Tablet: Mobile Computing Device

Tablets are portable computers featuring screens with a size of seven inches or above, generally no bigger or more cumbersome than an average book. Typical tablet features include a camera, microphone, touchscreen controls and on screen keyboard for typing. The iPad from Apple is the most popular tablet developed to date.

No More Dream of the Future: Tablets

Tablets existed within the realm of sci-fi, film and TV from the mid-20th century when Isaac Asimov first described a calculator pen in his novel Foundation. The Star Trek films and TV series made frequent use of tablet computing devices in numerous references, while the tablet encyclopaedia computer described in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, written in 1979, is very similar to modern tablets.

Pen computing and the development of stylus electronic handwriting systems were the base origins for tablet systems, with the first electrical stylus device patented back in 1888. Patented touchscreen devices and early forms of tablets continued throughout the 20th century, until the launch of the first commercial tablet, the GRIDPad in 1989. The origins of the iPad can be traced back to the Apple Newton of 1991. In 2001 Microsoft held a demo of its first tablet PC, a computer featuring the use of a pen and numerous developments in devices using handwriting recognition occurred after this date. The first Apple iPad was launched in April 2010, with more than 250 million iPads sold up to January 2015 it proved the most popular tablet form. Android tablets have since overtaken iPad in popularity due to increased affordability and enhanced features. Smaller Windows-based tablets, such as the Surface Pro 4 by Microsoft, are a good choice for productivity and offer comparable features as laptops. iPads and Android tablets are ideal for streaming entertainment, playing games and communicating, but people with creative or work needs may find that Windows tablets provide necessary access to a wide range of software.

The Biggest Tablet Brands

• Apple

• Samsung

• Google

• Microsoft

• Sony

• Huawei

• Lenovo

• Asus

• Acer

• HP

What to Look for in a Good Tablet

First off, personal preference is important when it comes to choosing the best tablet for any individual. Everybody has a different sized hand and palm, you need to opt for the tablet that sits best in your palm and offers easily accessible controls. The tablet best suited to a man standing over 6 foot tall is unlikely to suit the most petite woman or teen. So spend time experimenting with tablets before purchasing.

Operating Systems

The greatest difference between tablets is the type of operating system utilised, Apple devices run iOS, Android use Google operating systems and Windows tablets use the Microsoft system. The iOS and Android operating systems are much the same, similar to the manner smartphones operate. Where iOS and Android excel is within the areas of media consumption such as gaming, reading Ebooks, sharing photos and communicating via e-mail, Facebook, Instagram, etc.

Windows tablets can be used as laptop replacements and should be the choice of anybody looking for a tablet to conduct the same functions as a laptop. The downside of Windows tablets is their expense when compared to Android or iOS devices.

Amazon Kindle tablets are dedicated to readers accessing products via Amazon and use a custom version of the Android operating system, the Fire OS. Tablets aimed at children are also available, providing custom access to services for security and safety purposes. When it comes to app downloads, consumers need to be aware that the size of the marketplace for Android apps can potentially cause problems with viruses or malware. Buyers still need to be very careful which apps are downloaded to Android.

Different Operating Systems: Pros and Cons for Tablets

The Apple iOS was the prime mover in the introduction of tablets so it's hardly surprising they are still in the lead when it comes to apps that are optimised for use with tablets. It's easy to use any Apple tablet, children can be remarkably quick with these devices and the intuitive interface is great, but it's not easy to customise these devices to user preferences. Prices for Apple tablets are higher than Android on the whole, and Android does offer more features.

Price is a big advantage with Android tablets, with some of the cheaper models offering features that can beat or match iOS. One drawback of this system is that the Google Play Store doesn't always feature great quality control, malware on available apps has been discovered.

Windows tablets are more powerful, and the possibility to use the devices in laptop mode can be beneficial for some users. Apps for tablets are not widely available at present.

One of the Most Powerful Tablets on the Market: Apple´s iPad Pro

More Tablet Specs to Look Out for

• Display size - Display screen size can be an important factor when choosing the best tablet to suit your requirements. If you plan to watch TV and movies with your tablet, you're probably advised to opt for a 10-inch screen. The major drawback of tablets with large screens is they can cause some wrist pain when held for long periods of time and you may find them a little large to take everywhere on a daily basis. 7-inch screen tablets are easier to hold and about the size as a paperback novel. It's easier to carry 7-inch tablets around. Tablets between 8 and 9 inches in size are proving the happy medium for many consumers, giving optimum portability and user experience.

• Resolution and aspect ratio - Screen resolution should be the highest available at the price you're prepared to pay, 163ppi is the minimum resolution to look for. Aspect ratio is another important consideration. If you plan to use your tablet for watching movies then you are best advised to opt for a widescreen tablet which will display movies widescreen when held horizontally. Using your tablet primarily for browsing the web and chatting gives you the ability to choose a product with a squarer screen. Most Androids feature widescreen display at a ratio of 16:9, while iPads have 4:3 screen display.

• Connectivity - All tablets feature WiFi connectivity and generally also provide Bluetooth. Cellular connectivity is not a standard option. If you need to access the Internet at all times when you're out and about, signing up for cellular, 3G or 4G coverage will be essential. As long as your provider has available coverage you will be able to access the Internet wherever you're located. Cellular and 4G contracts give the fastest speeds and best accessibility, while 3G contracts will only allow connection via 3G signals. If you're aware you plan to use your tablet in areas WiFi is not available you may want to opt for a tablet that takes a SIM. PAYG or contract terms will cost more, however, it's possible to reduce charges by using the same SIM in a smartphone when choosing 4G connectivity, meaning the tablet can also be used for phone calls. Bluetooth connectivity allows you to swap files with other Bluetooth devices in the vicinity and to stream entertainment direct to your tablet.

• Ports - Tablets usually feature at least one USB port (exept for iPads, they only offer a Lightning port to connect other devices, which means that you´ll need an adapter), as well as a 3.5mm port for your headphones. Some devices feature ports that can be connected to HD TVs using HDMI cables. Memory card slots are also available on some tablets.

• Storage - Storage of 16GB should be an absolute minimum requirement for any tablet, it's also a good idea to check out how much of this space is occupied by the operating system on the device. Ideally you should purchase a tablet with larger capacity in addition to any cloud storage deals that may be available. Some tablets provide options to increase storage using SD cards, however, this could have a detrimental effect on tablet performance.

• Performance - Tablet performance is based on processor and memory, dual-core or quad-core processors improve performance, with octa-core processing providing the best performance. Sourcing a tablet with high levels of RAM also results in better speeds and performance levels. Different types of tablets provide processors from a variety of manufacturers, most Androids and all iPads feature ARM processors while Intel has made inroads into this market over recent years and provides processors for Samsung tablets. Intel processors are the most highly regarded processors currently on the market and are commonly used in all Windows tablets.

• Cameras - The camera feature on tablets is not among the best, one camera on the front is the norm for video calling considerations. Rear cameras allow video shooting and have better photography features. When a good camera on tablets is a necessity, don't opt for less than 5MP.

• Battery life and other features - Battery recharge times can be important factors to consider when checking out different tablets and you should expect battery life of six hours minimum. Other features to take into account before buying tablets include Bluetooth and NFC, Infrared transmitters (IR blasters) which can be used to control devices around the home and whether wireless charging is available. It's possible to connect Android or iPad tablets to TVs via the HDMI ports. Proprietary charging stations are a common feature of all iPads, meaning all peripherals need to be purchased from Apple. Android and Windows tablets can be used with any Micro or full sized USB charger.

Tablet Accessories

It's possible to purchase a variety of cables or adapters to enable tablet connections to speakers, TVs and computers. Check out the full specification of any tablet prior to purchase if you intend to connect your tablet to other types of device. Micro SD cards can give added external storage for tablets, if a memory card slot is featured on the tablets. It's also possible to connect external storage devices that feature WiFi access to your tablet.

It's a good idea to purchase a protective case for your tablet. Many of the cases on sale can be used as tablet stands or feature keyboards as an additional bonus.

Signature Type Cover for the Microsoft Surface Pro 4

Gaming With a Mobile Tablet Device

Tablets with higher specifications are better for gaming, for example the more expensive Android models, Apple iPad and Microsoft tablets. You'll need a high performance tablet with impressive graphics to have the best gaming experiences and Android does score highly in this area. There is greater game availability across Android and Windows devices as well.

Apple tablets have the required specifications for gaming on the whole, however, it may only be possible to access the most popular games in the Apple Store as developers won't always write iOS versions. The benefit of gaming on Apple devices is that it's easy to access multiplayer gaming with friends across all Apple devices, just so long as everybody has the same game loaded.

Tablets running Windows have access to all PC gaming options, in this respect they can be said to provide the best gaming experience of all tablets. Expense and available choice of Windows tablets, however, does place limitations on what you can purchase.

Tablet Security: Susceptibility to Virus

Downloading suspect apps can be one way to add a virus to any tablet, so it's always best to use trusted providers for apps and downloads of any kind. Antivirus programs are a good way to keep all files and software on tablets protected at all times, there are free antivirus installations for tablets online. Antivirus is not a recommendation for Apple users as iOS is a more secure platform with more security features than commonly available with Windows or Android. Although malware attacks have been recorded on Macs, there is more incentive for criminals to target Windows or Android devices as there are more available malware writing programs for the more popular platforms and attacks on these devices are known to achieve pay offs. Hacking and attacks are more prevalent now, so Mac users should not be complacent about device security at all.

Apple does test all apps before releasing them in the App Store, Android is a more open platform. Avoiding viruses and malware with Android tablets is a case of using common sense. Downloading apps from Google Play or the Amazon App Store offers some protection against malware or virus infections and users should be very suspicious of any apps that can be downloaded directly from e-mails or apps that attempt to force access to tablets. Furthermore, reading the permissions prior to adding any app will give you all the information needed about the app, its functions and what access it requires. It may be tedious to read through all this detail, but really does make sense to be vigilant.

Portability is Important: Weight and Size of a Tablet

Finally, the weight and size of your portable tablet are major considerations. The lightest, thinnest tablets are manufactured with better components so don't expect your ideal tablet to be the least expensive and where possible take time to trial a few tablets for weight, size and portability before buying any product.

Tablet Updates and Upgrades

It's always a good idea to update any tablet with the latest software upgrades, to keep your device running at optimum levels. Searching for software updates through the Settings section of your tablet is one way to discover available updates, however, they won't always be available for the make and model of tablet owned. Tablets running Windows should be easy to automatically update via the Windows regular upgrade system on the device's desktop and Apple device updates will be available from the Mac App Store.

As already discussed, 16GB memory should be the minimum requirement memory requirement and it's not possible to upgrade the internal storage on most iPads, Android or Windows devices. Expansion slots for memory cards and USB ports can offer expanded added memory space and could work out cheaper than buying a tablet with larger memory capacity.

A Cheap Tablet: How to Find it

Price is an important factor: Electronic devices cost money - a lot. But cheap tablets aren´t hard to find, if you consider a few things.

Tablets are cheaper around Black Friday and in the run up to Christmas, but there's really no need to put off your purchase waiting for Black Friday tablet deals. Technology retailers such as Currys, PC World, GAME and Argos offer heavy discounts and tablet deals at various times of year such as the January Sales, cheaper prices could depend on the manufacturer's fiscal year end or may be a result of new products being issued. Retailers also tend to apply discounts on Monday, so if you plan to buy a tablet this could be the best day of the week to source a tablet sale at your favourite retailer.

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