Hands-On With iPad and Nexus Tablets
By Wayne Maruna

    This is part three of what has grown to be a four-part series on tablets, looking at the alpha dog Apple iPad and a small but high quality Google Nexus 7.
 
    Apple iPad Air 2
    I own an iPad Air 2, and previously owned two older iPad models. When someone asks me what tablet to buy, I reflexively blurt out ‘iPad!’  But is that right?  

    The specs: 9.7” screen (diagonally measured); about 7.7” wide and 5.8” high, for a 4:3 aspect ratio (the landscape height is 75% of the width). Apple packs in a pixel density of 264 ppi (pixels per inch) with a screen resolution of 2048x1536.  Screen area: 44.67 sq. inches. Weight comes in at 15.41 ounces.

    The iPad Air 2 has a clear, sharp screen, quick response, and the leading app store in the business.  Standard storage option is 16GB, with 64GB available (the 128GB model has been discontinued with the introduction of the 9.7” iPad Pro.)  There is no Micro SD memory card slot to add more storage, and the battery is not user replaceable. With Apple’s recent introduction of the newer 9.7” iPad Pro, the price of the 16GB iPad Air 2 has been reduced to $399, and moving up to 64GB jumps the price to $499.  Cellular models that can retrieve data off of cell towers (with data plan subscriptions) are available for an up-charge of $130 to the prices above. The original Air model is also still sold, at prices $100 below the prices above.

    Apple’s recently announced iPad Pro 9.7 features much of the upgraded hardware of the 12.9” iPad Pro, just in the same size as the iPad Air 2.   Prices start at $599 for the 32GB version and jump all the way to $749 for the 128GB version.  There is no 64GB offering, that option being restricted to the iPad Air 2. While physical specs of the 9.7 iPad Pro match the iPad Air 2, it has improved performance owing mainly to a faster processor, a higher resolution camera, and an added pair of speakers. It’s just a question of whether one can justify the price difference.

    I really enjoy my iPad Air 2.  It is my morning ‘paper’ and the quick way to check emails when not by my computer.  I keep it handy when watching TV to do quick lookups on things that cross my mind (e.g. ‘how is corned beef made’, or ‘what movies has Michael Kitchen appeared in.)  It’s not my favorite choice for reading books (I find the bright white background and screen glare annoying) or watching movies (screen too small.) A tablet is also a great way to do crossword puzzles ( I use the daily free one at the Washington Post.)
    
    Nexus 7
    Google partnered with HTC in 2012 and then Asus in 2013 to produce the Nexus 7. The 2013 version has the better specs. I sampled a ‘certified refurbished’ 2013 Asus model; Google’s current model at the time of this writing is the Nexus 9 (8.9” screen). This Nexus 7 came with 32GB of storage space and is cellular capable.  The Nexus models run ‘pure Android’; they have not been modified by the manufacturer to alter the user interface or insert ‘bloatware’.  I did not expect to like the Nexus 7 owing to its small size, but surprisingly I like it a lot.  It is just the right size to hold in one hand, and is easy to throw in a jacket pocket.  The screen is extraordinarily sharp owing to its 323 pixels per inch, 22% better than the iPad.  Even very small text is easily read. The display is designed with a 16:10 aspect ratio, more of a wide screen view than on the iPad. With a screen width of 5.95 and a height of 3.7”, the total screen area is 22 sq. inches, half that of the iPad Air.  With the smaller size comes a reduction in weight to 10.55 ounces, making it very easy to hold. I did not think there would be a ton of difference between this 7” tablet and my 5” Samsung Galaxy 5S smartphone, but the math says I have exactly twice the screen real estate on the tablet.

    Because I’ve used an Android phone for a number of years, using the Nexus is like sliding into a pair of comfortable slippers. Google’s Play Store may not match Apple’s Store for sheer number of apps, but it has plenty. The smaller size is ideal for reading emails or books when held in the portrait mode, and I found that even web pages are best viewed in portrait mode.

    Running ‘pure Android’ means the Nexus gets Android operating system updates on a timely basis. This 2013 Nexus was delivered with version 4 (Kitkat), but within an hour of being set up, Google had updated it to the most recent version 6 (Marshmallow) of Android.  Even my 2015 Samsung Galaxy S5 phone is still stuck at version 5.0.

    The Nexus 7 is a good choice for a color alternative to a standard E-Reader like a Nook or Kindle when using the Kindle or Nook apps.  You have a lot of control over font, font size, brightness, and even background color (sepia, mint green, black on white, or white on black).  The E-Readers still do a much better job of minimizing screen glare in sunlight.

    Despite being a ‘certified refurbished’ model, it looked brand new, and its price tag of $150 with cellular capability made it a huge bargain. Wal-Mart’s Straight Talk cellular service offers a SIM card that gives you the option to download 1GB of data per month for $15 for those times when you are not in range of free Wi-Fi.

    Google recently dropped the Nexus 9 from its store, so the industry expects the arrival of a new version anytime now.  HTC is rumored to be the manufacturing partner.

Still to come – Microsoft Windows Tablets
    Next month I will collaborate with a guest writer to wrap up the subject of tablets as we discuss Windows-based offerings.