your tablet and your favorite model falls within that range, you're in great shape. But sometimes you find yourself debating between a pricier model than you really, really want and a more affordable model that feels like a compromise. Before you make your final decision, make sure you're comparing apples to apples (or Androids to Androids) in terms of storage, processing speed, Internet access and size, since even tablets within the same product line often come in different models and performance levels. Besides the cost of the tablet itself, you'll want to consider the price of any accessories or components that you may need to use your tablet the way you want to.

Need some help sorting through it all? We have advisors that can access what you need and point you in the right direction.

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