Losing your mind trying to figure out the tablet specs? Confused with all the tech jargon being brandished about? We try to de-mystify all the confusion surrounding the tablets.

What is a Tablet device?
The tablet is essentially a device which slots in the space between a smartphone and a netbook/laptop. It is bigger than the smartphone, and is much smaller than the netbook/laptop.  Does all things a smartphone does and can do most things a laptop does. What it offers is the extra portability and a better user experience with a bigger screen.

Hardware de-mystified

Accelerometer: The job of this feature is to reformat the screen in portrait or landscape modes, depending on how the user is viewing it. Move the device, and the screen will change orientation automatically.

Processor: The heart of the tablet device- this is what drives every activity which the device undertakes. Processor speeds are measured in MHz or GHz. The speeds of the processor have a huge bearing on the overall performance of the tablet device. Faster the processor speeds, better the performance, sometimes with battery life as a trade-off.

RAM: Random Access Memory, it allows the operating system and apps to constantly write and delete data on this chunk of memory. The more RAM available, the faster the apps will respond, owing to the ability to access data faster. A fast processor, with not enough RAM creates a bottleneck.

Screen Size: Measured in inches, the screen size will have a huge impact on the usage experience. Tablets are available in 5-inch, 7-inch and 10-inch screen sizes at the moment.

Capacitive touchscreen: The screen which offers multi-touch capability is the capacitive touchscreen. It allows using multiple finger gestures to flick, zoom in, zoom out etc.

Resistive Touchscreen: The touchscreen capability is very much there, but will not detect multi-touch gestures. This is the basic touchscreen experience.

USB port: The port which allows users to connect the tablet to external devices and accessories like an external USB keyboard. Connect external drives using the USB port to copy data to and from the device.

Expandable memory: A memory card used to expand the storage capacity of the device. The memory card is removable, unlike the internal storage on the device.

3G: The ability to access high speed internet services via the mobile service provider’s network. 3G services are gradually being rolled out by the telecom biggies in India. You will need to have a 3G activated sim-card in the device.

Wi-Fi: Access internet through a wireless internet access point, like at home or at a coffee shop. Browse the web and download apps without needing to be connected by any wires.

Software de-mystified

Android OS: Google’s hugely popular operating system for the smartphone and tablet devices. Currently, there are a lot of versions of Android doing rounds, on different devices. Android is in direct competition with Apple iOS and all other smartphone OS. Some say this is the ‘open market’ answer to Apple’s ‘closed’ iOS platform. Nicknames like Froyo and Cupcake are used to lovingly describe various versions of the OS.

Android Market: This is the app store for the Android platform. Currently, access to the Market is possible only from within devices. Download apps from the Market directly on the phone. Payment for any paid apps is also accepted via credit cards.

Apple iOS: This is Apple’s OS designed for the iPhone and the iPad. Very popular, to the extent that Apple’s iPhone and iPad have a fanatical fan following. Perfectly designed for the touchscreen usage and hardware compatibility, particularly because Apple was developing the hardware as well!

App Store: This is Apple’s application market. Access it from within the device, or via the PC. Sync apps to the device via iTunes. The humungous number of apps is being added to, on a daily basis, with more apps. Even the Farting app has some rivals!

Windows: Microsoft’s OS for the PC world. This is now being ported to the tablet devices as well.