Consumer Reports, the indepenednt non profit organization offering recommendation services, reports that Apple iPad 2 with Wi-Fi and 3G topped in its ratings of 10 most-promising tablet computers. In their lab tests, Consumer Reports tested 10 tablets from Archos, Dell, Motorola, Samsung, and ViewSonic, and Apple using 17 criteria. These criteria include touch-screen responsiveness, versatility, portability, screen glare, and ease of use. Apple iPad 2 with Wi-Fi plus 3G (32G) scored excellent in almost all criteria and topped the ratings.
Apple iPad 2 topping the list may not be that surprising. Guess which tablet came next to iPad 2? The second position was tied with none other than the first generation iPad (Costing $580) and Motorola Xoom (costing $800). Consumer Reports also added that battery life performance was the largest gap in performance among the tablets. The top ranked Apple iPad 2 lasted 12.2 hours, the Archos 70 Internet Tablet, $270 lasted just 3.8 hours. Annoucning the detailed review of tablets, Paul Reynolds, Electronics Editor at Consumer Reports, said
So far Apple is leading the tablet market in both quality and price, which is unusual for a company whose products are usually premium priced. However, it’s likely we’ll see more competitive pricing in tablets as other models begin to hit the market.
Consumer Reports also gave a set of recommendations to consumers interested in buying a tablet. Here are the recommendations
Many features are almost universal. Easy-to-use touch screens based on capacitive technology are now widely available. All the models Consumer Reports tested feature Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, a front-facing webcam, and GPS capability. Android-based models can be expanded using built-in USB ports or slots for SD flash-memory cards, but the iPad 2 lacks both.
You get what you pay for. With prices for the best tablets still too high for many budgets, consumers may be tempted by lower-priced competitors. Don’t be, says Consumer Reports, whose tests have found the performance of models costing $300 and under to be at best mediocre. Buying a tablet with a data plan may lower the initial cost of the device, but cancelling early may result in a stiff penalty. Otherwise, it might be cheaper to buy a 3G-capable model without a contract.
Future-proofing will pay off. Hardware specifications don’t tell the whole story. Portability, storage capacity, and weight are important. But less obvious differences in software, connectivity, and upgradability are critical too. And with faster 4G data networks becoming more widely available, 4G capability (or at least the ability to upgrade to it) is also a plus.
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