Researching: Tablets

After owning an iPad 2.0 and a Kindle Fire 1.0 I'm now researching the latest tablets to determine whether I want to get a new one or stay with my Kindle Fire. Then there's always the burn: my mom got a Kindle Fire HD and it has a camera. A. CAMERA. Yes. It's on! ;oP

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET) from Cnet Buying Guide
I just liked the club sandwich, it's one of my faves ^_^

I owned an iPad 2.0 from 2011 to 2012. I gave up on it because it didn't have the functional heft I expected, and I hated burning my hands/lap when it overheated (which was all the time). Sure, it's got the amazing, Apple user intuitive (pictograph) UI that we all have grown to love and admire, but no multiple tabs, no gesture typing/Swype keyboard, and lots of Apple bloatware.

Rather than keep getting irritated, and going back to my MacBook Pro to get anything done, I gave my iPad to the significant other unit. I began holding a raging slight grudge w folks who show off Apple products for looks or to look hip. I like function and form, and mostly, making my life easy, not using devices to make a social statement or for fitting in. /rantover

I discovered Gazelle and sold one of my two 3Gs iPhones (the one that still worked, sort of) and relished the little bit of cash I got--and told the significant other unit his iPad could be sold there if he wanted some moolah. Instead, he traded in his iPad 2.0 to Apple for an iPad 3.0. He's been very happy with it since...

In late summer 2012 one of the two SCRUM certification classes I attended offered a Kindle Fire (KF) 1.0 as an incentive. I had been using the Kindle app on my iPhone 3GS and then my Droid Charge phone when I switched, and also on my iPad and MacBook Pro.

I immediately loved the KF. You turn it on, personalize it with your Kindle login, and you're done! No instruction booklet, nothing to confuse the user. Its small size and portability,  as well as the black, slightly rubberized surface were huge bonuses. You can surf the net using the Wi-Fi connection, and download apps to keep in the carousel for easy access. Best of all, long battery life and no overheated surface.

So now, almost a year into owning my KF, I'm very happy. Why read up on new tablets then? To see what else has come along.

It's important to read up and narrow down your search for information based on particular features that you're looking for. There is A LOT to read on tablets out there.

My reading is already focused on a few specs:

• devices with the Samsung Swype keyboard or the Android Gesture Typing
• not sure what size I want, but I know I like lighter weight tablets
• easy UI
• good video (I watch a lot of YouTube lately)
• battery life is also important
• do I want a camera? Not really, I have two cameras (Sony and Nikon) and my smartphone.
• I'm an Amazon Prime member so Amazon will have a slight advantage in my reviews.

I have several resources I am tracking to learn more about tablets in general, and for those narrowed down specs I mentioned above. I hope these help.

Additional reading and resources to research tablets:

• Consumer Reports tablet buying guide 
• CNet tablet buying guide/Tablet Reviews/best tablets
• PCMag find a tablet
• ZDnet Best Android Tablets (July 2013) [thanks +Mike Kruzel]
• eWeek 10 Hot Tablets
• Wiki Swype page and Swype Competitors section
• TechTree.com: Google Keyboard Hits The Play Store, Features Gesture Typing
• Google Nexus tablet device comparison page
• Samsung Galaxy tablet page