by Ted Saul

Whether you like it or not, Tablets PCs are here to stay and sooner or later you will most likely be buying one of these devices.  Today there are twenty some choices available but count on new introductions to take that number steadily higher.  To help with the buying process, here is a breakdown of what you want to research and ask yourself before making a final decision.

The Use of the Tablet - What is your purpose for buying a tablet?  This question is similar when buying a laptop computer.  Will it be for entertainment, productivity or another reason?  No single device will be the “best” in all categories but finding one that comes closest to meeting your needs should be your goal.  This includes determining how large of a screen is needed.  Most Tablets come in sizes from 7 to 12 inches with varying resolutions.  If it is to be used for video and picture display, then you may want a larger device with a higher resolution.   However if the device will be managing email and other communications, smaller may be sufficient.  The weight of the device also becomes important.  Many consumers purchased the nice 17” or higher laptop screens but found them cumbersome to carry around and the same mistake shouldn’t be made with a Tablet.

The Hardware - Consider the power and speed of the CPU.  Are you expecting to do intense processing? Then a faster processor is in order.  CPU’s currently in use range from 1.0 to 2.4 GHz.   If you plan to store pictures, video or music files compare disk sizes that vary from 4 to 160 GB depending on the type of tablet.  And just like a laptop, you will want to see which device has the longest expected battery life.  For those who want to attach other peripherals, research how many USB and other IO ports are available.  If your need will include displaying your output to a TV or computer monitor make sure there are appropriate HDMI ports in the device.  Finally, ask yourself how the device you are looking at will fit into your current computing environment.  While most functions may be compatible there may be nuisances with certain manufacturers that make it hard to communicate with another.

The Software - First, research what Operating System you want on your tablet.  Among the most popular and well known include Android, IOS (Apple) and Windows.  Which OS has the most apps ported or available that will fulfill your expectations of the Tablet?  Is the cost of apps reasonable?  Are the critical functions you need available such as printing and flash capabilities?  Lastly, if company confidential information is to be stored on these devices, which one offers the best security including encryption and user authentication?

Ted Saul is a business coach and project manager whose mission is to help startups and small business develop plans and processes for growth.  He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , TWS787 and LinkedIn.