Which one is right for you?

The device with a multi-touch interface whose primary focus is the consumption of media has captured the imagination of the tech-savvy global community and almost everyone who can afford one wants to own a tablet.

With a veritable explosion of these pieces of tech candy in the market, it's a tough call for an inexperienced person to decide which tablet to opt for and how tablets from different stables differ from each other. GN Focus takes a sneak peek at the key factors prospective owners must consider before actually investing in a tablet:

Price
Although a regular tablet is far cheaper than a new, high-end laptop, quality and features available will still depend on how much a user is ready is spend. While not opting for a 3D camera makes sense, one should also not end up with a tablet that has a low-quality screen and seriously lacks decent features. After all, tablets are not a legitimate replacement for either laptops or smartphones and mostly owners who opt to buy a tablet probably already owns a laptop or a smartphone or both.

Finally, before sealing the deal, it is advisable for prospective buyers to check out their electronics stores and take a closer look at different tablets and get a first-hand insight into which model would give them maximum return for their money.

Design
Users have plenty of choice when it comes to the diagonal dimension of a tablet. These devices come with screens that start from five inches and go roughly up to 15 inches. The iPad 2 is available in one size only with a 9.7-inch screen. However, other manufacturers have moved to the higher end of the scale to offer a better user experience as the biggest advantage of a tablet is the extra real estate it provides on its screen. Checking emails or a calendar is so much easier when one doesn't have to strain eyes to decipher the fine print.

Wi-Fi-Only vs. 3G/4G and Wi-Fi
Some tablets are available with Wi-Fi- or 3G/4G- only network facilities. For those who need to be connected on-the-go, they should opt for a model that offers 3G/4G network connection. But do remember that this facility is mostly available on the pricier devices and owners also need to pay extra for the cellular service.

Operating system
The core difference between tablets is the operating system (OS). Forming an allegiance with a particular OS is very easy. Therefore, it is very important for prospective buyers to choose the one which will suit them best. Tablets run on lightweight operating systems such as Google's Android and Apple's iOS that is more limited than, or a subset of, the traditional fully featured OS such as Windows, researcher Gartner says. Apple's iOS is the mobile platform used by iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Apple not only has thousands of iPad apps to offer but its simplified interface is also an added advantage.

Google's mobile OS Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) is designed specifically for tablet use, unlike prior versions of Android. Many companies such as Motorola, Samsung, Asus, have already developed and launched their tablets on this platform. Other tablet manufacturers such as Sony, Toshiba, Dell and Lenovo, among others, have plans to release Honeycomb tablets in 2011.

Meanwhile, QNX — the OS used on the Blackberry PlayBook — is said to deliver on performance, graphics and multitasking features. But it will take time and significant effort for RIM to attract developers and deliver a compelling ecosystem of applications and services around QNX to position it as a viable alternative to Apple or Android, say experts.

Prospective buyers can choose a platform based on their personal preference but if they get an opportunity they should try one before cementing their alliance.

Camera
Prospective owners of tablets will have to decide for themselves if they really need a camera that shoots HD video in 3D. However, most tablets have upgraded their models and nowadays offer front- and rear-facing cameras for stills and video. In most cases, these features are more toys than tools, say experts.

Apps
No point beating about the bush on this one. If a user intends to buy a tablet for its applications, Apple's iPad is the best bet. There are thousands of iPad apps available on Apple's iStore. Unfortunately, Android has very few apps that perform very well for the simple reason that apps made for Android tablets have to work across multiple screen sizes, unlike iPad's apps, which are designed for a specific device. Variation in size complicates things greatly, say experts.