If you’ve been paying attention to the news, you may have heard the ubiquitous tablet being referred to as the “it gift” of the season. Well folks, for once, mainstream media got something right. Tablets are the Tickle Me Elmo of 2013. I’m not saying any store clerks are going to be trampled in a mad dash for a new iPad, but there aren’t many Christmas trees that will be short a tablet nestled beneath their bountiful branches.
If you’re thinking of buying a tablet for some lucky schmo in your family – or an incredibly fortunate friend – there are a few questions you need to ask yourself before plonking down a few hundred simoleons.
What’s Your Price Range?
Gone are the days of your children wanting something as simple as a doll or board game. Now they want a new iPad so they can play Angry Birds Friends and take bathroom selfies on Snap Chat. Grandma doesn’t want a sweater, she wants the Kindle Paperwhite so she can catch up on all her favorite Nora Roberts novels.
The point is, gift-giving got a lot more expensive in the 21st century, and tablets aren’t even close to being cheap. There are a certain few you can pick up for under $100, but they’re definitely not the best on the market.
Before you do anything else, ask yourself if you can afford to hand over at least $150 for a tablet and accessories. If the answer is no, skip the tablet and buy something more budget friendly, like a Thighmaster. Gift giving is not a good reason to go into debt and as far as I know, no one has died from being denied access to a tablet.
What Tablet is Right for Them?
My darling husband almost bought me a Samsung tablet for Christmas last year; while the thought definitely counted, it wasn’t exactly the best gift for a die-hard Apple fangirl. Luckily, my sister was watching out for me and disaster was narrowly averted.
So, how can you make sure you choose the right tablet? Answer these questions and you’ll be on the right track:
- Are they brand loyal? — Mac or PC? By knowing the difference, you’ll know whether to pick up an iPad or Surface. Do they pray to the Google gods? Nexus Tablet, all the way! The easiest way to find out is to just ask. People are often as passionate about their operating systems as they are about their chosen political parties.
- What will they be using the tablet for? — If they’re a bookworm, check out Amazon’s Kindle or Barnes & Noble’s Nook. If they want to use their tablet for gaming, they’ll need something with much higher functionality.
- What size will they need? – Will they want the largest screen possible or something that will easily slip into a purse or backpack (10” or 7”)? Do they need something a little more robust that can take rough handling, or do they want a tablet that’s thin and light?
What Accessories Do You Need to Buy?
Think back to the last time you upgraded your phone: did you walk into the store, buy a phone, and walk out? Of course not! You also bought a case to protect the phone from falls, a screen protector to save the glass from scratches, and a car charger to keep your phone juiced up on the go.
Tablets are no different. If you buy a tablet as a gift, you’ll need to buy some accessories to go with it. It’s a bit like giving a mouse a cookie.
From cases and keyboards to stands, skins, and speakers, there are more tablet accessories than you can shake a stick at. By narrowing down what they’ll be using the tablet for, you can get a pretty good idea of what manner of accessories they’ll need to go with it.
If you keep all these things in mind, you’re sure to find the perfect tablet for that special someone on your gift list. And if they don’t like it, more tablet for you!