Writing About Tablets Because it's Soothing...

Some days I regret reading Reddit. Not for the content so much as some of the reminders of what else is going on. However I have no desire to get into those discussions. Nor do I want to talk about SOPA or related issues right now. After all, I have to go into work tomorrow regardless :-)

Instead, a possibly more useful note - why I am reconsidering my 10" tablet purchase. My plan was to get the Streak first (which for the most part is proving to have been a good idea), and then get a Transformer Prime in February. However, as I've been "messing with" several things this weekend, I'm starting to think I might be better off with an iPad 3 depending on when those come out. The reality is that the Streak handles most things I want fairly well (and some things exceptionally well). There are a few things where I'm finding I miss a larger screen, and those particular things tend to have better software options on iOS than on Android.

First off, there is reading my FB, Twitter, and 500px items. On iOS there is Flipboard for the first two, and the 500px client for iPad for the third. On Android you are essentially looking at Currents, and it doesn't handle any of these particularly well even on a larger screen. Then there is reading. If it's a text page stored in a format where the reader can be "reflowed", then the Streak works as well as a larger screen. And has the advantage that it is in my pocket if I'm just looking to read a few pages while I'm waiting on something. But if it's an image file (such as scanned Manga) or a PDF, then the bigger screen is a major plus. On iOS you are looking at GoodReader and ComicGlass for this. On Android you actually have several options for the PDF, but for the full page reader you are probably looking at PerfectViewer. PV works ok on a big screen, but on a smaller screen it's a bit inconvenient.

A bigger concern, however, is that if you look at sales and development for at least the next year you are likely going to see as many things only on iOS as you are on Android. So if I want to make sure I can keep up with the latest apps, there is a strong incentive to have a device in each camp.

What I am thinking at this point is that there is a decent chance that Apple will also follow the iPhone model and keep a low end iPad 2 available at a very good price. I could easily see them decide to keep the iPad 2 16GB WiFi only around, and offer it for $249-$299 once the iPad 3 is announced. That would allow them to more easily compete with the Kindle Fire and the Nook for that end of the audience - and would make it a lot easier for ME to justify getting another tablet in the first place.

In any case, that's what I'm thinking about at this point. Feel free to drop a line or leave a comment if you want to discuss it :-)