Is a Tablet Something or Nothing?

Tablets are the future….or so would Apple, Motorolla, Samsung and any other tablet maker would like to have you think. If you have ever played with a tablet it feels like we are on our way to flying cars and robot butlers. But I submit to you, are these tablets something, or are they nothing?

Here are somethings you can do on a tablet:

• You can play games, but it isn’t as good as a PSP or a DS.
• You can read ebooks, but it’s not as good as a Nook or a Kindle.
• You can take pictures and video, but it’s not as good as a digital camera.
• You can do do word-processing, but it’s not as good as a laptop.
• You can send instant messages and video chat, but it’s not as good as a smart phone.

So what is a tablet good at? They are good at being portable. An excellent tool for someone who is on the go! It doesn’t have to “start-up” like a computer or laptop or even a smart phone. You won’t find yourself waiting for it to turn on. You can easily slip it into a shoulder bag or briefcase, and you don’t have to take it out of your bag at airport security.

It’s not great at the list above, but it does all of it sufficiently that you can stay productive and functional in a coffee shop, at the park or waiting for an appointment. You can pass time with angry birds, or use the Kindle app to read that book for book club (the tablets aren’t as smooth or light as ereaders, but they get the job done.)

Should everyone get a tablet? Probably not. Should you? Do you find yourself looking for an outlet for your laptop everywhere you go? Do you sit for 30 minutes waiting for the dentist thinking about all the emails you should be sending. Do you have a job that keeps you out, more than you are sitting at your desk? If the answer is yes, then a tablet may be a sound investment.

The next question my friends, is which tablet, that is where the real decision making begins.

Do you have a mobile site?

If you have a website you should be thinking about a mobile site. Morgan Stanley predicts that by 2015 mobile devices will outnumber desktop and laptop computers. There are now more mobile devices than people in the United States, there are 327.6 million mobile devices, including cell phones, tablets, e-readers and gaming devices that connect to the internet.

A mobile site needs to be set up and optimized for the mobile platform. Your desktop page may not look right on a mobile device (not even on a tablet) or function properly. It needs to have an informational landing page and  product-specific microsites. Like your desktop site you should be analyzing the website to see how mobile visitors are responding to the site.

Your mobile site keeps you at the finger tips of the consumer regardless of where they are. 77% of mobile device users are using them to search, if your site is difficult to use from a tablet or phone you’re likely to miss an opportunity.

We can help with your mobile strategy. Contact Coppermoon Web Design today.

Coppermoon is a full service Web Design & SEM firm which aims to help businesses compete in this digital age. Follow us on twitter or facebook for updates.