Tablet Computers are continuing to increase in popularity thanks to their small size, weight, flexibility and affordability. First came the iPad from ever popular Apple, then a whole range of Google Android tablets from different manufacturers. HP Palm produced their own webOS powered tablet for only a brief period before taking them out of production and selling the remaining stock in a widely publicized fire sale. We now also have the Kindle Fire from Amazon and similar tablet devices are sure to follow suit.
There’s currently no white Kindle Fire so if you are after a white table you need to choose between an iPad or one of the white Android tablets. Which choice is the best for you?
White iPad and iPad2
The latest tablet offering from Apple is the iPad 2 which actually comes in black and white and retails from $499. The iPad 2 comes in a Wi-Fi +3G or Wi-Fi only model with storage options from 16GB to 64GB. The tablet measures 9.5 inches by 7.31 inches and weighs 1.33 lbs for the Wi-Fi only model (slightly more for the model including 3G). It features 2 cameras, front and back for photo and video recording, up to 10 hours of battery life, a 3-axis gyro and accelerometer.
As Apple presumably lost a lot of business to consumers choosing other types of tablets, they have improved on the design of the original iPad 2 in order to try and win back some of their market share. The most noticeable change is the inclusion of a camera (2 in fact) which was missing from the original iPad
Of course there are many people who love any product by Apple and would not consider buying another kind of tablet but there are a few reasons why you might want to consider looking at a few alternative tablets from other companies before making your choice:
- The Apple iPad comes in only one size. White android tablets come in a range of sizes from 5 inch to 10 inch. This lets you balance the importance of screen size against portability for your personal circumstances.
- Apps – on the iPad you can install apps from the apple store. The Apple app store currently has more apps than are available for Android tablets but this is likely to change as more are developed all the time. However if there’s a particular app you can’t do without that isn’t available as an Android version, this may affect your decision.
- The iPad battery is integrated within the device and is not removable. If your battery dies, you need to return the whole unit to Apple and pay for the battery to be replaced. Most Android devices have removable batteries which can easily be replaced.
Popular White Android Tablets
There are several Android tablets available on the market. Here is a rundown of some of the most popular models:
Huawei Ideos 7 tablet S7 – White
The Ideos S7 from Huawei is one of the newer Android tablets aimed at the lower end of the price range, retailing under $400. It has a 7 inch screen size but is a lot heaver and thicker than similar tablets, weighing in at 500g with a thickness of 15.5mm. The screen resolution is on the low side at 800×480 and there is no onboard storage – a Micro SD card is used instead. Also the screen is resistive instead of capacitive, meaning that you need a stylus rather than your finger so it is not a true ‘touchscreen’.
This is obviously an entry level tablet aimed at those with a lower budget such as college students and if you’re not looking for anything fancy, this white tablet could be for you. It is fine for surfing the web and general entertainment which is all that most people need from a tablet computer anyway. However if you’re not insistent on owning a white tablet pc and aren’t that bothered about running Android apps, you may want to consider the new Amazon Kindle Fire as an even cheaper alternative with similar specs.
Samsung Galaxy Tab – White
The Galaxy Tab from Samsung is available in 2 different screen sizes – 10.1 inch or 7 inch and comes in 16GB or 32GB versions. It is slim and lightweight at 0.25 pounds and 0.34 inches thick for the 10 inch version and like the white iPad 2 includes dual front and back cameras which can also record video. The screen resolution is a high 1280×800. As this tablet runs the latest version of Android, it is also capable of playing Flash movies which gives it another advantage over the iPad2
This is not one of the cheapest tablets out there but if you are looking for a high spec white tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab is certainly worth considering.
Creative ZiiO Android Tablet
Another budget white Android tablet, retailing at around $250. This device comes in 8GB or 16GB versions with a 7 inch screen running at 800×480 pixels and a front camera. This is another entry-level tablet designed for entertainment and does just what it says on the box. You need to use the included stylus to operate the device, just like the Huawei Ideos.
This white tablet is small, light (14.1 ounces) and cheap and even includes the Flash player with the latest firmware upgrade. It’s definitely a contender, particularly if Flash support is important to you.
White Tablet Covers, Cases and Decals
If the tablet you have your heart set on, perhaps the NATPC M009S
isn’t available in white, all is not lost as there are cases, covers and decals available in all different colors, including white, for pretty much every tablet pc and iPad on the market. So if you can’t have a white tablet, check out the covers available and you’re sure not to be disappointed.
