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What’s the Best Tablet on the Market?

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what's the best tablet

There are tons of tablets available today. But what’s the best tablet on the market?

The answer depends on how important each of a number of different factors is to you. When you choose a tablet, you have to consider all of them.

You have a choice of screen size. Pick the one that fits your needs:

  • 7-inch screen: better portability
  • 10-inch screen: better web surfing, video, and gaming
  • 11-inch or 12-inch screen: better for work, but heavier

You want the best performance. Decide what you want to do with your tablet.

Are you looking for a tablet for business, personal use, gaming, photography, family use, or some combination of these purposes?

You want a model that uses the same operating system as your other devices.

Do you use Apple, Android, or Windows on your other devices? You’ll want to decide on a tablet that will be compatible with the OS that you regularly use.

Do you want WiFi only or cellular?

With WiFi only, you’ll be able to get on the web to use your tablet in any WiFi environment, but can reach the web only when you have WiFi . With cellular, you’ll have to pay a monthly fee for the service, but you’ll have web access almost anywhere.

Do you need a large variety of apps authorized by the operating system manufacturer?

Apple OS has the largest number of apps available. Windows 8 has the fewest. Android is somewhere in between.

How much do you want to pay? Costs for a tablet vary from $99 to $1,000 or more.

After you’ve answered these basic questions, you can then decide on the next five factors:

  • Screen Resolution and Brightness
  • Tablet Weight
  • Processor Speed
  • Storage Capacity/Cloud Availability
  • Battery Life

Tablets are going to differ in weight, speed, battery life, etc. You’ll probably have to compromise on some of these factors to get the tablet that’s best for you. So think about them as you start considering different tablets.

Tablet Ratings can help you decide what’s the best tablet for you.

We’ve gathered tablet ratings from four respected ratings sources. What they all agree on is that the Apple tablet products are at the top of the field. One rating source even referred to the Apple iPad Air 2 as “the gold standard for tablets.” Apple products use the Apple OS.

Another tablet rated consistently high is the Samsung Galaxy Tab series (2, 3, 4). Samsung products use the Android operating system.

Other highly rated tablets use the third choice of operating system: Windows 8. This OS is used by Microsoft Surface Pro, Toshiba Encore, and Asus Transformer Book T100TA – the only Windows tablets rated highly by our sources.

Here are the top 2015 tablets from Consumer Reports, CNET, PC Mag, and Laptop Mag.

Consumer Reports Buying Guide 2015

  • Evga Tegra Note 7 (Android)
  • Amazon Kindle Fire HDX (Android)
  • Toshiba Encore (Windows)
  • LG G Pad 7.0 (Android)
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 (Android)
  • Amazon Kindle FireHDX 8.9 (Android)
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 (Android)
  • Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10 H (Android)
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 (Android)
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) (Android)

CNET

  • Apple iPad Air 2 (the gold standard for tablets)
  • Google Nexus 9 (best performance and consistency) (Android)
  • Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet (Android)
  • Dell Venue 8 7000 (best for photography) (Android)
  • Nvidia Shield Tablet (best for gaming) (Android)
  • Amazon Fire HDX 8.9 (best family-friendly) (Amazon Fire OS)
  • Microsoft Surface Pro 3 (best productivity tablet) (Windows)

PC Mag

  • Apple iPad Air
  • Apple iPad Air 2
  • Asus Transformer Book T100TA (64GB) (Windows)
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (Android)
  • Apple iPad mini 2

Laptop Mag

  • Apple iPad Air 2
  • Dell Venue 7 (Android)
  • Dell Venue 8 7000 (Android)
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 (Android)
  • Microsoft Surface 3 (Windows)
  • Amazon Fire HD6 (Android)
  • Nvidia Shield (gaming) (Android)
  • Lenovo Yoga 2 (Android)
  • LG G Pad II 10.1 (Android)
  • Lenovo IdeaPad Miix 700 Hybrid (Android)
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 (Android)
  • Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro (Android)

Well, there you have it: the top-rated choices of tablets for 2015. Now you have to decide what’s the best tablet for your needs.

As always, the Target PC team can help you make your choice among the tablets. Our friendly staff are ready to help you with your tablet choice, and we offer comprehensive repair service, should anything go wrong.

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This Is What to Look for in Earbuds

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what to look for in earbuds

What are earbuds?

Earbuds are tiny earpieces that are inserted into your ear canal to provide personal sound from devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops. They are portable headphones that can give you freedom from external noise. They can isolate you from what is going on around you.

There are two general styles: in-ear or sealed which actually fit into your ear canal, and traditional which nestle into your external ear hole.

What do earbuds cost?

A basic set of earbuds is usually given away free when you buy a device such as a phone or media player. These free giveaways aren’t always the best quality. If you want to trade up and buy your own earbuds separately, the prices can range from $5.99 up to $300.

What should I look for in a good set of earbuds?

It’s important to know what to look for in earbuds when you start to shop, because there are hundreds to choose from.

You can choose from many qualities and features including:

  • sound clarity
  • accuracy
  • low-end strength
  • tonal balance
  • in-ear comfort
  • bass quality
  • appearance
  • weight
  • design
  • color
  • microphone
  • phone connect-disconnect
  • volume control
  • ease of operation by feel
  • secure fit
  • crisp high tones
  • light weight
  • available remote control
  • low or no sound distortion

…and so on.

Your decision depends on how you use your earbuds, what you are looking for, and what kind of music you listen to.  Some earbud models are better for rock and roll and hip hop, while others provide crisp, clear sound for classical music lovers.

You may have to try out several models and brands to find what is best for you. It is a good idea to tell the sales rep how you intend to use the earbuds, and he or she can guide you to an appropriate pair.

How can I choose the earbuds that are right for me?

Ask your friends which ones they like, try them out at our retail stores, set your price range, check online ratings articles, and ask our team at Target PC about their favorites.

Should I get wired or wireless earbuds?

Earphones can connect either through a 3.5mm cable or wirelessly over Bluetooth, depending on the model.

Wired earphones are generally less expensive, and you don’t need to worry about keeping them charged.

Bluetooth earphones are more convenient because you don’t have to physically connect them to your device, but they need battery power to work. When they’re out of power, they’re out of commission until you charge them again.

Again, it depends what kind of music you listen to, whether you make phone calls while listening to music, whether you want to wear your earbuds at the gym or while running, and other factors. Those uses will determine whether you want wired or wireless earbuds.

So now you know what to look for in earbuds!

There are hundreds of different brands and price points for earbuds.

Have a sales associates can help you narrow your choice when you go in to the store. Just tell them how you intend to use your earbuds, what you want to pay, and what kind of music you listen to.

Good luck!

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Here’s What to Know before Buying a TV

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Here's What to Know before Buying a TV

Although we have always repaired televisions at Target PC Inc, we only recently posted the service itself to our website. So it seemed like a good time to talk about what to know before buying a TV.

Sure, if you already have a TV and it needs repairing, call us at (440) 725-0642.

But if you happen to be in the market for a new TV, you should know that they are not all created equal.

What to Know before Buying a TV

For some people, aspects such as resolution and display type don’t matter all that much. It might be as simple for them as going to their local department store and choosing the least expensive TV that will fit in their living room.

But for the rest of us, it’s a good idea to explore a few different options. After all, different TVs exist to suit different tastes and needs.

Display Types

Plasma: Best for cinematic viewing, and ideal when purchasing a relatively large TV. Excellent color quality, high contrast ratio, and a wide viewing angle. Tend to lack brightness.

LCD: Generally the least expensive option. Energy efficient and fair color quality. Not a great choice for gaming. Also suffers from limited viewing angles.

LED: Usually refers to an LCD TV that uses LED lights for backlighting. A little more expensive than an LCD TV, but more energy efficient. Tends to also boast an improved contrast ratio.

OLED: A true LED TV tend to be bright with a high quality image. Ideal for daytime TV watching. Not inexpensive, and some viewing angle problems.

Contrast Ratio

This term refers to the range of colors between the darkest blacks and the brightest whites. The bigger this ratio is, the better. As the term suggests, it is expressed as a ratio, such as 5,000:1.

Manufacturers have been known to overstate this figure. It is a good idea to do a search online to get a true sense of the contrast ratio on any given TV before purchasing it.

Color Reproduction

Sometimes referred to as color depth, this essentially refers to the number of colors the TV is able to create. What to know before buying a TV is that it should have a bit depth of at least 8 bits per channel.

This will guarantee that the TV is able to create enough colors to display photo quality images.

Aspect Ratio

This term refers to the ratio between the TV’s width versus its height. For example, older more box-style TVs tend to have a more ‘square’ shape with a 4:3 viewing ratio. On the other hand, newer TVs are almost exclusively made with a 16:9 viewing ratio.

If, however, you intend to exclusively watch widescreen Hollywood movies, you may wish to consider a ratio of 2.4:1. This ratio will be harder to find and more expensive than 16:9.

Refresh Rate

Finally, let’s take a look at what is known as refresh rate. This value is measured in hertz (Hz), and it refers to the number of times the image is refreshed each second.

In most cases, you will be choosing between 60 Hz or 120 Hz. Although more expensive, a TV with a refresh rate of 120 Hz will display smoother transitions between images and reduce motion blur.

This is especially helpful if you watch a lot of action movies or play a lot of video games. If you intend to primarily watch the evening news, 60 Hz will be more than adequate.

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What’s the most important feature you look for when purchasing a new TV?

Let us know with a comment below.

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The 5 Best Laptop Brands for 2015

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The 5 Best Laptop Brands for 2015

If you’re shopping for a new PC, you might wondering which laptop brands for 2015 are best to purchase.

Laptop Mag published an article back in March that ranked laptop brands by a number of different factors, including:

  1. Reviews
  2. Tech support
  3. Design
  4. Keyboard & touchpad
  5. Display
  6. Innovation
  7. Audio
  8. Value & selection
  9. Software

Whether you agree or not, Apple came was awarded the top spot.

But since we are a business that repairs, upgrades, and uses PC, five best PC laptop brands for 2015.

5. Lenovo

Out of a possible 100 points, Lenovo scored 66, causing it place to fifth on our list of the best laptop brands for 2015.

Lenovo was highest rated in the following categories:

  • Value & selection
  • Display
  • Keyboard & touchpad
  • Design

4. Samsung

Out of a possible 100 points, Lenovo scored 68, causing it place to fourth on our list of the best laptop brands for 2015.

Samsung was highest rated in the following categories:

  • Keyboard & touchpad
  • Tech support
  • Design
  • Reviews

3. MSI

Out of a possible 100 points, MSI scored 69, causing it place to third on our list of the best laptop brands for 2015.

MSI was highest rated in the following categories:

  • Audio
  • Innovation
  • Display
  • Keyboard & touchpad

2. HP

Out of a possible 100 points, HP scored 75, causing it place to fifth on our list of the best laptop brands for 2015.

HP was highest rated in the following categories:

  • Value & selection
  • Audio
  • Design
  • Tech support

1. Dell

Out of a possible 100 points, Dell scored 77, causing it place to first on our list of the best laptop brands for 2015.

Dell was highest rated in the following categories:

  1. Value & selection
  2. Innovation
  3. Keyboard & touchpad
  4. Design

Which Laptop Brand Is Right for You?

That’s a great question, and the answer really depends upon your personal preferences.

For instance, if you do a lot of typing, the design and usability of the keyboard may be very important to you; therefore, you may be inclined to choose a brand that is highly rated for its keyboard and touchpad.

On the other hand, perhaps you use your laptop as a multimedia device while traveling. If that is the case, you might value a brand that is highly rated in the audio and display categories.

What is interesting about this study is that it does not take system performance. reliability, or batter life into account. This is most likely because it varies so greatly between different models of the same brand.

It is also worth noting that between 2011 – 2015, Lenovo was the top rated brand according to Laptop Mag. This year, it dropped to fifth place.

At the same time, Dell finished in the first spot, while just two years ago, it would not have placed in the top five at all.

Similarly, Asus finished in the second spot in 2013 and 2014, but did not place in the top five at all in 2015.

Regardless of the laptop brand you choose, know that the experts at Target PC Repair can upgrade or fix virtually any brand. Check out some of the most common repairs we perform, or contact us to get started.

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Choosing Between a Laptop or Desktop Computer

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Choosing Between a Laptop or Desktop Computer

If you’re in the market for a new computer, you may be trying to choose between buying a laptop or desktop.

Before you decide to purchase either, have a look at this list of factors to consider.

Portability

If you need a computer that can easily be transported from one location to the next, there is no contest between a laptop or desktop; you obviously need a laptop.

This is especially true when you consider weight.

Cost

For the same money you would spend on a laptop, you could get much a more powerful desktop computer.

Or, if you are working within the constraints of a limited budget, you could get a functional desktop for far less money than a laptop.

Connectivity

When it comes to connectivity, choosing a laptop or desktop is close to a draw.

Sure, a desktop is virtually always in a location that gets internet access. But thanks to wireless cards, you can get internet connectivity from a number of different locations.

Space

A desktop computer will take up more space than a laptop. If you do not have a desk, or a proper place to set up a desktop computer, you would be best to choose a laptop.

Ports & Drives

Few laptops are made with CD-ROM drives anymore, although this may not be an issue for you. A laptop is also likely to have less ports. If functionality and flexibility is an issue, a desktop computer is best for you.

Screen Size

What will you be using your new computer for?

If it is simply intended for word processing and web browsing, a laptop may do the trick. A 15″ or 17″ screen would be adequate. In fact, you could even choose a smaller netbook option and still perform those operations.

If, however, you intend to work with larger video files, do any kind of design work, or play games, it is easier to connect one, two, or even three different high resolution monitors to a desktop.

Granted, you could connect a monitor to a laptop, but that would eliminate the key benefit of portability.

Comfort

If ergonomics are a factor, it will be much more comfortable to work on a desktop than a laptop.

You can easily position its keyboard, monitor, and mouse to be more comfortable.

Laptops, on the other hand, vary significantly in terms of their keyboard layouts and trackpads.

Furthermore, it can be difficult to set up your laptop in such a position that you can comfortably view the monitor while typing… unless, of course, you intend to use it at a desk.

Accidents

Since laptops tend to be transported more often than desktops, they are more prone drops, spills, and other accidents. If you are the clumsy type, it might be best to stick with a desktop computer.

Upgrades

When choosing between a laptop or desktop, give some thought to long-term use. It is much easier to upgrade hardware components in a desktop than a laptop.

The same goes for repairing or replacing particular parts.

Theft

A laptop is much more likely to get stolen than a desktop computer.

Laptop or Desktop – Which One Wins?

When it comes to space and portability, laptops definitely win. If you are working within a very small space, or you often need to take your computer with you, choose a laptop.

In virtually every other scenario, desktop computers are the better choice.

Just don’t forget to have any upgrades or maintenance performed by Target PC Repair!