Читать книгу 50 Top Tech Tools and Tips - David Sandy - Страница 23

Tablet computers are touch-screen devices used either with your finger or a stylus (depending on the type of screen technology). They are less powerful than a netbook or a laptop, and rather than having full applications have ‘apps’ instead. Apps are small packages of software that provide a specific function or role; for example, there are apps for accessing your emails, Twitter, Facebook, weather, notes and thousands more. Apps are downloaded either for free or for a couple of pounds from the platform provider’s online marketplace.

All tablets run an operating system which provides you with base functionality and the platform on which to install apps. The main operating systems are Google Android and Apple iOS. It is worth trying out a tablet device with each of these on to see which you like working with the best. BlackBerry also offer their own operating system on their PlayBook tablet, with some (limited) cross-over Android functionality. Windows 8 tablets are scheduled for release in late 2012, with the Professional edition of the operating system featuring both tablet and traditional desktop modes: in other words, the full Windows experience on machines the size of an iPad.