Five Reasons to Choose an Android Tablet Over an iPad

One of the hottest electronic products this year is clearly the Apple iPad. However these devices clearly lack a lot of desired features (flash, SD card slot, USB port, etc) that Google Android tablets have built in to all there devices. In terms of functionality, features and bang for you buck, an Android tablet is the clear and far away winner.

The top competitor for the Apple iPad right now is any one of a number of Google Android-powered devices manufactured by the likes of Motorola, Samsung, Dell and others. I've done my research and played with a few of the new Android tablets and at this point have decided that an Android tablet is a better choice than the iPad. In fact, there are a number of Android tablets coming out of China that can be had for a mere $100. These devices are every bit as good as the branded models and then some. Here are my top five reasons to choose one of these Android tablets over an iPad:

1. Choice of Size

The Apple iPad is closest in size to a 10×8 picture frame with its dimensions at 9.56 x 7.47 x.5 in. There are no other size options for the iPad, unless you're of the opinion that the iPad is merely a giant iPhone, and in that case the iPhone could count as a smaller version.

Unlike the iPad, the various Android tablets come in a range of sizes. The sizes include 5-inch, 7-inch, 8-inch, and 10-inch. The 5-inch tablets are admittedly just slightly larger than popular touchscreen smartphones, which tend to top out in the 4-inch range. But if they make them, there's obviously some kind of market for them. You can go bigger or smaller than the iPad with an Android.

2. True Multitasking

Apple has avoided true multitasking on the iPad primarily due to battery life and performance concerns, the reason they always leave off features on their new iPhones as well.

There are already some Android tablets running off dual-core processors, which have more than enough power to handle true multitasking. The multitasking panel is also extremely easy to navigate.

Apple should have figured out how to deliver true multitasking.

3. Cameras

Apple made a huge mistake in not including a camera on the iPad. At the very least it should have included and outward facing camera, but if it really wanted to be a winner, it would have also had a second, front-facing camera that users could use for video chatting.

Most Android tablets have inward cameras for video chatting. Google's native camera app also has some nice features that will let you alter your image, without having to download and edit it on your computer.

4. No Syncing Required

Whether you own an iPod, iPhone, or an iPad, you must sync the device with iTunes using a computer to transfer downloads purchased on your computer to the device. It's a royal pain, but it's Apple's way of keeping their users coming back to iTunes. It's also a very slow process.

With the Android Market Web Store, you can buy apps on your computer and send them to your device without syncing. Brilliant!

5. Replaceable Batteries

One of the things that irked me most about the iPhone and the iPad was the battery. It's not removable, and if it goes, you have to get a whole new device. If yours breaks and still happens to be under warranty, Apple will send you a new one - for a fee. For the iPad, if the battery goes, you can send in your old one and they'll send you a new one for $99. Oh, and make sure you synced it before it died because when they send you out the new one it won't have any of your apps or personal information on it. If you forgot to sync, you're S.O.L.

Android devices have their own batteries which are replaceable. If the battery goes, you just buy a new one. Or if you're under warranty, the manufacturer can send you a new one without having to bother with taking your entire tablet.

Other Amazing Features of an Android Tablet

-As mentioned above all Android tablets have flash for video as well as SD Card slots for expandable memory (typically up to 32GB). Most usually have USB ports as well for storage or for external devices.

-Android Marketplace has a huge selection of Apps with 50% of them being free! Most other apps can be purchased for a nominal fee of between $1 - $3.

Source:EzineArticles