The tablet computer phenomenon has caught on to the point where tablets have become as popular as or more popular than laptop and desktop computers. Tablet PCs offer a wide range of uses, often just as many as a laptop, but take a giant leap forward on the portability front. The $400 price range and below is populated by some impressive tablets that offer a ton of uses for the digital consumer.
The Apple iPad 2 16GB with Wi-Fi remains one of the more popular tablets on the market. With two cameras and a dual core A5 processor, the iPad 2 is ideal for just about any tablet uses including: video chatting, social network status, reading, and watching video. The 9.7 inch screen that offers 1024×768 resolution is big and bright enough to make photos look fantastic, yet not so big as to be intrusive to negatively affect portability.
The Toshiba Thrive 32GB Wi-Fi Tablet is another entry in the $400 price range that offers a clear and bright display capable of 1280×800 resolution, which keeps everything looking great. While this particular Thrive sports a seven inch screen, users will find it a bit easier to maneuver than a larger screen. Powered by the popular Android 3.2 operating system, the Toshiba Thrive allows users to update social networks, send email, and just about every other demand placed on a tablet.
For around $300 the Acer Iconia Tab A200-10gu08u allows users to maximize their screen allowance with a 10.1 inch screen capable of 1280×800 resolution. At that size, just about every photograph and video has a crisp and clear appearance. In addition, this Acer has a MicroSD slot, which makes extending the included 8GB of memory a fairly easy task, and since it is upgradeable to Android 4.0 this tablet is fast and efficient at just about every task.
Also in the $400 price range is the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, which offers users a 10.1 inch screen and 178 degrees of viewing angles, which is handy for awkward spaces. Slick and powerful, the Transformer also offers up a keyboard docking station that further blurs the line between this tablet and the laptops it is seeking to replace.
Since many functional laptops or notebook computers can quickly eclipse the $400 price point, users looking for solid way to complete email, social networking, photo, and video tasks on a piece of technology that is extremely portable might want to consider taking a look at one of the many different tablet computers available.
