One of the things about getting older is that we become more and more reluctant to try out new technologies — particularly when those of former days hold special fond memories for us. But the elderly are increasingly taking to these things — and certainly tablet computers for many of them are preferable to desktop computers because of their lesser weight and because they take up less space. True, the size of the screen and type may be hard on the eyes of some old people, but that’s why they allow you to expand and zoom in. This article will describe a number of tablets that seniors might find particularly appealing. In the table given with each product, dimensions are given in inches, weight in pounds, screen resolution in pixels, battery life in hours and memory in gigabytes. Only the best customer reviews are given.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7-Inch, Wi-Fi)
Our first tablet features AllShare Play, which “melds digital content from different networked devices into one seamless flow” almost as if they were one device. Data can be uploaded and stored conveniently and securely, and stored later. Books and music can be read and listened to on Readers Hub and Music Hub respectively — and not just the latest either: As with any music Web service, you can listen to recordings that were made long before there was an Internet. This is a wonderful thing to know if you are elderly and longing for memories of bygone days.
- screen size: 7
- maximum screen resolution: 1024 × 600
- average battery life: 8
- internal memory: 8 (microSD expansion up to 32)
- average customer rating: four and a half stars
- customer reviews: “It’s fast, slick, has a great screen and even has Android 4.03 (Ice Cream Sandwich);” “went from an iPad 1 to Galaxy Tab 2 and love it”
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (10.1-inch, white)
Since this version is larger than the one just discussed, it might provide less strain on the eyes for older adults who might have vision problems. It comes with two cameras — a 1.3-megapixel front-facing one and a 3-megapixel rear-facing one. There are many advantages being offered with it, too, including membership in Hulu Plus (where you can watch all kinds of movies and TV programs), Boingo wi-fi access and credit for Google Play — all for free.
- screen size: 10.1
- maximum screen resolution: 1280 × 800
- average battery life: 8
- internal memory: 1 RAM, 16 flash
- average customer rating: three and a half stars
- customer reviews: “Great all around tablet… Videos play without delay and it makes a great business companion device;” ”So far so good”
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Bundle: 10.1-Inch 16 GB Tablet (White), Bluetooth Keyboard and Desktop Dock
Now here is a tablet that comes with a separate keyboard, which might be easier on the hands of an older user, since holding the device with one hand and tapping the virtual keypad with the index finger of the other might prove to be too strenuous.
- screen size: 10.1
- maximum screen resolution: 1280 × 800
- average battery life: n/a; takes lithium polymer battery
- internal memory: 16
- average customer rating: four stars
- customer reviews: “So delighted with this… jewel of a tablet… The graphics are so clear;” “This is a very responsive tablet and very sensitive to the touch.”
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (32GB, Deep Grey)
Another 10.1-inch tablet, the Note uses the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system. Its front and back cameras have 1.9 and 5 MP resolution respectively, and the tablet features the “unique” S-pen technology for creating graphics (I am sure some old people will get a thrill out of this!), editing photos and taking notes. But best of all is a feature called Cascade View, with which you can see and access as many as sixteen apps at a time — something not found in older versions, which are also not as fast or as smooth in their operations as the Note is.
- screen size: 10.l
- maximum screen resolution: n/a
- average battery life: n/a
- internal memory: 2
- average customer rating: four stars
- customer reviews: There have been almost a thousand of these, of which some of the best are: “THE Tablet for Students, but Great for All;” “It does everything… Love this thing so far
Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro XE700T1C-HA1US Tablet PC
The ATIV Smart, one of the most expensive products in the Samsung Galaxy line, is more like a smaller form of the laptop than a tablet — it comes equipped with a docking keyboard, plus a stylus and an AC adapter.
- screen size: 11.6″ screen mode
- maximum screen resolution: 1920 × 1080
- average battery life: n/a
- internal memory: 3 MB Standard Memory: 4 GB Maximum Memory
- average customer rating: not yet rated. Has only been on the market for three months.
- customer reviews: none
Samsung Series 7 XE700T1A-A03US 11.6″ Slate (128 GB, Win 7 HP)
Series 7 is of the same type of device as the one previously discussed; it also costs about the same. It “offers all of the features of a full-sized laptop in an extremely portable package, providing highly mobile users with the computing power they need for maximum productivity anywhere they go.” Users can run their favorite office software from this machine. A newer version of the same item, costing only in the $600 range, has come out, but it has been rated with only three and a half stars.
- screen size: 11.6
- maximum screen resolution: 1366 × 768
- average battery life: 7
- internal memory: 128
- average customer rating: four and a half stars
- customer reviews: “It has replaced both [my desktop PC and my iPad] quite well;” “It’s more than a tablet; it’s a full computer.”
Samsung XE700T1C-A03US 11.6 LED Tablet PC
The XE700T1C-A03US is a mere tablet computer — no physical keyboard here — but its price is in the same range as those of the products discussed in the two previous sections and is an option for those who want to try something newer to the market.
- screen size: 11.6
- maximum screen resolution: 1920 × 1080
- average battery life: n/a. Uses lithium polymer battery.
- internal memory: 4
Samsung Galaxy Tab (10.1-Inch, 32GB, Wi-Fi) GT-P7510MAVXAB Tablet
The GT-P7510MAVXAB is one of the most powerful devices of its kind. With its dual-core processor, it can download at an amazing speed — the games graphics are much sharper, movies can be played faster and video chats are “crystal clear.” The body is light and sleek, the user has access to the more than 200,000 apps that make up the Android Market (which has been growing faster than any other app market), multitasking is made possible by a Quick App Tray and multiscreen scrolling, and a built-in GPS locater enables you to find where you are and get directions to any place. The cameras also deliver pictures that are exceptionally crisp and clear.
- screen size: 10.1
- maximum screen resolution: 1280 × 800
- average battery life: 14. This is significantly longer than those of most of the other tablets discussed in this article.
- internal memory: 32
- average customer rating: four stars
- customer reviews: “My wife love it and very easy to carry and use. When you browsing online it’s very fast and the screen is big enough;” “Great for use around the house to view vids, streaming content and other uses that call for a larger screen.”
Samsung GT-P6200 Galaxy Tab 7.0 (Plus) 16GB Tablet PC (White)
Our last tablet is one of the highest rated and looks to be overall one of the best performing of the serious of Samsung tablets. This means only positive things for seniors looking for a great, all-around high quality Samsung tablet, because there’s less chance of any problems and headache – the last thing you’re looking for when you’re in the market for a tablet.
- screen size: 7
- maximum screen resolution: n/a
- average battery life: n/a
- internal memory: n/a
- average customer rating: five stars
- customer reviews: “Top of the line product;” “If you want full phone functionality in a Tablet, this is the way to go.”
Remember, too, that a time will come when the young tablet users of today are in their 70s and over. Technology will have evolved greatly by then.