Tablets like the iPad are popular for the user experience they provide, not for their technology. They usually don’t have overpowered processors or top-of-the-line video processing capabilities, but they’re simply fun, cool devices thanks to their touchscreens and slim profiles.
However, tablet PCs can still be great for gaming. Games like Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja are incredibly fun on a tablet’s large touch screens, and for serious gamers, there are ways to play a few hardcore titles on capable tablets.
Here are a few tips for choosing a tablet PC if you’re interested in gaming.
Operating System – The operating system of your tablet will definitely affect its gaming capabilities. The main operating systems for tablets are iOS, Android and Windows Mobile.
iOS devices like the iPad have hundreds of games. It’s the most popular platform, so if you want an easy, hassle-free way to play games, it’s the way to go.
The Android operating system has a pretty well-stocked market with awesome hardcore games like Minecraft Mobile and many of the most popular iOS titles such as Angry Birds and Cut The Rope. It’s also easier to install third party games on Android tablets, including game emulators. If you’ve ever used game emulators to play old Super Nintendo titles, you know how awesome emulation can be–you won’t be able to emulate anything on an iPad without jailbreaking it, as Apple strictly controls the apps available to its users.
Windows tablets aren’t as common as Android or iOS tablets and they’re not really as useful for gaming, although there are easy ways to install emulators and third party programs on Windows tablets. In general, however, you should avoid a Windows tablet if you’re serious about gaming.
Connectivity – A tablet’s screen is fine for casual games, but if you’re going to be emulating games or playing serious titles, you’ll need to connect your tablet to an external controller.
If your tablet has Bluetooth connectivity, chances are good that somebody has already developed a way to connect it to popular Bluetooth controllers like the Nintendo Wii’s Wiimote. Several emulators on the Android operating system, for instance, can search for a Wiimote automatically, allowing you to use a Nintendo Classic Controller for a variety of games.
With this in mind, look for a tablet with Bluetooth if you plan on using an external controller, especially if you already own a Nintendo Wii. You might also want a tablet with 3G so that you can download new games on the go, but remember that 3G connectivity is expensive and requires a data plan from a cell phone company.
Processor Speed And Power – When you’re buying a tablet, it doesn’t make sense to worry too much about processor speed, but it is worth noting that nVidia’s Tegra video card is a big thing right now on the Android side. Tegra tablets like the Asus Eee Transformer can play graphics-intensive games beautifully.
On the iOS side, the iPad 2 is much more powerful than the iPad 1, and while most of the games on the iTunes store will work equally well with either tablet, the newer iPad’s abilities will be used in future game releases, so it’s a better choice for gaming if you can afford it.
What are your favorite gaming tablets? Post your thoughts in the comments section below.