Mobile connectivity is a big issue nowadays. More and more people want to have full internet connectivity on the go. And smart phones are getting more and more powerful by the day, offering some great options for frequent travellers and commuters. But you might want to consider getting a tablet. Why? Well that’s what we’re here to answer today. If you’re looking to have a mobile internet connection, then you could be doing yourself a disservice by not thinking about the tablet option.
The Advantages of a Tablet over a Smart Phone…
A tablet has a few great advantages over a smart phone. The first is the size of the screen. Whilst most high end mobiles nowadays have screens of around five inches, the average tablet has seven inches. A big screen is nice for watching videos, or comfortably reading a web page, but there’s more to it than that. One of the features of most smart phones and all tablets is an on screen keyboard. And while a lack of physical keyboard does mean that a device can have a bigger screen, it also means that you need to type on that screen. On screen typing on a small smart phone screen isn’t ideal for anything more than a short text message. On a tablet, however, you have a far more comfortable typing experience, simply because the screen is bigger. There’s also the question of internal memory. Some high end smart phones now are coming with big, 64 GB, memory space, which is a lot. But these models also cost a lot. You can get the same amount of memory, or more, for a much cheaper price on a tablet. There are also a lot more software options on a tablet, so things like office and word programmes tend to be much better. Finally, there’s the issue of internet connectivity. Whilst smart phones are profiting from better and better internet connections, mobile internet still tends to be pretty slow. 4G is set to change that, but not all areas get 4G services and not all mobile operators have 4G plans. Internet access on a tablet, on the other hand, tends to be much faster and simply better.
The Disadvantage of Tablets over Smart Phones…
The one down side of a tablet is that it doesn’t have the traditional calling abilities of a smart phone. In fact the one thing that a tablet can’t do that a smart phone can do is, well, phone. You can of course use one of a plethora of internet calling services to make calls on your tablet, including video calling on Skype. But a tablet isn’t really a replacement for a smart phone, or a regular mobile phone, it’s an additional piece of hardware.
Why You Should Visit a Mobile Operator for Tablet Deals…
Tablet deals are often sold through mobile operators. This is because whilst tablets do tend to come with a traditional WiFi connection, they also operate with a 3G connection. In order to connect to the internet properly on your device, you’ll need a SIM card and a data plan with a mobile operator. Operators tend to have incentive tablet deals with contract plans. This means that you sign a monthly data contract, in the same way as you sign a monthly mobile contract, and receive a low priced or free tablet when you sign up. Your monthly payments on this kind of incentive contract will be higher than the monthly payments on just a data plan, which is how the operator affords to give you a free or discounted tablet. However, if you want a tablet and don’t have the cash to buy one right now, these kinds of contracts offer you the tablet you want and the data service that you need for a good monthly price and a low initial outlay.
Pay As You Go?
Just like with a mobile phone you can also get a pay as you go plan for a tablet. This means that you buy a SIM card from a mobile provider, top it up with credit and then use your tablet on the internet until your credit runs out, at which point you lose your internet connection until you put more credit in your account. This is actually a great option for people who don’t use their tablets too much, since you only ever pay for the data you use. But for heavier users it’s not the most economical plan. Tablets can use a lot of data very fast, and if you’re a heavy user you’re probably going to run out of credit very quickly.
Which Is the Best Tablet?
The best tablet really is quite a subjective thing. By far the best selling tablet is Apple’s iPad, and this is the tablet that’s most often offered as part of a mobile operator’s incentive contract. The iPad uses Apple’s operating system, and is very similar in functionality to the iPhone. There are plenty of other options though. There are Android tablets, which use the Android operating system that you may be familiar with from your mobile phone. And there are also Windows tablets, which use a similar operating system to your home computer. There is no real best tablet, since it really depends on what you’re going to use your tablet for and which operating system you prefer. But if you’re looking for something solid, reliable and easy to use, especially if you’re new to the tablet market, then you’re probably best off going with the Apple iPad.
How Much Should I Pay?
How much you pay depends on which model you go with and how much internal memory the tablet in question has. In general, a high end tablet is going to cost you over five hundred pounds, and that’s really the minimum, high end tablets can be closer to a thousand pounds. On the other hand, you can get a perfectly decent tablet that will be suitable for mobile computing for a couple of hundred pounds. If you’re interested in an incentive deal from a mobile operator, you’re looking at putting down about fifty to a hundred pounds as an initial payment on a tablet.
Sam Jones found some great tablet deals online. He was looking for a gift for his wife and managed to get a bargain using uSwitch.com
This article is copyright free.