What Should I Buy? Laptop Or Tablet - Part 9

Which iPad Should I Buy?

Assuming you decide the iPad's limitations are outweighed by its advantages (which they are), you need to make a choice. In fact, three choices.

The first is whether you want to be able to get online when you're out and about. If you do, you'll want to buy the 4G version of the new iPad (3G for older versions). It's $130 more than the equivalent model without a micro SIM slot.

Next, you have to work out how much memory you'll need. Here, the old rule 'get the best you can afford' applies. Apple charges steeply for more memory, so the Wi-Fi only 16GB version is $100 cheaper than the 32GB model, which itself is $100 cheaper than the 64GB model.

For those who want a smaller iPad there's the iPad mini to consider. This is a 7in tablet, so it's roughly the same size as an eReader. Ideal for those who wish for a more portable iPad.

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pcadvisor.co.uk

What Should I Buy? Laptop Or Tablet - Part 8

The Laptop Advantage - File Formats

This brings us neatly to compatibility. Laptops are great because, with the right software, they can display or play almost any file. The iPad is much more restrictive and requires videos, for example, to be in MP4 (H.264) format before they'll play. It means you might have to convert files before you can play them, which could be more hassle than you're willing to accept.

For photos and music, the iPad supports the common JPG and MP3 formats, so these aren't a problem for most people.

Transferring files to the iPad has to be done via iTunes, not Windows Explorer. This lack of drag-and-drop support is initially a bit frustrating, but it's absent for a reason: a good user experience. Filtering everything through iTunes means you won't end up in a situation where you've transferred a video, say, and you're sitting on a plane only to find that your tablet doesn't support it and you've got nothing to watch.

In Part 9 we'll discuss 'Which iPad Should I Buy?'.

Credit:
pcadvisor.co.uk