Vanity IT - Tablets

In part one of Vanity IT, we covered the numerous high-powered handsets that are on the market and available for users to add a degree of productivity that had been simply unavailable before. While smartphones are the most used mobile device by far, many people are looking to the larger devices to accomplish tasks on the go. Some companies are beginning to issue devices to their employees in a concerted effort to take advantage of the flexibility that these larger mobile devices give them.

Smartphones are hit-or-miss for productivity, mainly because many of these handsets are simply not equipped with a large enough display to do any real work outside of exchanging e-mails. Tablets are larger and deliberately designed for productivity. Study show that tablets present exceptional value for those companies that choose to utilize them. Below are some of the top-selling tablets in 2012.

• Apple iPad 2 - The fourth generation iPad is the top-selling tablet in the world. In 2012, Apple updated the iPad two separate times. The iPad now features a gorgeous 2048 x 1536 resolution Retina display. Now available in a seven-inch version, and a 10-inch version with Apple’s patented Retina display, the iPad has outdone all other competitors since it’s launch only three short years ago. The iPad runs on the latest version of the iOS operating system. You can pick up the seven-inch iPad mini for as little as $329, while the 128GB, 10-inch iPad with Retina display is priced at $929, which is a competitive price with other top of the line tablet computers. Next up: Next generation iPad, Summer 2013.
• Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 - After the success they had with their Galaxy Note phablet (see Friday’s conclusion to Vanity IT for more information), Samsung has built out a fast and receptive tablet with the Galaxy Note 10.1. It’s S-Pen integration gives users capabilities that they can’t find on other Android tablets or iPads. Newer versions of the Galaxy Note 10.1 have LTE connectivity, but like most other tablets available nowadays, the device is wi-fi and bluetooth capable out of the box without the monthly wireless service agreement. The Galaxy Note 10.1 is available in 16GB and 32GB models and can be found in stores from $479.99. Next up: Next Generation of Galaxy Note 10.1, Fall 2013.
• Microsoft Surface Pro - Not to be confused with the Windows-RT powered Surface that was released in the fourth quarter of 2012, the Surface Pro, is the flagship device for Microsoft. Traditionally a software company, Microsoft has gone all out with the Surface Pro, to the tune of some rave reviews. The suped-up hardware coupled with the full version of Windows 8 has the Surface working more like a high-end laptop then it does a typical tablet. With this boom in hardware, there are some drawbacks. The device is thick and heavy by tablet standards and some users have complained that it is simply too big to be used as a device for mobile productivity. At $999.99, the pricing for the Surface Pro leaves casual users wanting, but users that are looking for a full-function tablet with all the bells and whistles, the Microsoft Surface Pro is an excellent choice. Next up: Next generation of the Surface Pro.
• Google Nexus 10 - Built by Samsung and sold by Google the Nexus 10 is one of the top commercial-grade tablets on the market today. The Nexus 10’s features a 2560x1600 resolution display that is the best of any commercial-grade mobile device. This allows the Nexus 10 to be one of the top tablets on the market for multimedia consumption. For business, the Nexus provides a sleek and relatively quick-moving interface. Being a Google device, the Nexus 10 doesn’t come with any manufacturer-optimized user interface. This means that users only get the bare bones version of the latest-and-greatest Android OS that Google has to offer. The Google Nexus 7, which is manufactured by ASUS, has many of the benefits of the larger Nexus 10 model, but comes in at a significantly lower cost. The Nexus 10 can be had for a reasonable cost of $499, while the Nexus 7 is available for as little as $199. Next Up: Next generation of Nexus 7, July 2013.
• ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity - While ASUS builds the Nexus 7, they also have their own high-powered 10-inch tablet, the Transformer Pad Infinity. The ten-inch tablet runs on Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean and features 32GB of onboard memory and a microSD reader that allows for up to 64GB of additional space. Like the Surface pro it has a dedicated tactile keyboard that helps productivity along. When coupled with the keyboard the ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity can present a solidly built and often dynamic tablet in which to consume media or work on the tasks that you need to accomplish while on the go. Priced at $499, the ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity is a nice solid option for those users that want the ability to utilize a tablet with an integrated keyboard without paying a premium price.

Other tablets that are available: Acer Iconia Tab A501, Motorola Xoom, Blackberry Playbook, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, Sony Tablet S.

Like smartphones, the incorporation of tablet computing can be very beneficial for a company, and many people within your organization are getting them. More than 100,000,000 tablets were sold in 2012 alone. Tablets present solutions for team members that need to work on projects remotely and for superior mobile media consumption. You’ll find there are three major price points within the tablet market. The most affordable tablets being the small devices such as the Google Nexus 7, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 and the iPod mini, while the most expensive tablets, such as the Microsoft Surface Pro or a suped-up Apple iPad 2, can cost upwards of $1,200. The intermediate price point is where you find the accessible and capable devices that can present a great deal of value.

To best take advantage of the mobile shift in computing, and keep your sensitive company data secure, establishing a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) strategy for your company will be important. The established professionals at Heart of Texas Network Consultants have the experience your organization can benefit from when putting together a Mobile Device Management system. We understand how important your data is and can find solutions to ensure it isn’t compromised by the utilization of mobile devices.

If you would like more information about how partnering with Heart of Texas Network Consultants can present substantial value for your organization contact us at (254) 848-7100. Check back Friday as we wrap up our Vanity IT series with hybrid devices and laptops.