In the Frame: Tablets

Tablet PCs

So why bother with a tablet when you have a laptop and a smartphone already? Well, having an in-between size can be handy. Tiny fonts can be difficult to read on a smartphone when browsing the web (or reading just about anything). Of course, a regular old laptop solves this problem, but if you don’t want to carry a laptop or netbook around, you need something smaller. A tablet is a nice middle ground.

When you’re buying a PC, you should look carefully at the specs to make sure your new computer is going to run as smoothly as you’d like it to, even when you put it through its paces. The same goes for a tablet device. The best tablets on the market right now have a 1GHz processor, which means they have the same amount of power as a top-of-the-line smartphone. It may seem like tablets need more than that, but the reality is that 1GHz is pretty powerful for both phones and tablets.

Storage space is also essential, especially if you want to store a lot of media on your tablet and have it double as a portable media device. The middle-of-the-line iPad has 32GB of storage, which is plenty considering that you’re probably not going to be using your tablet for many functions that you wouldn’t use on a mobile phone. Samsung’s forthcoming Galaxy Tab, slated to be the biggest competitor to the iPad, has 32GB as well, but that’s the only option available. Tablets can be both Wi-Fi and Mobile 3G. To be truly mobile you'll want to go for the 3G option and source the best data plan for your needs.

e-readers

If you’re a bit of a bookworm but you don’t want to carry a stack of books around with you, an e-reader is a convenient, stylish way to keep almost any book your heart could desire on you. The Whitcoulls e-book store currently carries more than two million books, and Whitcoulls and Borders sell e-readers from both Kobo and Sony.

Size is key when buying an e-reader. You want something big enough to read on, but light enough to hold it upright in your hands for long periods. There are other factors that influence how good your reader is, too. Many people have complained that books can’t be read in the sun on some readers because of their glossy screens. Fortunately Sony’s new e-readers have ‘e-ink technology’ – essentially screens that make the books look like ink on paper, making them easier to read.

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Seagate GoFlex Home

Connect the easy-to-use GoFlex Home to a wireless router and your entire household can centrally store, access and continuously back up photos, music and movies wirelessly whether you use Windows or Mac OS X operating systems.

This network storage system is also compatible with most network connected DLNA devices, such as game consoles or a GoFlex TV HD media player. A modular design means you can upgrade the included drive and swap it for a higher capacity GoFlex Desk hard drive without tools. Connect additional drives to the USB port or use it to wirelessly share a USB printer.

The included Seagate Share service lets you remotely access movies, music or photo files on your system from any internet connected computer in the world and also lets you share these files via a direct link to a customised webpage that you can email to friends. Premium service option Seagate Share Pro lets you access your drive from your phone and integrate with Facebook and Flickr.

The GoFlex Home system also includes a power saving (idle) mode that automatically runs after 30-minutes of inactivity and a power switch that allows it to be shut off while families are away for extended periods.
RRP: 1TB - $249; 2TB - $399
More info: seagate.com

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