The New iPad is flying of the shelves at record breaking rates, according to Apple. As the iPad and other tablets continue to increase in popularity, a lot of consumers are reaching a crossroads in their buying habits. Do they continue to work with on laptop or switch to a tablet? Hopefully we can help find a solution that fits your needs, lifestyle, and budget.

The first thing you need to ask yourself is “What do I need it for?” Are you going to be running any demanding software? If you answered yes, a laptop might be the best choice. With faster processing, more memory and the option for a dedicated graphics card, a laptop will bring you high performance in a portable package. Laptops also give you the utility of an optical (CD) drive and full-size keyboard, access to more ports, bigger screens and a significant amount of durability, not found in a tablet. Avid gamers will also prefer a laptop due to their higher processing and graphics capabilities.

If your needs tend to lean towards the multimedia, social networking and gaming style; the portability and accessibility of a tablet may fit your needs. Touch screens gives users a unique interactive experience that allows for simplistic navigation.  Applications give users control beyond that of traditional software and essentially allow for a complete integration of the tablet into any lifestyle. Users can listen to music, browse the web, check their email and edit photo and video on a screen size around 10 inches. The biggest advantage of the tablet is its portability. Most tablets weight around one pound and can easily be stored in backpacks, purses and briefcases alike. Optional docking stations and keyboards gives tablet users access to some of the utility features of a laptop.

The bottom line is that your choice depends on what you are going to use it for. Take some time to really think about how you use your current set up and what you want out of your next one.

Basic and first time users will find the touch screen navigation of the tablet simple and intuitive. Users that demand higher performance will benefit from the utility and power of a laptop. While both options can be considered portable, the tablet is undoubtedly the lighter and more compact option. Whichever option you feel is right for you, come let Abt’s team of experts guide you through the buying process and provide you with a complete solution to meet all your current and future needs.

Do you know which style you want but not sure which product you like best? Take a look at our iPad and laptop buying guide for more information or browse our collection of tablets and laptops to find the right choice for you!

-Scott H.

The Pew Research Center released information about last year’s tablet sales.  According to the latest survey, 19 percent of all adult Americans now own some form of tablet, which is double the figures from a poll conducted in mid-December. E-reader ownership, meanwhile, increased by exactly the same margin over this period, jumping from 10 percent to 19 percent.

Tablets are certainly on the rise and they are slowly becoming replacements for laptop computers.  Do you have a tablet?  What do you think is easier?

Right now, you can pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy Tablet 7.0.  Just like the existing Samsung Galaxy Tablet, the 7.0 model offers a more compact, model with a 7.0″ (1024×600) TFT Display, a 1.2 GHz Dual-Core Processor, Android Honeycomb 3.2 + TouchWiz OS.  The cameras that come with the unit are a  2.0 Megapixel Front Camera And 3.0 Megapixel Rear Camera With Flash.  The new tablet from Samsung will hit the market next week, so pre-order yours today from Abt!

As you may have already noticed, tablets are slowly gaining in numbers when it comes to personal electronic devices.  Many believe with the influx of these uniquely designed computer alternatives, laptops will soon slowly disappear.  One reason being, the keyboard.

Tablet users can enjoy surfing the web, reading their e-mails, purchasing online, or watching a movie, all without having to punch physical keys to type or access information.  According to an article written by Technology Review they state, “A laptop with a fully virtual keyboard would resemble what’s known as a folio computer. Basically: two tablets connected with a hinge.”  Personally, replacing a physical keyboard with another touch screen representing a keyboard is cancelling out the whole point of getting rid of the keyboard.

For those of you out there who do not wish to lug around a laptop, but would like the convenience of having a computer, the best thing are tablets, which aren’t difficult to find on the market these days.  What do you prefer?

With what seems to be somewhat of an over saturated market for tablets, Sony is preparing consumers for their version of the popular, portable electronics device coming out in Q4 with ominous commercials.  Sony is no stranger to unique advertisements, but one has to ask; when does unique advertising become too, “flashy”?

In early June, Sony released a commercial ominously introducing their tablet.  I was intrigued by the single-shot, “Mouse Trap” look-a-like and even was hypnotized by machine’s every move.  I like it.  I was interested in what Sony had to bring to the table.  Watch below.

The ominous commercial was interesting as a stand alone, however Sony released what is now dubbed the “Second Episode” of their initial release. With the arrival of the “Second Episode”, there will apparently be three more, completing a five part series.

Will consumers be lured by this marketing technique, or will Sony end up finally releasing their tablet to the world, only to have consumers give them a collective sigh of boredom? Only time will tell.

Now this is an interesting PC product. Samsung Slider PC appears to be a tablet at first glance but unveils a keyboard and a tiltable screen. The Slider has 2GB DDR RAM, 32 or 64GB SSD drive. The resolution is 1,366 x 768 wrapped in a 10” screen. Connectivity can be obtained via its built in 3G and Wimax features. The battery life is expected to last 9 hours and weighs in at 2.18 pounds. Samsung says the Slider PC is targeted for release March 2011.

There is not much information on the Viera tablet powered by Android. They are available in three different sizes starting with a handheld 4”, mid-size 7” and a more satiating 10″ screen. Panasonic states these tablets will be your Viera TV’s best friend. The tablets offer more than just watching TV by giving you access to games, E-Books, movies, newspaper, magazines, and even to some e-Commerce services.

The Viera tablet features a slim and lightweight design, long battery life and shock resistant construction. The tablet can also work as an alternative screen for displaying images and information related to the images shown on the connected television.

Panasonic’s TV Companion Tablet

Motorola’s Xoom is the name of their tablet to enter the competition.

Some quick specs  on the unit:  Has a 1280 x 800 resolution and a dual core processor. Comes with 1 gig or RAM and a front faceing camera. 5mp camera with flash on the rear. Both a  USB port and an hdmi output. The unit was Developed with Google technology.  There will be plenty book titles to choose from. LTE upgradeable after 1st qtr.

There have been all kinds of things at CES 2011 so far.  Technology that is big, small, shiny, robotic, 3-dimensional.  One thing has been consistant, however, from the manufacturers: the tablet.  Apple’s iPad was a starter pistol for a handful of manufacturers to make their own versions of the handheld device.

As you read earlier in this blog, Panasonic has their version, the Viera.  Since then Lenovo, Toshiba and even Blackberry have displayed their entries into the tablet market.

Lenovo’s tablet has an interesting design.  It’s basically a laptop computer with a removable monitor, doubling as a tablet.  the 10.1 inch unit is fully functional detached form the keyboard dock and is controlled by a user’s finger tips.

Toshiba has a tablet measured at 10 inches.  Called the Tegra 2 it runs on Android.  An interesting feature is the technology included called “Resolution Plus.” Just like upconverting DVD players, the standard definition video is upconverted to appear as high definition.  It will also include front and rear facing cameras, as well as Mini USB, USB, HDMI, and microSD card slots.

Also, Blackberry’s version, the RIM Playbook was exposed even further at this year’s CES 2011.  Released in September, we covered it in our RIM Playbook Blog, the unit is still garnering a lot of buzz and attention.

Image courtesy of RIM.com

Research In Motion (RIM) the company best known as the developer of the BlackBerry cellular phones, recently announced their newest product: The PlayBook. Attempting to tackle the iPad in tablet sales, the PlayBook will use an operating system called BlackBerry Tablet OS. This system will offer full world wide web surfing and other features used with BlackBerry phones such as Push technology, and BBMTM. While the screen size is about 2 inches smaller than that of an iPad, the PlayBook has more RAM, weighs less and even supports Adobe Flash 10.1.

Sporting a 7’’ LCD display, the PlayBook will be capable of 1080p HD video and comes equipped with an HDMI port. A camera lens built in both the front and the back of the unit lets users take photos, videos and even live video conferencing.

The release date is set for early 2011. For full information as well as detailed specs and other features, visit RIM’s site.

FULL SPECS
• 7-inch LCD, 1024 x 600, WSVGA, capacitive touch screen with full multi-touch and gesture support
• BlackBerry Tablet OS with support for symmetric multiprocessing
• 1 GHz dual-core processor
• 1 GB RAM
• Dual HD cameras (3 MP front facing, 5 MP rear facing), supports 1080p HD video recording
• Video playback: 1080p HD Video, H.264, MPEG, DivX, WMV
• Audio playback: MP3, AAC, WMA
• HDMI video output
• Wi-Fi – 802.11 a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Connectors: microHDMI, microUSB, charging contacts
• Open, flexible application platform with support for WebKit/HTML-5, Adobe Flash Player 10.1, Adobe Mobile AIR, Adobe Reader, POSIX, OpenGL, Java
• Ultra thin and portable:
• Measures 5.1″x7.6″x0.4″ (130mm x 193mm x 10mm)
• Weighs less than a pound (approximately 0.9 lb or 400g)
• RIM intends to also offer 3G and 4G models in the future.

-Nick E.