Tag Archives: tablet

How to Pick Out the Right Tablet

Computer Aid Posted on by

There’s no denying that the tablet market has blown up in a major way.

Indeed, it seems hard to cast your mind back to when many people considered the iPad a ridiculous invention that would never catch on.  Those seeking a tablet in 2014 have a whole host of different options to choose from, which is why we’re going to take a look at how to go about choosing the right one, whether it’s a tablet hybrid from Lenovo or a Nexus 7:

Picking a camp

The first major decision in choosing a tablet is which operating system you’d prefer to have.  It’s an entirely subjective thing (despite what many of the more passionate fans might say!) and it’s simply a matter of trying them out and seeing which one works best for you.

iPads will obviously use Apple’s latest operating system, with Android supplying the operational software for most other manufacturers including Acer, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Samsung.

It’s also worth noting that there are now some affordable Windows 8 tablets making their way onto the market.

Apps

Needless to say, apps remain a key reason for the success of the tablet market.

For some people, they offer the ability to watch movies or YouTube videos, for others they provide the ability to edit photos.  Others, of course, simply like to relax and read a book.

The Apple App Store is certainly very well maintained, with nearly half a million programs and games available right off the bat.

Android has certainly stepped up its game in recent years in a bid to compete.  However, the Android store also has a reputation for being less well regulated in terms of security: a lot of malware-affected apps originate there.

The visuals

Needless to say, the size of the screen also plays a key part. Tablets vary by a reasonable amount, usually between 10 and 7 inches.

Fortunately, most of the major models (iPads, Nexus Tablets and Kindle Fires) all come in different size, so you don’t have to be stuck with one brand just because you like the size.

Screen resolution is another important factor.  The more detailed the activities the tablet is being bought for, the bigger and more detailed the screen will need to be.  The Kindle Fire 8.9 currently offers the best in terms of pixels at 2,560 by 1,600.  The iPad’s retina display (at 2048×1536 pixels) is also excellent.

Wi-Fi and other connections

This is actually a major characteristic, and one that inexperienced users will often forget to take into account.

Different tablets will have different connection options, with some only able to connect to the web when there is a Wi-Fi hotspot nearby.  This means that they won’t be able to connect to the net when out and about like a smartphone does.

The ability to connect to 3G/4G is something that does add a bit to the price but for those that want to access the web when out and about, it’s not really optional.

Those that just want to use the tablet at home, however, could probably get away with just Wi-Fi.

Be careful when dealing with Champion Asia Digital Technology Limited

Computer Aid Posted on by

I’m currently looking to expand into the online retail sector, and looking at suppliers of quality tablets, smart phones, PCs and laptops.

If you are interested, take a look at: No Nonsense Computers

In this case, I was looking for a high-end 7 inch Android tablet, and thought I’d found the right one.

It had good specifications, and the manufacturer (Champion Asia) seemed to have a good reputation.

FYI, the tablet was 7″, 1024 x 600 resolution, a dual-core 1Ghz A9 CPU, 8Gb storage, built-in 3G / phone, 4000 mAh battery, WiFi, 3.2 Mpixel camera (rear), 2.0Mpixel camera front, so I should also get 4 – 5 hours of life from the battery.

So, just to be sure, I order a sample (its quite expensive, so its best to check things out first, before sending goods to customers).

Well, I was very dissappointed.

Why?

Well here is a list of minor and major problems and annoying features:

  • Once the tablet starts, everything is in Chinese (since I know my way around android, I was able to switch to “Australian”).
  • The microphone would sometimes stop working (needing a reboot to fix, until it stops again).
  • Battery life was awful (30 minutes). After decreasing the brightness and disabling the 3G phone/SIM card, I could get 1 to 2 hours.
  • A corner of the display becomes unstuck (lifts slightly). By pushing it down it re-sticks for a few hours, before it pops up again.
  • I decide to dismantle the unit, to see if I could re-stick the display (cannot be fixed, as it seems the frame is slightly distorted), but then I notice that the battery says 3850mAh!!! Thats not the 4000 mAh they are advertising!
  • The front and back cameras are badly out of focus… the resolution is correct, but everything from distant objects, down to 1 meter away are blurry and worse than a 1.0Mpixel camera.
  • Refund is only offered if I could “please trust them” and buy another unit, and that unit is also faulty.

Yes, I know what most of you are thinking: if you are going to buy goods directly from a Chinese manufacturer, there can be great risks.

In this case, the biggest problem was the cost of a faulty unit.

Next time, I’ll be looking at the lower end of the market, so I can afford to get a few bad samples.

Yet what I find most surprising, is that I would expect a manufacturer to make an extra effort to provide a good sample, even if the standard production quality is low.

Anyway, Champion Asia have lost me as a customer, and I hope other potential customers think carefully before committing to this company.