Expensive Tablets
If you're going to spend money, you might
as well spend it on something good. And these are the best. Yes, they might
cost more than your average desktop or notebook, but look at it this way: if
you have one of these, you probably won't need any other computers.
Apple
New iPad
The device that (for some reason) Apple
doesn't want you to call the iPad 3 should be a familiar sight to any would-be
tablet owner. Powered by a 1 GHz Apple A5 CPU, featuring a 10" Retina
display and running (of course) on iOS, this is still, for all Apple's faults,
one of the best tablet experiences you can get right now. Available with 16GB,
32GB or 64GB of storage, in 3G and wi-fi only versions, it straddles a variety
of price levels, but even in its cheapest incarnation it's still a luxury
device. Don't forget that you're paying as much for the Apple name as the
technology inside it. As with the still-available iPad 2, the best reason to
buy one is if you're already running an iPhone and/or Mac, since your app
purchases will be immediately transferable. Be careful, though - Apple's
release schedule is as regular as clockwork, and it's likely that there'll be
another iPad released early next year. The later you leave it to buy this one,
the more likely you are to feel cheated out of better hardware.
Asus
Transformer Infinity TF700 - $959
Asus's latest convertible tablet is the
successor to the Transformer Prime, and a fine choice for those looking to
replace their laptop with a tablet rather than accessorise with one. The
detachable keyboard, in particular, will make it perfect for students who might
need to bash out an essay or two while on the move - something tablets are,
historically, not great for. A 1,6GHz Tegra 3 and 1GB of RAM makes it one of
the more powerful devices on the market, and either 32GB or 64GB of storage
means you'll have plenty of room for entertainment and apps. The 10"
1920x1200 resolution isn't quite retina-quality, but it's pretty darn close,
while a pair of cameras and Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) makes it a worthy
iPad alternative for Android fans. The only hitch? It's not out in the UK until
31st August, so if you want one in time for school, you should probably get a
pre-order in now...
