I would just like to make my clients aware that tablet’s such as iPad, Samsung Tab also including many other android devices and cheaper Chinese alternatives that have been available for the last couple of years are causing owners real on going problems and expense.
I would like to advise my clients especially in the run up to Christmas that there are many many issues and reasons not to purchase one.
Quality and reliability wise, the iPad is the best of a bad bunch. However this quality and reliability comes at a substantial cost. With some of these newer models now costing over €600.
The fundamental problem with iPad’s and other such tablets is that there screen’s are far to easy to break accidentally. We are beginning to regularly see Apple iPad’s with broken screens that are receiving there 2nd and 3rd replacement screen in under 3 years of ownership, it seems no matter how careful the owners are they still end up getting dropped or accidentally damaged.
Many of these tablet’s that return with a new screen after being repaired by other company’s also end up having secondary problems as they have not been repaired by a professional and contain many other internal components that can be easily damaged during incorrect screen removal and re-installation procedure.
If you add the substantial cost of all the replacement screens on to the initial average purchase price of around €500. You end up with a shockingly high total cost of owning such a device and far higher than the cost of owning a Laptop or Desktop computer.
Many of the cheaper iPad alternatives are simply not worth repairing as the cost of the replacement parts including repair labour can cost more than purchasing a replacement device and in many cases there is no replacement parts available, so owners get trapped in a constant and expensive replacement cycle in many cases to keep children happy who have received them as gifts at Christmas.
Many of the cheaper Chinese tablets only last a couple of weeks and we have heard reports from many clients informing us that the tablet stopped working the same day they bought them, (This is why we don’t sell them).
There are downsides to Laptop & Desktop ownership as-well however they are improving security wise and quality wise all the time. Many of the newer Laptops in particular can start and run as quick as an iPad at a much lower initial purchase price.
Laptop’s & Desktop computers are much more cost effective to repair and much more reliable many of them last much longer than tablets, some of them even up to 10 years of daily usage.
It is also easier to monitor children’s Internet usage within the home when they are using a traditional Laptop or Desktop computer, as they are usually kept in a set, stationary location for everyone in the household to use and with so many numerous new social media apps parents are struggling and finding it difficult to keep up with tablet technology and apps, never-mind monitor tablet devices and ensure that there is no Internet bullying happening via there child’s tablet app in there homes.
If you require any advice on purchasing a new computer, feel free to contact us for a free no-obligation quote or even if you just need some free advice and help.
© LK IT Centre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.