Best tablet computers

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This 2011 holiday season was all about the tablet. Amazon had just released their Kindle Fire, while Barnes & Noble has moved up the date for the Nook Tablet to compete head to head with the Kindle Fire. And the iPad 2 was still the undisputed leader of the tablet computer, if also the most expensive of the bunch.  

If you're thinking about getting a tablet, keep reading for a breakdown of each device, and plenty of helpful links to guide you to the correct tablet purchase to meet your needs.

The Kindle Fire is Amazon's first foray into the tablet arena, and it's a budget-priced entry that, in the words of CNET reviewers, offers "outstanding entertainment value that prizes simplicity over techno-wizardry." Priced at $199, its 7 inch display is about half that of an iPad, and it focuses on content consumption over content creation. One thing to note is the small internal storage capacity of the Kindle Fire (only 8 GB.) This means users will either have to have access to Wi-Fi to enable streaming, and store most media in the cloud, or settle for having limited access to media while not online. This could pose problems on airplanes and other places without guaranteed Wi-Fi. Kindle Fire users also have access to Amazon Prime and the vast stable of TV shows and movies available there.

The Nook Tablet has a similar 7 inch screen, with double the internal storage capacity of the Kindle Fire (16 GB.) However, the price of the Nook Tablet is also $50 more, with an entry level price tag of $249. Users also need to be aware that much of the internal storage of the Nook Tablet is restricted to B&N content, and not outside sources (which means that extra storage space is not that much more at all.) The Tablet also offers an micro-SD card slot for even more storage (which the Kindle does not.)  Performance-wise the Kindle Fire and the Nook Tablet are quite similar, with the Kindle coming out on top processing-wise, but the Nook Tablet having the better display. It's all in the details as to which tablet users will prefer.

Both tablets pale in comparison to the reigning king of the tablet marketplace: the iPad 2. The iPad 2 offers a larger display screen and more free memory with its base model (16 GB) than either tablet. It also comes with more peripheral devices (front and back facing cameras among others) than the Nook Tablet or the Fire. However, all this additional gadgetry comes at a hefty price tag. Base-level iPads are more than double the price of the Kindle Fire (starting at $499.) Users have access to the iTunes collection of music and video, and a wide variety of apps from the iTunes app store. Although Amazon and B&N each have competing app stores, at this point they cannot compete with the breadth of offerings from iTunes. iPad 2 users can also create content at a faster rate, which is something Fire or Tablet users can only attempt in a rudimentary fashion. Again, all this comes at a steep additional cost, and it's something many users won't ever need.

In short, each tablet option offers users a different experience. Make your purchase choice carefully, after reviewing what exactly it is you want to do with the device. However you decide, enjoy your new tablet, and be sure to check out all the digital media offerings the library has, perfectly displayed on your new device!