~ Shukti Sarma
The latest craze to bowl over our tech-nerds is the tab. A sleek, hardly 6x6 inches box that resembles a pencil slate with an exceptionally good metallic finish is the newest kid on the block. It is basically a hybrid of the two most basic necessities of GenX’s life~ the cellphone and the laptop. So no wonder, the tabs are flying off the shelves like hot cakes.
Let’s admit it- it is always cool to sport the later gizmo. And this is a wonder innovation, which will let you carry all your files, and give you the benefit of widescreen and internet connectivity. Squinting down at the measly cellphone screen is passé. Those who thought that India will remain a mobile phone nation should do a double take.
With each new thing, comes the eternal confusion about choice. Be it the technologically challenged lot (to which this writer belongs) or the oh-my-gosh-I-have-to-get-that-fancy-new-thing-NOW crowd or the tech-savvy ones, making a choice of purchase is a Herculean task. And like most other items, superior technological concerns are usually the last to figure in the criteria that dictates an average customer’s choice.
So, to help people, we have prepared our own review of four tablet devices that have caught the fancy of Indian techies. We deliberately left Nokia N900, which claims to be a tab, but is too small to fit the bill.
Apple iPad: Latest version: iPad 2
OS- Apple custom, also supports Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP Home/Professional with Service Pack 3 or later.
Specifications: Apple custom, dual core processor (1GHz)
Features: Dual camera, superior graphics, variety of media formats supported, Dolby Digital surround sound, multiple language and character support, environment friendly, comes with variety of smart covers.
Connectivity:Wifi, Bluetooth, 3G. Memory- upto 64 GB. Battery: 10 hours video watching. Price range- Rs 29,000-Rs50,000
Comments: The original of the species. Best pedigree, without arguments. Super sleek. Superior graphics and sound. Compatible with a wide range of existing OS. Continuous upgradation.
However: Really expensive. Most Mac applications/softwares not compatible with other OS.
Samsung Galaxy Tab: Latest version: P7100
OS- Android. Specifications: Dual processor(1GHz), RAM-512 MB.
Features: supports a variety of audio-video formats, two cameras, flash compatible, can download a variety of apps from both Android Market and Samsung Apps.
Connectivity: 3G, Wifi, Bluetooth. Memory- 16 GB internal+ 32 GB expendable. Battery: 7 hours video playing. Price- Rs 25,000- 35,000.
Comments: The most visible brand, because it has been advertised very well. This tab has earned good reviews, and is the only one that can really prove to be a formidable challenge to Apple. Sort of the mass version of its Apple counterpart.
However: Not so sleek. Does not use an LED display, so shorter battery life than others.
Dell Streak: Latest version: 5
Specifications: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8250 processor(1GHz).
Features: Supports variety of audio and video formats, multi-touch input method, dual camera.
Memory: 16 GB internal + 32 GB external
Connectivity: Wi-fi, Bluetooth, EDGE, 3G
Battery: 8 hours talk time. Price: Rs 25,000-Rs 36,000
Comments: Sleek to look at. Bigger screen than iPad. Also, better online speed.
However: Not so well known. Low storage. Inferior screen resolutions and graphics, needs frequent battery recharges. Too small to be a tab and too big for a phone. Limited scope for upgradation. And expensive, considering its features.
Olive Pad: Latest version: VT1000
Specifications: OS-Android. Qualcomm MSM7227 processor(600 MHz).
Features: Flash enabled, supports various audio-video formats, multi-touch input method, comes with a variety of free subscriptions for many applications.
Connectivity: 3G, Wifi, Bluetooth. Memory- 512 MB internal+upto 32 GB external
Battery: 9 hours video. Price: Rs20,000
Comments: Desi. Reasonable price. Lifetime subscriptions to apps and magazine, comics, videos, etc.
However: Low screen resolutions. Slow CPU. Not well known. Low storage.
So which one to take? Without going into sleep inducing technical jargon, we will try to keep it simple. If you can afford it, go for the Samsung Galaxy Tab. It provides all the necessary (and unnecessary) things that we stock up in our computers, at a much lower cost than iPad.
Apple will definitely be the best for the uncompromising tech-savvies and brand conscious lot. Owning an apple~ and showing it off, naturally~ cements your position as the object of envy. Unless someone else decides to spend more money than you did and buys the next version of iPad (which, in all likelihood, will come within 30 days and leave you frustrated), you are the undisputed king in your circle.
But Samsaung’s tab will be the junta’s favourite, since for most people, price determines the decision. And Apple, with all its glib, cannot afford to become the commoner’s tab.
But a round of applause for Steve Jobs. It’s not because Apple’s iPad is the pinnacle of achievement, but it is Jobs who has made it his job to keep his competitors on the toes at all times with Apple’s constant innovations. So, thanks to him, we also have Dell Streak and Samsung Galaxy Tab, and many others will follow soon.
On a lighter note, it wouldn’t hurt to make a style statement with your tab. Decide on the shape and size~ since tabs do not offer much on the colour or design front (except Apple’s covers)~ and opt for one that matches your wardrobe. Or, get the tab of your choice, and get a new wardrobe that coordinates with it.
Let us come back to the basic question: do we really need it? Tabs are already becoming ubiquitous. I watched India-Pakistan World Cup semifinals in a tab in a local train, an event for which I am thankful to the makers of the device and the customer. Necessary or not, tabs will become indispensable, especially for those who always want to stay connected.
As spare time and leisure becomes scarce, more and more executives will take to the tabs, which will serve as their palm-office. No matter how much someone points out the dangerous nature of such trends, which turn expensive gizmos into must-haves for impatient youngsters, tabs will become a necessity.