Table that is good to use with photographs

[CEK40]

Good Morning and Happy Christmas to all...

After the new year I am looking to get a table that I can do a number of functions with. I want to be able to read books and magazines, watch dvd's if I am traveling, access the internet and load photos on. I would like to access some apps as well and maybe even have a game or two on it. I know some are better for one thing than the other, but does anyone have any input that is versatile in a lot of areas.

I am not "Tablet" savvy but I know there are differences in the ipad and the android based tablets. I have been told is is a bit trying to take photos off the ipad and load them on your computer. I know some are better for reading too. I do like the idea of being able to add a memory card to the table for extra storage and to view things on the card.

I do hope someone can shed a ray of light maybe from personal experience or knowledge.

I appreciate any help you may have.

Thanks,
CK in VA

 

[photo_chick]

I think the biggest consideration is the apps you will want. The most apps are out of the iOS. Even though the Samsung Galaxy III outsold the iPhone recently developers still put games out for iOS first. Most of the big apps and games are available for both now, but not all. So make sure the apps you want (if there are specific ones) are out for the tablet you choose. Also if you have a smartphone and have made an investment in apps for it then I'd consider that as well. I buy all my Android apps though Amazon's marketplace and I can use them on all my Android devices. The same goes with the iOS stuff on the iPad.

Don't get a Kindle Fire or Nook as a tablet. Games chug on both of them compared to other tablets. I have a Fire and it's great for what it is, an e-reader with expanded capabilities. But it's not quite on the same level as other tablets. They also use a modified version of Android so not all apps that run with Android will run correctly on them.

If you go iOS it's easy, there's only one choice really. But Android is a little more difficult. I'd look at the Google Nexus line, the Samsung Galaxy line or one of the Asus tablets. With Android I'd also look at the OS version and make sure I was getting one with Ice Cream Sandwich or Jellybean. There are a lot of cheaper Android tablets out there running the older operating systems.

I'm not big on using a tablet for photos, but if you want to go that route the iPad has the best display. For all the things I don't like about it, photos look amazing on it.

And now my personal feelings on tablets as readers. I hate using my tablets as readers. They cause the same eye strain for me that I get when I read on the computer a lot. The backlit screens are not nice to eyes at all. I still use an e-ink Kindle for my e-books. But I also read a few hours a day at least. the tablets are also heavier than my e-ink Kindle, making it harder to hold them one handed. The touch screen also makes it nearly impossible to have one handed page turns. And because the backlit tablets run hot I can't just put one in a ziplock baggie like I do with my e-ink Kindle when I take a bath. All of this is largely a personal preference thing, but if you read a lot it's you may want to consider if it will affect you.