50 shopping mistakes to avoid this Diwali (TABLETS)

50 shopping mistakes to avoid this Diwali (TABLETS)

• Do you need a camera on the tablet?

A common mistake people make while purchasing a tablet is that they look for a rear camera on the device. Are you really going to hold a 7-inch or 10-inch tablet in your hand to click a picture? What’s more important is the front facing camera, you’ll need it when you’re video chatting.

• Upgradable OS, OTA and certifications

Android receives annual updates as far as the OS is concerned. When purchasing a tablet, you should take a look at the manufacturer's support for updates. If you’re picking up a tablet, check if it supports OTA (Over The Air) updates or you will have a lot of trouble with it in the future. Little known manufacturers might not even be certified by Google, meaning you won’t get access to the Play store.

• Just because you have a keyboard doesn’t mean you have a PC

A common mistake made by people is that they attach a keyboard to their tablet and think that it will work like a PC. Sure you may get a better typing experience but when it comes to office applications such as spreadsheets, nothing beats good old Windows or Mac. Plus, neither Android nor iOS is designed with a keyboard in mind. Of course, the Microsoft Surface might be a different beast altogether though.

• Screen quality – capacitive or resistive

The touchscreen is the most important component of a tablet as it’s your primary way of interacting with the device. While purchasing a tablet, always make sure it has a capacitive display instead of a resistive one. There are a variety of grades when it comes to capacitive displays. The good ones are smooth to interact with whereas the lower quality ones feel rough and don’t respond well. It’s always best to try the device for yourself before purchase.

Resistive vs Capacitive

• Manufacturers matter. Who else is going to provide support?

Companies like Samsung, Sony, Asus and more are trusted brands and people find it easier to purchase products from these brands as the after sales service is usually provided by the electronic store where you bought your device, or, these brands have their dedicated service centres. But when it comes to brands like Lava, Micromax, iBerry, Wicked- Leak and more, you may want to be careful before putting your money down. Make sure there is a service centre near you. One visit should tell you how user friendly the place is. We have heard instances where Micromax has great service in one city and really bad in another.

• Screen size vs the screen resolution

A common mistake that people make is in choosing a larger screen over a higher resolution. What really matters is the pixel pitch and what’s comfortable for your use. Anything over 300ppi is excellent and unless you legitimately need a 6” display on a tablet, don’t go for it.

• Slim form factor has its issues

Just because a tablet is slim doesn’t mean it’s awesome. As with laptops, a slimmer tablet means a slimmer battery and a hotter device. The build quality is also usually compromised. Don’t just go by hype.

• More expensive doesn’t mean the best

You will find tablets priced all the way from Rs.10,000 to Rs.50,000. Sure the iPad is still the king of tablets, but if you’re on a tight budget, you may get an impressive device for a lower budget. Tablets such as the Lava ETab Xtron Plus are priced under Rs.10,000 but are great at what they offer. Similarly, the first generation Nexus is still a great buy for Rs.14,000 when compared to the other Rs.15,000 tablets available in the market.

• 4:3 OR 16:9

If the myriad screen sizes weren’t confusing enough, choosing the right aspect ratio can also be a pain in the neck. Most tablets do come in the widescreen form-factor, but rare ones like the iPad still stick to the standard 4:3 format. The 4:3 format is the ideal resolution for reading and browsing, especially for browsing through photos. 16:9 is ideal for movies and videos. Also, bear in mind that on larger tablets, the 16:9 aspect ratio can be too cumbersome to use.

• SIM card doesn’t mean that the tablet can make calls

A common mistake people make is to assume that a tablet can make calls as well, despite the fact that you’ll look daft with a tablet plastered to your face. The SIM cards only work to provide you with direct internet access and nothing more. There are a handful of tablets that allow calling though.

• 3G USB dongle support

A common mistake people make while picking up a Wi-Fi only tablet is to check for a 3G USB dongle support. Most Android tablets support the popular 3G dongles available in India such as those from Reliance, Tata Photon, Huawei and more. However, there are some tablets that only support a particular 3G USB dongle. You can check the box or the manufacturers website for these details.

• Chargers and cables

This is a very common mistake that people make, believing that any charger will do for their device. Most of the time, tablets are provided with custom chargers due to the higher capacities of their batteries. You can’t just mix and match and assume that any charger is fine for your device. The power requirements will defer from device to device and you’d better be aware of what those requirements are. Slapping a 2.1A charger on a 7-in tablet might effectively kill the device.