When is the right time to buy a tablet?

The tablet revolution is among us. Every day, it seems, we get news about some tablet or another that is either hitting the market or nearing a release. If you’re shopping for a tablet, the market can prove overwhelming. It can lead to what author Barry Schwartz calls The Paradox of Choice. There are so many options that the true essence of the decision gets lost. Today we’ll try to break down these choices to their cores, starting with the biggest question: When is the right time to buy a tablet?

When to buy

The issue of timing affects many emerging electronics industries. So many companies are competing for attention that they’re not only releasing multiple devices, but they’re releasing upgrades on a yearly basis. That means not only is there a wide choice among tablet manufacturers, but also among each manufacturer’s offerings. How does someone decide when to buy a tablet on the market, and when to wait for the next big thing?

Chances are, if a tablet you want is already on the market and it was released in the last couple of months, it’s a safe bet. Few, if any, companies will shoot themselves in the foot by offering improvements quickly after releasing the original product. That is, Apple will wait about a year before updating the iPad, just as Motorola will likely provide the Xoom with a similar shelf life. It’s a tougher call when you get to the six-month point, but even then it’s still a good buy. That’s the rule of thumb: if it’s on the market and it’s less than, say, nine months old, you might as well get it. Otherwise you’ll be waiting forever.

On the flip side, there comes a point when you should wait for the next big model to come out. Take the Samsung Galaxy Tab for example. It originally came out last year and received a lukewarm, at best, reception. Samsung displayed a few different models of the Galaxy Tab, though, and chances are you’ll soon find a better version of the original. In that instance, it’s best to wait it out.

WiFi or mobile broadband?

While this is a completely personal decision, it can be a crippling one. Do you want a device that is always on — that you can use anywhere there is cellular reception — or do you want something that will work mostly in your home? The obvious answer is the former, a device that works anywhere. But there’s more to the decision than that one aspect.

For instance, 3G tablets typically cost more than their WiFi-only counterparts. That’s an up-front cost difference that can affect a decision. And then there is the monthly charge that gets added on. Depending on the provider a tablet 3G plan can cost $40 and up per month. That’s a hefty charge, especially when it comes on top of a cell phone — or worse, smartphone — fee. That is, you could end up paying $500 to $600 more for the 3G device in a one-year span. That’s quite the swing.

Before buying any tablet it’s important to consider how you intend to use it. If you have a long commute and want the tablet for entertainment purposes, the 3G one might be worth the additional costs. But if you’re mainly using it in your home — a couch tablet — then the WiFi is all you really need. There’s no hard and fast rule, but in order to justify the 3G tablet you’d probably have to use it frequently.

Small or big?

While tablets come in many shapes and sizes, there are two guide points: 7-inch and 10-inch. There will be variants, but most tablets will fall around these two sizes. Again, the choice is a personal one. But there are still some ways to determine which will work best for your purposes.

There are certain things that are just better on a 10-inch tablet. Streaming video is the most prevalent. Video simply looks better on a bigger screen, and therefore a 10-inch tablet will serve video watchers the best. This is one reason that the iPad leads the tablet world. It is perfect for multimedia. Games are also better on a larger tablet, since there is more room to maneuver on the screen.

Smaller tablets are typically better for traveling. While you’ll see plenty of iPads on trains and subways, they’re not exactly ideal. This goes especially when standing. The 10-inch tablets are heavier and therefore a bit more difficult to tote around. The size and weight advantage also make 7-inch tablets a bit nicer for reading. That is, there’s a reason that Amazon’s kindle and Barnes and Noble’s Nook are on the smaller side.

The basic guideline here is that 7-inch tablets make better travel companions, while 10-inch tablets make for better couch buddies. But there are specific functions that can change the equation. For instance, if you plan to play video games and watch movies on your commute, you might take the 10-inch even though it will be a bit tougher to lug around. Similarly, if you want it as an e-reader and web browser from your couch, the 7-inch might work just fine.

Other considerations

There are plenty of other considerations when choosing a tablet, such as: Android vs. Apple, battery life, manufacturer, and more. They’ll all play some part in your tablet decision. But the above three criteria can help ease the paralysis that comes with such an overwhelming choice. Hopefully now you’re armed with enough knowledge to pick your own shiny new tablet.

Filed under : Wireless Devices