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Apple iPad Prices Increase Amidst Short Supply of Memory Chips

September 29th, 2017 | Posted by rreeve in Apple | iPad | Rental - (0 Comments)

Unless you watch Apple’s activities with extreme diligence, you might not have noticed that the tech giant’s flagship tablet line has had an unannounced price increase. While this price increase won’t really affect you or your business at all in the immediate future if you are getting an iPad rental, this could affect you if you were planning on just buying an iPad.

Apple iPads of various colors.

Fortunately, not all iPad devices were affected by Apple’s price increase. Only the iPad Pro line saw an overnight increase in price of $50 per iPad. The only iPad Pro definitely not affected by this price increase was the 64GB memory model of both the 10.5-inch and the 12.9-inch iPad Pros.

 

The original price of the 10.5 Inch 256GB iPad Pro was $749, which has now been increased to the new price of $799. The 10.5 inch 512GB model has been increased from $949 to a cool $999. These are just the pricings of the WiFi only models by the way. If you want cellular compatible devices you’ll have to pay an extra $130 – that applies for both 10.5 inch and 12.9 inch models.

 

Now let’s look at the increase in the already more expensive 12.9 inch Wifi only models. The original price of the 12.9 inch 256GB model was $899, which increased to $949. The original price of the 12.9 inch 512GB model was $1099, and that price increased to $1149.

Apple iPads of various colors.

Once again, I just want to state that these prices are for the WiFi only models of the iPad Pro line, and that this is obviously before any tax has been calculated into the sale price.

 

Apple did not announce this price increase officially, or give an official statement saying why they did it. As internet users are prone to do, some people have made speculations as to why Apple increased the price of the iPad Pro line.

 

The best theory for the price increase that I have seen so far is that Apple is paying more for NAND and DRAM memory chips due to a short supply – caused by tech manufacturers buying up chips in advance of large technology products, and possibly also caused by the increase in the usage of SSD memory among desktop and laptop users – and that instead of taking a profit loss, Apple is passing the bill on to the consumer.

 

Whether or not you think that Apple would hand the bill off to their customers, at the end of the day it does not change the fact that the iPad Pro line has increased in price

 

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The Lightest Tablets on the Market

July 12th, 2017 | Posted by rreeve in Rental | Tablet - (0 Comments)

If you are getting a tablet rental, you are probably doing so because you need a device which is compact, easy to use, and lightweight. There are a whole lot of tablets out on the market, and depending on whether or not you will need a specific operating system for your event, there may be a whole lot of tablets for you to choose from. One way to narrow down your search for the perfect tablet rental is by searching through tablets by weight. Since having a tablet which weighs five pounds isn’t very practical in most occasions, this article is dedicated to showing you some of the lightest tablets out on the market – or specifically tablets which all weigh under one pound.

Sony Xperia Z4

A picture of the Sony Xperia Touch.

The Sony Xperia Z4 is large but light, weighing less than a pound in both WiFi only and WiFi + cellular data variants. The Xperia has the largest display size in this article, coming in at 10.1 inches. If you are interested in this device, keep in mind that it runs on Android so if you have software which requires iOS, consider the next tablet on the list.

iPad Mini 4

A picture of several iPad Mini 4s

While Apple’s new iPad Pro is quite powerful, it weighs in just over one pound so I couldn’t put it on this list. However, if you need a lightweight iOS device the iPad Mini 4 may suit your iPad rental needs. The Mini 4 comes equipped with a 7.9 inch retina display and weighs .66 pounds for the WiFi only model and .67 pounds for the WiFi + cellular data model.

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 9.7”

A picture of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

Weighing in at .95 pounds on the WiFi only variant, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 narrowly squeezes into this article. The S3 boasts a 9.7 inch Super AMOLED display. Samsung has been testing around with some new ideas with their tablets, and the S3 comes with a stylus called the S Pen and can also be coupled with a keyboard.

 

HP Pro Tablet 608 G1

The HP Pro Tablet 608 is what some might dub an “oldie but a goodie”. The 608 released back in 2015, but it is one of the only Windows tablets that I could find which weighs less than a pound. The 608 comes equipped with a 7.86 inch display and a version of Windows 10.

 

Want to share this story on social media? Use this hashtag! #Tablets

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The 2017 iPad Pro – A Portable Powerhouse

June 21st, 2017 | Posted by rreeve in Apple | iPad - (0 Comments)

It is no secret that Apple has a neglectful relationship with its MacBook Air models, and two years ago Apple discontinued the smaller of the two MacBook Air models. While I still strongly believe that Apple’s new 12 inch MacBook is the replacement of Apple’s MacBook Air line, Apple’s 2017 iPad Pro may be the second runner-up for the title of “MacBook Air Killer”.

iPadPro2017

Apple’s 2017 refresh of the iPad Pro features two iPad Pro models – a 10.5 inch display iPad Pro and a 12.9 inch display iPad Pro. Although extreme portability and lightweightness were two of the MacBook Air’s main selling points, the small size of the iPad Pro 10.5 inch model alone isn’t enough for it to replace a fully armed and operational laptop – which the MacBook Air is.

 

So besides being light and small, what would an iPad Pro rental have going for it? In terms of battery life the iPad Pro’s are pretty average in comparison to the tablets of other tech giants. Apple claims that both iPad Pro models have a 10 hour battery life, giving them an extra hour of operation above the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 and the 11-inch MacBook Airs of 2015, but two hours less than the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, which Samsung claims has a 12 hour battery life.

iPadPro2017(2)

The display on both models of the iPad Pro are better than the display equipped on the current models of MacBook Air. Both iPad Pro models come equipped with retina displays, which the Air lacks. The 10.5 inch iPad Pro has a 2224-by-1668 resolution while the larger 12.9 inch iPad Pro has a resolution of 2732-by-2048. Both models display 264 pixels per inch.

The most impressive aspect of the new iPad Pro models is the A10X Fusion chip. The A10X is the processor and graphics card running the iPad Pro, and it is an impressive piece of hardware for a tablet. The A10X allows the iPad Pro to outperform some laptops in performance, but currently the iPad Pro is limited by its operating system. Once iOS 11 releases, the iPad Pro will become a much more productive device, as the operating system update has a strong focus on increasing the amount of multitasking capable for users, and it will also allow you to search your tablet files extensively, making the iOS more laptop like than mobile device oriented.

 

Want to share this story on social media? Use these hashtags! #iPadPro #Tablets

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The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 and 2 New 2-in-1’s

May 1st, 2017 | Posted by rreeve in Android | Rental | Tablet - (0 Comments)

2017 has been an exciting year for Samsung so far. Back during the 2017 Mobile World Conference, Samsung unveiled three new tablets which are now currently available on the market. So cast aside your iPads, this article is all about three new Samsung tablets.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

The long awaited Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is a worthy alternative to an iPad that has the looks to match its impressive hardware. Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 rentals come with:

  • Android 7.0 Nougat
  • Quad-core Snapdragon 820 Processor
  • 32 GB Storage
  • Micro-SD slots which can add up to an additional 2 TB of storage
  • 4 GB of RAM
  • Data compatible (4G LTE)
  • 9.7 inch AMOLED screen.

Samsung Galaxy Book 12

Although I am glad that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S series got a refresh, I find Samsung’s new contender to be a little more personally interesting. The Galaxy Book is not only a tablet, it is a 2-in-1 device. The Galaxy Book series runs Windows 10 and gives the Microsoft surface Pro some more competition. This tablet not only looks nice in its keyboard cover, but it also boasts some impressive specs, such as:

  • Windows 10 Operating System
  • 7th Generation Intel Core M3 Processor
  • 12 Inch AMOLED Display
  • 4 GB RAM or 8 GB RAM
  • 128 GB SSD or 256 SSD
  • Data Compatible (4G LTE)

Samsung Galaxy Book 10

The smaller of the two new Galaxy Book devices, the Samsung Galaxy Book 10 has some lighter hardware specs in exchange for more portability, which is what you might be seeking out of a tablet 2-in-1. Here are some of the specs:

  • Windows 10 Operating System
  • 7th Generation Intel Core M3 Processor (Same as the Galaxy Book 12)
  • 10.6 Inch LCD Display
  • 4 GB of Ram (Different from the Galaxy Book 12)
  • Choice between 64 GB or 128 GB of Storage (Different from the Galaxy Book 12)
  • Data Compatible (4G LTE)

Concluding Remarks

Samsung not only refreshed its wildly popular Galaxy Tab S lineup this year, it also threw out two solid 2-in-1 tablets. It should also be mentioned for anyone who uses styluses that all three of these devices carry over S Pen compatibility from previous iterations, so if you are worried about missing your stylus if you upgrade, don’t be.

 

Want to share this story on social media? Use these hashtags! #SamsungTablet #TabletRentals

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Three Tips to Help You Find the Perfect Tablet Rental

April 19th, 2017 | Posted by rreeve in Event Planning | Tablet - (0 Comments)

Certain tablets fill roles better than others, and there are a lot of tablets available on the market, so finding exactly what you need may prove difficult. Here are a few things you should consider which will help you narrow down your search for tablet rentals.

1. Battery Life

When compared to laptops, tablets normally have much longer battery lives. However, if your event spans six hours or more you should probably start worrying about the battery lives of your devices. However, the battery life of your devices will largely depend on what you are using your tablets for. If you are only using tablets for web browsing and video streaming, you should be able to use your tablets for six hours easily, but if you are running more intensive software, you should start to worry about your tablet’s’ battery lives sooner.

2. Memory Space

Memory space is vital, and depending on whether not you can recharge your tablets, memory space may be your number one priority. If you plan on using custom applications you may want to have more storage space, such as 32 or even 128 gigabytes. Another thing to consider when thinking about memory is whether or not you will want to use Micro SD cards. Android tablets often have slots for Micro SD cards, while Apple’s iPads do not.

3. Operating System

The difference between Apple and Android does not stop at Micro SD card readers. I can never stress enough the importance of operating system selection. Although tablet operating systems can perform many of the same basic functions, there is a large degree of variation in things such as security and application compatibility. Know what you need for the apps you need before getting a tablet rental.

Final Tip

One last tip, if your attendees are going to be working on tablets a lot during your event, you’ll probably want something that is keyboard and maybe even mouse compatible.

Want to share this story on social media? Use these hashtags! #EventProfs #TabletRentals

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Durability and Tablet Rentals

March 13th, 2017 | Posted by rreeve in Rental | Tablet - (0 Comments)

While it is normally easy to find what processor, screen size, and amount of RAM a device comes with, it is typically harder to find out whether or not your device can survive being dropped 4 feet without finding out for yourself (Pro tip: don’t test to see if your tablet can survive a 4 foot drop, there’s a high probability that it will not). You may not always need a tablet rental which is ultra-durable but it’s always good to know whether or not your tablet can survive basic every-day interactions, such as being slid across a desk or falling 4 feet.

Since our company doesn’t revolve around technology durability, we’ll be referencing information provided in an experiment by SquareTrade, a technology protection and repair company, which compared the durability of multiple tablets. The three durability tests which can easily happen in real-life scenarios are the slide test, the 4 ft drop test, and the water submersion test. These experiments happened in late 2014, but some tablet models have remained mostly the same externally over the passage of time. The three tablets we will be comparing are the iPad Air 2, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4, and the Microsoft Surface Pro 3.

Four Foot Drop Test

Generally speaking, the larger the tablet the less likely it is to survive a four foot drop onto a cement floor. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 was the smallest device, and it was also the only one of our three devices which sustained no damage from the drop test. The iPad Air and the Surface Pro 3 both had their screens shattered upon impact.

Slide Test

If you are a fan of sliding your tablet screen-down on a table, you should probably stop, or consider getting a Surface Pro rental. Sadly, SquareTrade did not provide much detail on how the scoring for this specific test was done, so don’t try sliding your Surface Pro around just to see how it holds up. The experiments did however say that the Surface Pro handled this test the best, followed by the Galaxy Tab, and then the iPad Air.

Water Submersion Test

If your tablet is ever underwater, it’s probably because you accidentally dropped it first. However for this test, tablets were purposely submerged in 3 inches of water for 10 seconds. The Samsung Galaxy Tab came out of this test unscathed. The Apple Air 2 was also operable after submersion, but the Surface Pro had a system failure after the test.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy Tab held out the best overall in terms of durability, with the iPad Air 2 providing a middle-ground and the Surface Pro 3 coming in last. Durability isn’t everything of course, for your tablet rentals you may need more intense internal hardware like what is provided in Surface Pro models. If you only need durability however, get a rugged tablet rental. Rugged tablets are specifically made for the harshest work environments, and are much more durable than the standard consumer-grade tablet.

Want to share this story on social media? Use this hashtag! #TabletRentals

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Samsung’s MWC 2017 Conference and Rumored Galaxy Tab S3

February 1st, 2017 | Posted by rreeve in Android | Tablet - (0 Comments)

There’s some more exciting news and speculation for the mobile device crowd, the news is that Samsung’s MWC 2017 Press Conference is happening this month on February 26. The speculation is a bit more interesting: Samsung may be unveiling a new tablet instead of a phone during the conference based on the conference’s invitation picture. This really isn’t that much information to speculate off of alone, but the FCC has allegedly already certified the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3.

Some believe that this image is a picture of the bottom of a tablet, but it very well could just be a bit of detail added to the top or bottom of a phone, or it could actually be the home button for the device. Unsurprisingly, this speculative tablet already has some leaked speculative specs. Here’s a list of some of the rumored specs backing the tablet:

 

  • Snapdragon 820 Processor or Exynos 7420 Octa-core chipset
  • 9.6 inch 2048 x 1536 display
  • Fingerprint scanner
  • 4 GB Ram

 

You may have noticed the bold “or” between the Snapdragon 820 and the Exynos 7420, this is because we’re not sure what kind of processor this new tablet will have yet. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 is a reliable device, and is a popular choice for event tablet rentals, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab line is in more need of something new and more powerful than their flagship phone series.

The strangest thing about this is that the MWC 2017 Conference is a phone show first and foremost. However, we all know that Samsung is not bringing their flagship series, the Galaxy S series, an update at the conference this year. It’ll still be a bit surprising to see if these rumors will hold true.

Want to share this story on social media? Use these hashtags! #MWC2017 #SamsungGalaxyTabS3

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Behemoth 18.4 Inch Rumored Nokia Tablet

January 23rd, 2017 | Posted by rreeve in Android | Rental | Tablet - (0 Comments)

This article is going to be a bit different from the norm because instead of talking about things that are currently out and on the market, we’re going to be discussing rumors and wild speculation regarding a super tablet. And I’m not calling it a “super tablet” because I’m referring to the power the tablet’s hardware brings to the table, in this case I’m only talking about size. If rumors are correct, the Nokia company may be releasing an 18.4 inch tablet in its 2017 lineup based on some information dug up from GFXBench.

To provide some perspective, an average laptop’s screen size is around 14 to 16 inches. If you’re feeling gutsy and you want a large laptop, most large laptop screens come in around 17.3 inches. If speculation is true, this tablet is going to be bigger than a large laptop, which is strange because most people who buy tablets or get tablet rentals are expecting mobile devices, and I’m not entirely convinced you can consider something that is 18.4 inches to be a mobile device.

Another thing to be concerned about if these rumors are true is how much the device will actually weigh. Because Nokia has not yet officially announced this device, and I haven’t seen any mention of a weight for this rumored tablet, we can only guess how much or how little it might weight. Fortunately for us, Nokia is not the first company to release an 18.4 inch tablet, which means we have something we can guess the weight of this rumored device off of.In the far distant past of 2015, Samsung released the Samsung Galaxy View. The Galaxy View was also an 18.4 inch tablet and it weighed in at around 5.8 pounds. This can be a little bit of a surprise if you were to compare this tablet’s weight to some 17.3 inch laptops which can easily weigh over six pounds, but you have to take into consideration the actual hardware which goes into each device.

In terms of theoretical and rumored hardware, the 18.4 inch Nokia tablet doesn’t boast anything special besides its absurdly large screen. Here’s a list of some speculative specs:

  • 64 GB Storage
  • 4 GB RAM
  • Two 12MP Cameras (Front & Back)
  • Snapdragon 835 SoC

Since this is a Nokia product, the device will probably be coming with Android Nougat as the operating system, unless of course this tablet does not come out relatively soon. Overall, the rumored Nokia 18.4 inch tablet does not sound like it has a whole lot going for it at the moment besides its huge screen, but all tablets don’t have to be processing powerhouses anyway.

Because the Nokia tablet won’t be the most portable thing in the world, I’m going to guess its main purpose will be a sort of TV replacer for residential purposes. If you wanted to look at it from more of a business mindset I could see 18.4 inch tablets being a popular conference tablet rental or other event related tablet rental, since they could essentially be used in place of a projector or television in some situations. For example, you could use an 18.4 inch tablet rental for a small conference room meeting or even for display purposes at a convention pavilion. Even if the rumored Nokia tablet may not be a technological powerhouse, it’ll provide a good competitor for the Samsung Galaxy View, which will only encourage both companies to design better products.

Want to share this story on social media? Use these hashtags! #SamsungGalaxyView #Nokia #NokiaTablet

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Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Rentals

December 27th, 2016 | Posted by rreeve in Event Planning | Microsoft | Rental | Tablet - (0 Comments)

Not all events can be held using Samsung Galaxy Tabs or iPads, there are some events where you may need more power or just a different operating system than what you would get with an iPad rental or an Android tablet rental. If you ever find yourself in this scenario, perhaps the best tablet rental option for you would be a Microsoft Surface Pro 4 rental. Although bulky for a tablet, the Surface Pro 4’s make up for their abnormal size in other aspects such as:

  • Storage Space

If you’ve used up a tablets storage space before you probably won’t have to worry about that with a Surface Pro 4. Even if you’re using the Surface Pro 4 like a laptop, it would be a feat to fill up this device’s memory if you get the maximum storage option. The Surface Pro 4 can come equipped with up to a 1 terabyte solid-state drive hard drive. That gives you 1000 gigabytes to work with which is a whole lot of space for event purposes. If you don’t see yourself needing 1000 gigabytes, the Surface Pro 4’s come with a minimum of 128 gigabytes.

 

Microsoft did not skip out on memory when it comes to RAM either. The Surface Pro 4 can come with up to 16 gigabytes of DDR3 RAM. To provide a comparison, most laptops come with either 6 or 8 gigabytes of RAM as a default option, which gives some amount of credibility to the Microsoft advertising campaign that these tablets can replace your laptop.  

 

  • Operating System and Application Functionality

Since the Surface Pro 4 is a Microsoft device, it should come as no surprise that the Pro 4 comes equipped with the latest version of Windows: Windows 10. Windows 10 fixed a lot of issues prevalent in Windows 8 and 8.1, and Windows 10 itself has had a lot of time for improvement since its release.

 

  • Audio and Display Enhancements

Although you may not necessarily require every single one of your attendees to be using the audio on your Microsoft Surface Pro 4’s, you will still be pleased to know that the audio quality delivered by the Surface Pro 4 when in use can be both loud and clear at the same time.

 

The Surface Pro 4’s display details are also impressive for a tablet. The screen size of a Surface Pro 4 is 12.3 inches with an aspect ratio of 3:2. Surface Pro 4’s  have resolutions of 2736×1824, and displays 267 pixels per inch. Lastly, one of my personal preferences when looking at display qualities is screen reflection, which has fortunately been decreased from the Surface Pro 3.

The Surface Pro 4 is a powerhouse of a tablet, and is a definite improvement to its predecessor, the Surface Pro 3. If you think the tablets you have at your next event will require a lot of power, storage space, or even just the Windows 10 operating system, get Surface Pro 4 event rentals for your next event.

 

Want to share this story on social media? Use these hashtags! #EventPlanning #SurfacePro4

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iPad and Android Tablet Kiosk Rentals for Event Registration, Check Ins, and Event Engagement

December 15th, 2016 | Posted by rreeve in Event Planning | Rental - (0 Comments)

Conferences and conventions can be very hectic affairs. Conferences can experience a whole lot of traffic before and between keynote speakers and breakout rooms, and conventions can just be busy non-stop. Due to the large amount of activity going on, keeping things orderly can be a bit of a challenge, and when you’re dealing with rented technology you really want to keep things orderly. One way of regaining some control over your next big event is by renting tablet kiosks.

Due to the sleek, user friendly, touchscreen design of most tablets, they make for great kiosk devices. Kiosks with traditional computers are much less space and cost efficient than iPad kiosks rentals. An iPad kiosk has an enclosure which encases the iPad, and these enclosures can only be opened by a key in order to ensure no threat of theft or damage. Most of the enclosure cases are made of metal, and can come in your choice of over 40 color options.  

iPad Kiosks

There are several ways you can go about implementing your tablet kiosks to make your event more organized.  Perhaps one of the most practical applications for a tablet kiosk rentals is to use your kiosks as a registration and check-in system. You will most likely still want a small number of people making sure the people getting into your event are actually supposed to be there, but using tablet kiosks for registration can free up a lot of manpower you will probably need elsewhere.

Another way you can improve your event is by getting your tablet kiosk rentals for event engagement. Event engagement being defined in the sense of event participation, not the marriage type of engagement. If you want your event attendees to be entertained and informed, there’s no better way of doing so than by giving them a bit of interaction which can easily be provided through your kiosks.

Tablet kiosks, much like their names suggest, are also great for marketing purposes at conventions and trade shows. Tablets are capable of quickly and efficiently storing information which can be used for marketing, which has made them a favorite tool in the arsenal of many event professionals. Be warned though, when using kiosk rentals for this purpose you will want applications which run offline, as the Wifi available at event locations can often be erratic in nature, which will lead to Wifi applications failing to run and possibly losing attendee inputs.   

There are many uses for tablet kiosks rentals, which can make them a great tool in any event planner’s arsenal. Here’s a tip though: if you want to increase attendee engagement in conferences in which you have speakers, consider sticking with a traditional event tablet rental instead of renting kiosks, which are bolted down to one specific position and take up much more space.

Want to share this story on social media? Use these hashtags! #ConferencePlanning #EventPlanning #iPadKiosks #TabletKiosks

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