5 Reasons the Android Tablet is Better than the iPad
Everyone is talking about Apple’s iPad. It is a great device, and it certainly has a huge share of the tablet market right now, but it’s not the only game in town. Before you plunk down several hundred dollars on an iPad, you should take a serious look at Android tablets. As great as the iPad is, there are some features that make the Android a better choice.
Flash Support
One of the biggest aggravations for Apple iPad users is that it doesn’t support Adobe Flash. Of course this isn’t a big deal, unless you’re trying to watch a Flash-embedded video on a website or you like to play Facebook games like Farmville or someone has a Flash introduction on their website. Well, actually, it really is a big deal. The fact that the Android supports Flash and the iPad doesn’t means that Android users don’t have to miss out on a huge part of the web.
Variety
The Apple iPad comes in one size from one manufacturer. You can choose between two colors, different amounts of storage space and what kind of Internet connection options you want, but that’s about it. On the other hand, different companies like Dell, Samsung and Acer all make various models of Android tablets with different features. You can also get Android tablets with different size screens ranging from 5 inches to 10 inches and other sizes in between. With the Apple iPad, the physical design is the same for every model.
Pricing
The lowest end Apple iPad is $499.00, where as you can buy and Android tablet like the Acer Iconia Tab A500 for around $380 – $400. The fact that more manufacturers make Android tablets means that buyers can shop around and find a model with the best combination of price and features that they want. With the iPad, you only have six models to choose from and other than wireless or 3G connectivity, the only difference between them is the amount of storage space you get.
Apps
If you want to buy an app for the iPad, you have to buy it from the iTunes store. However, Android users can buy apps from Amazon Appstore or Android Market. As Android phones grow in popularity, more app stores are likely to follow. Some app stores may have better prices than others or offer different apps. More choices of stores means you have the potential to find better deals on the apps that you need or want.
Multitasking
With the Apple’s iOS 4.0, you can switch between some tasks and run a limited number of things in the background, but you can’t truly multitask. With the Android’s Honeycomb OS you can do more than one thing at a time. In addition to being more robust, multitasking is also more convenient and easier to do on Android tablets.
The bottom line is that right now the iPad dominates the tablet market, but it is all Apple’s market. Everything is tied to Apple and everything you do with your iPad has to be done through Apple. If you want more selection, more freedom, and more flexibility then you should consider the large number of Android tablets on the market and see if there is one that is right for you.
About the Author: Tony Smith is a huge fan of technology and loves comparing Apple products to others. He also enjoys using IT recruiting services to help others in his field located long and short-term career opportunities.
