Updated January 2025.
Face it. You’ve been thinking about getting a new tablet. You’re only using your personal computer for email, social media, and movies. Now, I’m not talking about the machine you use for work.
When you get home at the end of the day though, your computing needs change. You don’t need to create a database or a white paper or even a simple spreadsheet.
You’re sending photos to your brother, or writing a thank you email to your Aunt or posting an old bookcase for sale in your local Facebook group. You can do all of that on your phone. You would hardly ever power up your Mac or PC if it weren’t for your eyes!
What does this mean for you? If you’ve been thinking about replacing your older computer, start thinking about getting a tablet instead of another computer. There are a number of good tablets out there, and you’ll save some money by choosing a tablet over a laptop or desktop.
Important!
If you are thinking about replacing your computer, please remember to back up all of your data. Do it now! If you’ve stopped using it regularly, you may not remember about all the precious photos you have on that machine until it is too late.
What should you look for when getting a new tablet?
Operating System (OS):
First, which operating system are you most comfortable with? Which apps do you like and which OS do those apps work with? Your choices here are iOS, Windows, and Android. If you have an iPhone, you may be most comfortable with an iPad.
Cell Service:
Do you expect to only use your tablet in locations that have reliable WiFi? If not, take a look at tablets that provide cell service. This has been handy when out on the road using the mapping function.
Battery Life:
If there is one thing that bugs me, it is having to recharge a device after only a short period of time being used. Take a close look at how long each new tablet is expected to last on its battery.
Screen Size:
Screen size and weight go hand in hand. Do you want something that fits easily into your backpack without being too cumbersome? The most common screen size is around 11″. In that size, your new tablet could weigh about one to 1 1/2 pounds.
Storage:
If you’ll be storing a lot of photos or music on your tablet, get the biggest size you can afford. Tablets normally run in sizes from 128gb, 512gb, and 1 TB. Other than screen size, this is the one thing that will really bump up the price.
Camera:
Will you be taking a lot of photos with your new tablet? Or will you continue to primarily use your phone for photos? Will you use your tablet for Zoom or FaceTime calls? Think about the quality of the camera. Most tablets have cameras with 8 to 13 megapixels.
Price:
Most tablets are currently selling for $150 to $800. Make sure you know what is important to you, what you absolutely need, and what you can live without.
Think about:
I got the Apple pencil and Magic keyboard when I got my last iPad. The keyboard/case is a godsend! I hardly ever use the pencil.
INFORMATION ABOUT GEEK FOR HIRE, INC.
Chris Eddy of Geek For Hire, Inc. has provided computer service to families and small businesses with Macs and PCs for the past twenty-plus years. You can find more on our website or give us a call. Geek For Hire, Inc. provides on-site computer repair service (Tier 3 support) to the Denver / Boulder / Front Range area and remote PC and Mac service throughout North America.
We’ve been using Amazon Prime for the past few years. We like the free and fast shipping. With Prime, we have access to online streaming, too. You can get a free 30-day trial by clicking on this link: Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
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