Spoiled for choice as tablets offer convenience for the long haul
The original iPad of 2010 gave Apple a market lead it has maintained over competitors ever since.
The original iPad of 2010 was not Apple’s first attempt at a tablet. Nor was it inventing an entirely new device. But it did it better than it was ever done before and has maintained a lead over competitors ever since.
The gap between phone and tablet was much greater then than today. The original iPad had a 9.7-inch touch display, which was huge when compared with the iPhone 4 at the time with a 3.5-inch screen.
Apple sold more than two million iPads within the first two months of it going on sale. iPads quickly appeared in living rooms as a companion device to the television, in classrooms and in office meeting rooms for note-taking.
The larger screen helped to lessen our reliance on print publications. You could consume magazines and newspapers in a digital format or read information from websites on an iPad. The 10-hour battery meant you could use it all day. Battery life far exceeded laptop battery capability at the time.
The iPad became the product that propped up Christmas trees for years ahead.
The emerging tablet market grew rapidly. Apple remained the dominant player but competitors such as Samsung and Microsoft joined the action. The tablet market has since plateaued.
Many consumers find that a tablet lasts much longer than their smartphone. Innovation in this space has not been as rapid as the changes in the smartphone market. Ten years on, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to a device that is bigger than a smartphone but more portable than a laptop.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is one of the most capable competitors to today’s iPad Pro. It has a 10.5-inch display with a very slim bezel and supports the Samsung S-Pen. The pen is a handy stylus for taking notes, drawing and even gesturing to perform actions.
This 5.7mm thin tablet provides more than 12 hours of battery life, long enough to binge Netflix for the duration of an international flight. With an optional keyboard and touchpad attachment, the Tab S6 can also transform into more of a desktop computer through the use of Samsung’s DeX feature.
Microsoft Surface
Microsoft responded with the first Surface devices two years after the iPad’s launch. It placed the focus on content creation rather than just consumption. The Surface has since evolved into a range of products in 2020.
Microsoft’s current star, the Surface Go, packs productivity and portability together at a low price. Microsoft has adapted Windows 10 to Surface tablets. However tablet versions of Microsoft apps will have you glancing back at the iPad for excellence in that area.
Apple iPad
Apple’s iPad offering has expanded over the past decade. Options range from the 7.9-inch iPad mini to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. In 2020, there should be an iPad for everyone. They have better hardware and can run augmented reality applications.
The biggest change for iPad has come in software. The iPad operating system has started to vary greatly from the iPhone’s. The latest iPad OS offers true multi-tasking with apps in split view.
The iPad can be used as a second monitor to an Apple computer. The latest iPad Pro has a USB-C port that lets you attach external drives. We expect this capability will trickle through all Apple products in future.
Geoff Quattromani is a tech commentator across radio, print, online and television. Check out his podcast “Technology Uncorked” for new information each week.
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