We are truly experiencing a high-tech era like no other, where culture is shaped by the fast-paced lifestyles we live and the ever-evolving technologies that accommodate them.
Our lives are greatly influenced by the newest lines of high-quality tech products that hit the market, and gadgets that can utilize high speed internet tend to be the most popular. Users of MP3 players, laptop computers, iPods, X-box 360, and the latest smartphones have increased exponentially in numbers along with the ever-increasing speeds of internet.
Many users flock to electronic stores with hopes of purchasing the latest and greatest technologies before they reach the masses. They are willing to pay top dollar for anything they can get their hands on that is faster, more efficient, and perceivably betters their lives. To meet the customer expectations- and to deliver the most advanced products- the world of electronics is constantly changing. With that change came the development of the Apple iPad.
You Need What the iPad’s Got
Complete with WiFi to connect to high speed internet, the Apple iPad is the one advancement in technology that manufactures covet and everyone wants to own. To many, it is revered as the latest and coolest device on the market. It has an HD back and VGA front camera, and boasts a 10 hour re-chargeable battery. The memory storage size ranges from 16GB-64GB, and it supports popular TV/Video formats. The one catch: it is pricey.
So, how can you own such a priceless piece of technology without having paying a small fortune? Many people do not realize they do not have to pay top prices to get the quality they are seeking. There are many alternatives to the iPad that carry a majority of the same features at a much lower cost. We have sorted through the alternatives to deliver our top five alternatives to the iPad.
To many users, the Galaxy Tab is just as impressive. It has the same Tegra 2 dual-core processor that many other Android phones and tablets run on. It loads web pages quickly and has games that utilize 3D graphics. Most importantly, it does all this without affecting the battery life. The battery is excellent, and many users will be able to work and play on the Galaxy Tab for two days before requiring a recharge. It sells for about $100 less than comparable iPad models and has a sleek touch screen design as well.
Another alternative to consider is the Barnes and Noble NOOK Color. With a 7-inch screen, the Nook is a bit smaller and comes with 8GB of storage space which can be expanded by using a micro-SD card. It can run many android applications and is $200 less than the iPad. This little item has the capability of reading colorful children’s ebooks, surfing the internet, and playing android games.
The third tablet/pad/slate for consideration is the Toshiba Thrive. If your tablet needs ports, consider getting a Thrive. It has an HDMI port for video, and the two USB ports can be connected to an external hard drive. It has a 16GB expandable storage space and is considerably less than the iPad. This fact alone makes it a great alternative to the iPad.
The forth is the Acer Iconia Tablet A100. It is the first to adapt to run Google’s Honeycomb software and has a 16GB storage space. The five megapixel camera is an excellent added feature, allowing users to take beautiful photos and send them to friends and family through email. It supports Adobe flash player along with Microsoft Word, Exel and Powerpoint. It also contains a 1024×600 resolution screen, and at $150 below the cost of other competitors, the Iconia is an attractive alternative to consider.
The HTC Flyer Android Tablet runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and is a portable handheld tablet. It has a 32GB storage space and a five megapixel HD camera for recording sharp images and videos. It is also equipped with Bluetooth technology and features a clear screen and fast processing performance.
There are several options to consider when choosing which tablet device is right for you and your budget. No matter which tablet you ultimately decide on, these products are designed to give you the satisfaction you are looking for in a compact, computer tablet. All the above items are priced reasonably and have many of the same features of the iPad and more. As more and more tablets hit the market, features and performance should increase drastically while prices drop even more. Whether you choose to purchase now or later, finding an Apple alternative will be easier than you think.
About the Author
Blake Sanders writes tech at broadband comparison site Broadband Expert (BroadbandExpert.com) and specializes in high speed internet, cell phones, and the latest in wireless internet provider news and information
Note: iPad Photo courtesy of inusebilder via FlickR Creative Commons.