Technology is such a wonderfully glorious thing. It is through technology that I am able to type up this article today. It is through technology that the article can be sent through a series of tubes. And it is through technology that you are able to read these words on your screen. And that's the thing. You could be reading this on any number of different screens.Maybe you're reading this on a traditional desktop PC. Maybe you're at a coffee shop reading this on your laptop. Or maybe you're on the go and reading this on your smartphone before you board your plane to visit grandma for the holidays. With each progressive step along the way, we've gotten smaller and more portable, largely without sacrificing much in terms of functionality. If anything, we start to gain features.
The Amazing Shrinking Computer
Think about how far we've come in such a short amount of time. It really wasn't all that long ago that computers had to take up entire rooms and they could only perform the most basic of operations. It wasn't that long ago that you need a full tower PC to do any sort of real gaming, but now you can easily get by with a mid-tower or even a gaming notebook. And yes, gaming on tablets and smartphones is a very real thing too.
And by going more compact, we've been empowered to take more of our technology and more of our media with us, enjoying this content on a brilliant Super AMOLED display that's probably even better than the monitor you have hooked up to your desktop. Those deeper contrasts, richer colors and higher pixel density make games, movies and books that much more enjoyable.
A Richer Experience on the Go
Case in point is the recent Samsung Galaxy S2 tablet. This follows the first Galaxy S tablet with its AMOLED display and steps it up a notch with better performance and other improvements. What's more, the Galaxy S2 is available in a special NOOK variation from Barnes & Noble, optimized for carrying thousands of yoru favorite titles and other entertainment.
You might already be familiar with the partnership between Barnes & Noble and Samsung on previous tablets offered by the companies and the Galaxy S2 tablet is the latest in that series. In this case, you get an 8-inch tablet that easily holds its own against more expensive flagships while still offering top-notch performance. And the brilliance of that display cannot be understated.
That's the thing. We have gone progressively smaller with our devices while retaining the features and functions that we desire the most. Many people have abandoned desktops altogether for their laptops and it would not be that far-fetched to see people starting to abandon their laptops in favor of a tablet-primary experience. Remember that tablets, particularly when they come to reading e-books, are great for education. This includes younger school-aged children, all the way up to colleges, universities, and professional development courses and programs.
A Culture of Trust and Support
Of course, just as we know from our experience with computer hardware and components, not all technology is made alike. Some graphics cards are simply way more powerful than others. Some budget-oriented motherboards are simply superior by virtue of design or software. And some cheap tablets just aren't very good, so much so that you'd be throwing your money away if you got them.
Take a look at the specs. Review the features. Consider the design and the form factor. But remember to stick with reputable brands with solid support too. As we move more toward the mobile lifestyle with tablets, smartphones and now wearables, it might not be long before the big clunky computer becomes a relic from the past like the ancient ENIAC or a 100MB Zip drive.