A primary tools of the modern-day paperless office are tablet computers.
While Apple owns +/-75% of this market with the iPad, recent entries using Google’s Android platform also show potential. This includes a custom build of Android that Amazon has placed in a device known as the Kindle Fire.
It’s a full-color tablet at a price of only $199, which is comparably affordable next to the iPad, the cheapest model of which is $499.
The Fire is primarily meant as a media consumption device, i.e. it’s for watching movies, reading, and listening to music. That said, it is a fully functional tablet. Can it compete with the iPad in regard to being useful for business presentations, email, document collaboration, etc?
With a few hacks, this may be possible, but if you’re not a technical genius of that sort, the recommendation is definitely to go ahead and spend for the iPad. It’s a more powerful device, has a bigger screen, and far more versatile, which will ultimately be more useful.
Beyond that, the iPad is a known quantity and brand. The name is almost synonymous with tablets, much like Kleenex are with tissues. If you’re serious about your business and your paperless office, spend the extra money.
That said, with the way things progress, this analysis is worth revisiting in a few months.
