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Costco Connection   |  April  |  Up Front  |  Tech Connection
TECH CONNECTION
hand holding a tablet
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Apple released the iPad, the first touch-screen tablet, in 2010. It changed consumers’ expectations, creating a new way to enjoy technology.

Small but mighty

A look at Android, iPad and Windows tablets

by MARC SALTZMAN

Tablets are popular for lots of reasons: They’re thin and light, feature a touch screen, have a long battery life and start up in a flash. But how to decide which tablet to go with? Here’s a look at the major players.

iPad

Apple’s iPad tablets are powerful devices with gorgeous screens. They support an optional Apple Pencil (stylus), and there’s Siri, Apple’s personal assistant that lets you use your voice to interact with the iPad.

All iPads offer a Wi-Fi version or a Wi-Fi plus cellular option, and it’s easy to find accessories for any iPad model in Apple’s lineup: iPad mini (8.3 inches), iPad (10.2 inches), iPad Air (10.9 inches, and with stunning Liquid Retina display) and the supercharged and larger iPad Pro (12.9 inches, with Liquid Retina XDR display).

Like other Apple devices, iPads are very secure. You have access to the App Store for more than a million iPad apps.

Android

More than a dozen companies sell open-source Android-powered tablets, which range in size from 5 to 13 inches (though most are between 8 and 10 inches). Since Android is part of the Google family, most of these tablets have popular Google apps, such as Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, Google Drive (cloud storage), Photos, Duo (video calls), Chrome (browser) and an integrated voice-activated Google Assistant, built in for your convenience.

The Google Play store has more than 3.5 million downloadable apps and games, plus there are other stores to download from. Some Android tablets even let you expand the tablet’s storage via a microSD memory card.

Windows

Several tablets run on Microsoft’s popular Windows 11 operating system—in sizes that go all the way up to 15 inches. And some models feature a removable keyboard to convert the device from a laptop to a tablet (such as some of the Surface-branded options), making them great for both work and play.

Windows-based tablets include a familiar interface and apps, and their files sync to Microsoft’s OneDrive (cloud storage) for safekeeping.

A built-in Windows Store can download new content to your device. And because Windows supports all kinds of accessories, you can easily connect extra hardware to expand its functionality (see “One step beyond”).

One step beyond
Tablets aren’t just for consuming media. Add a wireless keyboard and mouse and you’ve got a workstation. Just prop up your tablet on a stand (which may be integrated into your case) and start typing away on a QWERTY keyboard, which is ideal for emails (or penning your best - selling novel), while a mouse helps you navigate around the screen. Gamers may consider adding a Bluetooth controller to their device, as well.—MS
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SEVAG SAGHERIAN
Marc Saltzman is a leading high-tech reporter and author. He’ll answer selected questions in this column. He regrets that unpublished questions can’t be answered individually.
Twitter @marc_saltzman
Email connection@costco.com Please include “Tech Connection” in the subject line.
COSTCO CONNECTION
You’ll find a selection of Apple, Android and Windows tablets in Costco warehouses and at Costco.ca.