The iPad has been a hugely popular way for people to get online, consume information and play Angry Birds. For freelancers and contractors, its strength has been in enabling the user to find out stuff, fire off emails and generally perform online tasks without having to boot up a computer or be restricted by a miniature screen. It has created a happy medium between mobility and functionality.
The one aspect of computing the tablet device struggles with is actual production. I’ve tried typing up lengthy documents on the device and it was a frustrating pad-tickling process (perhaps I should use a USB keyboard next time). But hey, that’s not really what they’re designed for.
However, we recently got a peek into the future when the latest Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas was dominated by potential rivals to the iPad. In fact, there were over 100!
Google’s Android technology was prevalent in many of the prospective tablet devices. Tech journalists were particularly taken by Motorola’s Xoom. Here’s a little taste…
Motorola’s ‘Xoom’
Xoom has all the features you would expect of an iPad rival: its main selling point is the fact it’s powered by the speedy Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor, making it the first tablet with a dual-core processor (the makers claim it is double the speed of the iPad).
Usefully, the 10.1 inch device also has a self-facing video camera which will be particularly handy for video conferences.
Likely release date: April 2011
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Dell and T-Mobile’s ‘Streak 7′
This compact 7-inch WVGA multi-touch screen device is designed to work on T-Mobile’s 4G network. Like the Xoom it has rear and front facing cameras and a dual core processor for increased speed. The one drawback is it works on the Android 2.2 operating successor and not the more recent Android 3.0.
Like release date: first quarter of 2011
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Samsung’s ‘Series 7′
Initially, this appears more like a laptop than a tablet, but once the keyboard slides underneath (where it locks in place) it looks unmistakedly like a tablet complete with touch screen technology. This looks particularly useful for the freelancer who would like a more comfortable typing experience and a bigger screen (slightly larger than the iPad’s 9.7 inch screen).
It operates, like the Galaxy Tab, on Windows 7.
Likely release date: March 2011
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‘Blackberry Playbook’
Research in Motion’s foray into tablet form runs off an operating system called QNX combined with Webkit and Flash (reports say it’s similar to webOS). Early reviews suggest, as it’s name would, that it’s a heck of a lot more fun to use than the Blackberry smartphone and comes in at a compact 7-inches. It also has cameras.
And don’t forget the other tablet which is already on the market…
Detailed specifications. (PDF)
Likely release date: Second quarter of 2011.
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Samsung’s ‘Galaxy Tab’
The Galaxy Tab was released in the UK in November last year. It’s a 7-inch tablet running on the Android 2.2 operating system and came out to a mixed response. The key points can be summarised as: excellent connectivity with laggy performance and poor battery.
Release date: already available.
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What tablets offer freelancers and contractors
Increased choice and competition in the tablet computer market can only be a good thing for the gadget hungry business person. The main thing that may appeal to freelancers is the convenient nature of all these devices which is exactly the same reason why the iPad is popular with people at large. Getting information on the move is indispensable for the time-constrained freelancer, especially those stuck on public transport, and the tablet seems to provide a happy medium between the chunkier laptop and tiny-screened smartphone.
The convenience provided by tablet devices will be further evident with the new systems being put on the market. As we’ve already seen with some of the above examples, they offer camera and video technology, increased speeds and much more besides. Expect these devices to become increasingly feature laden as they march over each other to provide the best option for customers.
2011 may be the year when the tablet device becomes more than just a cool accessory and increasingly a necessity to keep up with Joneses. The big question is: are tablet computers really a must for business professionals, including freelancers and contractors? Ultimately, it comes down to how much money you have. Sure, they work as an effective time-saving device, but so do smartphones. What really matters here is size and useability; both of these factors make them convenient for the freelance workforce. It’s nothing particularly radical, just a slightly more user-friendly option that people with a spare few quid will be happy to pay for.
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What do you think of the practical benefits of tablet computing? Leave your thoughts below…
