Can a tablet make keeping up with your blog easier and which ones are the best for fashion blogging?
I resisted the call of the tablet for a while, thinking that all I needed was my trusty MacBook. But after a couple of seasons working during New York Fashion Week and going out of town for work, I decided that it might be time to invest in a tablet. Apparently I’m not the only either as tablets are predicted to outsell notebook sin 2013*. Anyone who has lugged around a laptop through security and onto trains knows that it isn’t the easiest to travel with. Don’t even get me started with taking it to New York Fashion Week; you couldn’t pay me to take mine to a show. Too bulky, too much work and not necessary.
But, for the blogger who has to turn out blog posts while on-the-road or in-between shows, a tablet could make your blogging life much easier. Think about it – easy to transport, more battery life, small enough to fit in a clutch.
Which ones are worth your money? We found six perfect for you:
What: Surface with Window RT
Why: An alternative to Apple’s iPad, the Surface is the Windows-supported mobile device that delivers everything you’d want on a tablet. Two cameras (front and rear-facing), 8 hours of battery life, blogger-friendly Microsoft Office software already installed, a USB port, and enough memory (32 or 64GB) that allows you to store photos, videos and more. And it only weighs 1.5 pounds, so clutch-appropriate.
How Much: Starts at $499.00
What: Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7-Inch)
Why: Small enough to fit in a tote or shoulder bag, this tablet has a fast processor, decent-sized memory, a multi-touch screen that allows you to access information on the web This tablet would be more for the blogger who wants to watch videos on the plane, while waiting for meetings, or catching up with friends via social networking apps. This doesn’t boast as many business-functional features. It’s more basic than the others, which is reflected in its less expensive price.
How Much: $199.00
What: iPad 4
Why: You can’t talk tablets without mentioning Apple’s iPad 4. Super lightweight, fitted with a 9.7-inch Retina display, a 2,048 x 1,536 resolution and enough battery life to last you up to 10 hours of use and front-and-back cameras and all your favorite apps, it’s a great choice for the blogger who wants to stay connected and manage the basic blogging tasks while on the road. Depending on your needs and travel locations, you could live with just the wifi capability and forgo the 4G connection. But that totally depends on your location.
How Much: Starts at $399.00
What: Google (Samsung) Nexus 10
Why: What sets this tablet a part from the rest is it’s resolution. With a 2560 x 1600 pixel display (the highest in the world), this is the tablet for those who want clear, crisp images, videos and text. Magazines, websites, you name it, everything looks so much better on this tablet thanks to its 300ppi capability. Definitely the tablet of choice for the blogger who focuses on photography or video.
How Much: $509.99
What: Amazon Kindle Fire HD
Why: Much like the Nexus, Amazon Kindle Fire is catered to the blogger who is all about visuals. The 1920 x 1200 HD display with polarizing filter and anti-glare technology gives the ultimate viewing experience for your videos, books, websites, and more. Another big plus? You get unlimited storage on the cloud with your Amazon content.
How Much: $299
What: Nook HD
Why: The most impressive model in the Nook family line, the Nook HD is a paper-thin tablet that is geared toward the content-consuming blogger who is a fan of books, magazines and catalogs. Yes, there are apps and wifi so you can search online but the Nook is more of a reading app, especially with access to over 3 millions books, magazines, etc. It’s a good alternative to the Amazon Kindle Fire HD.
How Much: $269
With choices like these, maybe it’s time to invest in your own tablet. Do you have a tablet and can offer your recommendations for your fellow bloggers?
I’ve had an iPad for a while now and I love to take it with me on vacation instead of my laptop. However, I am not often using it for the act of blogging itself. I’ve tried before, but something always seems to go wrong. I’m probably just not using my tablet effectively and with the right apps, but I just find compiling posts much more hassle-free on my laptop.
However, I do use my iPad a lot for other things that are blogging-related, such as checking my stats, commenting on other blogs, doing research… I’d love to become more comfortable with using my tablet for actual blogging, but I just haven’t taken time off yet to become fully comfortable with it.
xx
Melanie Fontaine