TECH SPECIAL…THE GREAT TABLET ROUND-UP - II

THE GREAT TABLET ROUND-UP - II  About the tablets, that cost above 20,000… 20,000 – 25,000 Google Nexus 7 (Wi-Fi and 3G) 3G SIM for on-the-go connectivity. 32GB storage, no microSD slot. Decent battery life (over 5 hours of video); dips when used with 3G. Just like with the Wi-Fi variant, offers a pure Android experience with assurance of OS updates, a powerful quad-core CPU and a fantastic 7-inch screen. Specs: 7-inch IPS touchscreen (1280x800 pixels) | 1.2GHz quad-core CPU | 1GB RAM | 16GB internal memory, no microSD slot | 1.2MP front cam | 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microUSB | 4325 mAh battery | Android 4.2 Jelly Bean Verdict: 3G connectivity adds greatly to the utility of any tablet and this factor, along with a highdef screen and the guarantee that you’ll get the latest Android updates, makes the Nexus 7 the most value-formoney tablet, trumping even the iPad Mini that’s available at the same price. Whether it is gaming, reading, or on-the-go office productivity, this slate is a winner. Price: 21,999 25,000 – 30,000 Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 P5100 3G SIM for on-the-go connectivity. Stunning 10.1-inch high-def display, and its widescreen aspect ratio make it a great tablet to watch movies. Fantastic battery life (9 hours of video). Although the dual-core processor is a bit dated, it performs smoothly except when handling graphic-intensive scenes in high-definition games. The size and weight make it unwieldy to use for prolonged reading or as a phone. In fact, for the latter, make sure you invest in a Bluetooth headset. Specs: 10-inch PLS touchscreen (1280x800 pixels) | 1GHz dual-core CPU | 1GB RAM | 16GB internal memory, microSD up to 32GB | 3MP rear cam, VGA front cam | 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microUSB | 7000 mAh battery | Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Verdict: If you want a big, widescreen tablet to watch movies, then the Galaxy Tab 2 P5100 is the perfect slate. Plus, its 3G slot lets you use it on-the-go, which really boosts its utility. Add a Bluetooth keyboard and headset, and you have a tablet-cum-phone-cum-laptop, ready to do your bidding. Not bad at all for this price. Price: 25,900 Above 30,000 Samsung Galaxy Note 800 3G SIM for on-the-go internet connectivity. Comes with stylus (proprietory S Pen technology). Good stylus-based productivity apps, including Photoshop Touch. Great 10.1-inch high-def display, but resolution of 1280x800 seems under-par at this price. Smooth multitasking across apps. Fantastic battery life (8 hours of video). Plasticky build quality. Too heavy (600gms) for prolonged use. Specs: 10.1-inch (1280x800 pixels) Super AMOLED touchscreen (with S Pen stylus) | 1.4GHz quad-core CPU | 2GB RAM | 16GB internal memory, microSD up to 32GB | 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4, microUSB| 5MP rear cam, 1.9MP front cam | 7000 mAh battery | Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich (upgradable to Jelly Bean) Verdict: The Note 800 is the only tablet that comes with a stylus and is capable of everything that a premium slate can do – a compelling proposition for those who’ve been waiting since the first iPad for a tablet with stylus support. Price: 35,000

The iPads

    APPLE has dominated the tablet landscape since the launch of the first 10-inch iPad in 2010. Through the years, all of its slates boast killer features that make it the benchmark in tablet computing, namely… A receptive touchscreen, capable of sharp visuals and vivid colours. A stellar operating system. Fantastic build quality. Intuitive user interface and a superb app ecosystem with a large number of ‘made-for-tablet’ offerings. On the flip side… All newer tablets use the proprietary Lightning connector for charging and data transfer so you can’t even use an older iPad or iPhone’s cable to charge it, let alone those belonging to any of the hundreds of other devices. No expandable memory slot. Transferring music, movies or any other files through iTunes on your PC is a horrible experience.

16GB iPad Mini (Wi-Fi)
Fantastic battery life (9 hours of video). Storage is restricted to 16GB (however, there are larger storage capacities available at higher prices: 32GB for 27,900 and 64GB for 33,900). No calling facility or on-the-go internet. Specs: 7.9-inch IPS touchscreen (1024x768 pixels) | 1GHz dual-core CPU | 512MB RAM | 16/32/64GB internal memory, no microSD slot | 5MP rear cam, 1.2MP front cam | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Lightning connector | 4500 mAh battery | iOS 6.1 Verdict: The iPad Mini’s size and weight makes it comfortable to hold and use;
ideal for reading, watching movies and playing games. The screen isn’t a hi-res Retina display, but in our usage, it was crisp and clear enough for every scenario. If you will mostly use a tablet in your home, over a Wi-Fi connection, then the Mini is the frontrunner.
Price: 21,900

16GB iPad Mini (3G and Wi-Fi)
Nano-SIM slot for on-the-go internet. Fantastic battery life (9 hours of video). No calling facility – and it doesn’t run apps that rely on it either, like WhatsApp. 16GB of memory (32GB variant costs 35,900 and the 64GB costs 41,900). Specs: 7.9-inch IPS touchscreen (1024x768 pixels) | 1GHz dual-core CPU | 512MB RAM | 16/32/64GB internal memory, no microSD slot | 5MP rear cam, 1.2MP front cam | 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Lightning connector | 4500 mAh battery | iOS 6.1 Verdict: The iPad Mini with 3G can do all that the Wi-Fi model can do, and it also allows for on-the-go internet connectivity, making it one of the best tablets there is with the right mix of hardware, software and portability. Price: 29,990

iPad 4th Gen (with Retina Display)
Fantastic high-res touchscreen. Exceptional battery life (11 hours of video). No calling facility – and it doesn’t run apps that rely on those either, like WhatsApp. No microSD slot; 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB internal memory variants available. At 652gms, it is uncomfortable to use over extended periods of time. Specs: 9.7-inch IPS touchscreen (2048x1536 pixels) | 1.4GHz dual-core CPU | 1GB RAM | 16GB internal memory (also available with 32, 64 and 128GB storage), no microSD slot | 5MP rear cam, 1.2MP front cam | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Lightning connector (also available with 3G support) | 11,560 mAh battery | iOS 6.1 Verdict: Where the iPad scores over the Mini is the high-resolution (264 pixels per inch) Retina Display
with its 9.7-inch screen, which makes it a fantastic device to watch movies, browse the internet, or play games. Price: 39,900 and above

Mihir Patkar TL130505