Tablet Shopping: 7 Tips To Avoid Buyer's Remorse

same power as an $800 laptop, you'll be disappointed. 

2. Beware tablet stereotypes.
Don't take conventional tablet wisdom as gospel. iPads, for example, are known for their high-quality construction, intuitive user interface, and big selection of apps. But because Apple doesn't supply a keyboard and the iPad lacks a USB port, some have typecast iPads as too limited for "real work."

Windows 8.1 tablets and two-in-ones are stereotyped -- thanks to their USB ports and attachable keyboards -- as best for squeezing laptop style productivity into near-tablet portability. At the same time, Windows tablets are thought of as fine for simple tasks but incapable of providing the iPad's "pure tablet" experience.

Android tablets, meanwhile, are known to run the gamut from dirt-cheap devices that run old versions of the operating system to premium models that rival iPads. Android tablet makers are considered more likely to experiment with new technologies before Apple does -- NFC, first-party stylus support, larger screen sizes, even depth-sensing cameras.

Android tablets often include envelope-pushing technology, such as the depth-sensing camera in Dell's Venue 8 7000.

All of these generalizations are useful but stay flexible. Take the idea that PCs are for work while tablets are for entertainment. This stereotype is true in general; if you use Photoshop every day, for example, then you do need the power of a traditional laptop or desktop. But if work to you means creating presentations, working on photos, or staying in touch with colleagues while on the go, iPads and Android tablets are productive in their own right. Likewise, the popular notion that Windows two-in-ones make better laptops than tablets might prove untrue for you if you need touch-oriented features, such as the Surface Pro 3's impressive digital pen.

3. Tablets aren't isolated products.
Many apps -- such as Twitter, Skype and Microsoft Office -- are available for purchase no matter what kind of tablet you buy. Keep in mind, however, that certain tablets work best with devices from the same manufacturer. Apple's Mac and Apple's iPad, for instance, can seamlessly hand off certain tasks, such as email composition, between the devices. Similarly, it's easier to sync content from one Windows 8.1 device to another than it is to sync between a Windows tablet and a Mac.  

Some Windows two-in-one hybrids, such as the $179 E Fun Nextbook 10.1, now cost less than $200.

4. Resolution isn't everything.
Tablet makers tend to glorify screen resolution but the number of pixels isn't everything. Big screens must have high resolution to make text sharp, play HD movies, and so on -- but a tablet's relatively small screen doesn't need lots of pixels. In addition to resolution, be sure to consider qualities such as color

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