It’s taken a while for the market to kick into gear, but tablet computers are quickly becoming today’s must-have gadget. Whether it’s browsing the web, reading ebooks, watching movies, playing games or just using some of the huge range of apps, tablets are capturing everyone’s attention.

There is a diverse range of tablet computers now on the market, from the iconic Apple iPad 2 to the Samsung Galaxy Tab. While Google’s Android operating system has made some significant strides forward with recent updates, it is clear that Android based tablets still haven’t caught up to the iPad’s ease of use and fluency, which is likely to improve further with the rollout of the Apple’s new iOS 5 operating system.

Hopefully we should see some new higher-performance Android tablets arriving fairly soon with updates to the operating system and faster hardware. Still, while current-generation Android tablets may lack finesse, there’s plenty of value on offer. If you want to buy a tablet right now, you’ll probably find something to suit you.

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Tablet buyer’s guide

There’s no doubt that its still early days in the evolution of tablets, but regardless, there are always things you should consider before you buy one.

Ease of use
This is far and away the most important issue. If a tablet is difficult to use — not just the controls, but also the touchpanel itself — you’ll quickly tire of it.

Operating system updates
With Android tablets in particular, having the latest OS updates is critical to get the best from your tablet.

Weight
The heavier it is, the harder it is to hold. Obviously, smaller-screened tablets weigh less, but you generally get less screen resolution too.

Touchscreen feel
The tablet’s touchscreen should always be a capacitive unit if you want to operate it with your finger rather than a stylus, so make sure you give it a test drive before you buy.

Performance
This is as much a function of the OS as it is of the processor driving it, and it can mean the difference between 1080p Full HD video playback and a stuttering mess.

Storage
If you’re choosing a tablet that only has internal storage, this is an important issue to consider and you may want to consider a 32GB version rather than a more basic 16GB model, depending on your needs. If it has a microSD card slot, adding up to 32GB of additional storage is dead easy.

Peripheral ports
You need a USB port at minimum to sync the tablet with your PC, but extras such as microSD card slots, USB host ports and HDMI are good to have. 3G connectivity may suit some, although every tablet comes with Wi-Fi for cheaper web connecting.

Shop around
Tablet pricing vary all over the place, so shop around once you’ve decided on a particular brand of tablet computer.

The new Apple iPhone 4S looks much like the previous iPhone 4, although it’s a different model to the iPhone 4 that was sold in Australia. The 4S design is based off the CDMA Verizon iPhone 4, which means if you’re upgrading from an iPhone 4, your case may have trouble fitting, due to the offset for the mute switch being different.

That aside, this looks like an iPhone 4. However internally there is a lot that is different. It includes the AS processor first shown in the iPad 2 and the effect is remarkable — this is a speedy smartphone that powers through most basic tasks.

The A5 is a dual-core chip, giving it significant processing and graphical power updates, although few apps so far will really push the graphics side of it just yet.

The camera in the iPhone 4S has also been improved and now has an 8MP sensor tied into a f/2.4 lens, giving it excellent low-light shooting capabilities with 1080p video recording. Both worked very well in our tests and it’s possible to take some quite stunning shots.

A major new inclusion is Siri, Apple’s much-touted voice-guided “intelligent assistant”. Siri relies on a net connection to quickly upload spoken voice samples and intelligently meet user requests.

Australian English is one of the standard voice types and it’s well worth picking for the change in accuracy it brings, with one major caveat. There’s no location-aware assistance outside the US just yet, which means if you ask Siri where the nearest anything is, it’ll respond that location features only work in the US.

The official Apple line is that it hopes to bring location-aware Siri outside the States sometime in 2012, but there’s no solid timeline announcement for Australia yet. That said, Siri’s a step above the voice guidance found in most other phones.

For existing iPhone 4 users, the iPhone 4S is a speed bump with Siri and that is about it. Anyone coming off a iPhone 3GS contract or switching from another phone should definitely consider it.

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iPhone 4S Pricing

The 16GB iPhone 4S costs $799 outright; the 32GB model is $899, and the 64GB is $999. The 8GB iPhone 4 remains on sale from Apple for $679, as does an 8GB 3GS for $449.

Cheapest plan prices are all from Vodafone on a $29 Cap Contract over 2 years: iPhone 4S 16Gb – $44 per month,
iPhone 4S 32Gb – $49 per month, iPhone 4S 64Gb – $54 oer month.

Ebook readers (also called e-readers) are growing in popularity, altough they are not likely to entirely replace the the old-fashioned paper variety – if only because they don’t mix well with a bubble bath or the beach.

An e-book reader - such as the Kindle or the Kobo – is a portable device that displays electronic versions of books, known as e-books. Some models have wi-fi internet access allowing ebooks to be bought online and downloaded straight to the e-reader, others hook up to your and computer as external storage and others come with software that must be installed on your computer.

E-book reader prices vary widely. Overall you shouldn’t be looking at more than $300, but there are some on the market that do cost significantly more. The cost of buying e-books can vary with new releases but if it’s an older publication you’re after, then it should be cheaper online than in the paperback variety. All the classics that peopie like to read are available free because they’re in the public domain.

The first decision for people considering buying an e-reader is whether they adually want whether they actually want that particular technology or something like an iPad.

Most e-book readers adhere to the basic requirements of long battery life and portability. Batteries for ereaders generally last more than a week but the battery life can be shortened if the device has wi-fi access.

In addition to battery life, you should also look for a screen that’s clear to read in all lighting conditions and does not cause the user eye strain.

Access to a large amount of content is vital as it increases the chances that the book you want, be it the latest release or classic literature, is available for purchase or to download for free. E-books can often be less expensive than traditional paperbacks and are now a viable alternative to the traditional paper book.

What To Look For In An E-Book Reader:

• Accessories: Does the reader come with a wall charger or only a USB cable? An AC adaptor provides more flexibility for charging.
• Controls: Note where page turning buttons are – this has a big impact on long term comfort.
• Connectivity: Some readers can connect to the internet wirelessly to download books.
• Document file formats: Not all readers support every e-book format. Check ebook stores to see what format the book you want comes in. Compare this with your e-book reader’s specifications for compatibility.
• Music: Some devices play MP3 music files so you can listen to music while reading.

National consumer group Choice recently tested 25 e-book readers - including the the iPad – looking at ease of use and readability. Among the highest rated were the iPad and two Sony models, followed by the Kindle.

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EBook Reader Reviews

KOBO TOUCH
Kobo, $179
The Kobo Touch works with finger swipes that should be familiar to smartphone users. This makes it easy to use out of the box without resorting to the manual. It weighs 185g and has 2GB of storage, which can be expanded to 32GB with an SD card to hold up to 30,000 books.

It uses the E Ink display technology popular with many e-book readers and supports EPUB, PDF and MOBI file standards, plus jpg images and comic book standards of CBZ and CBR, although with its 6-inch black-and-white screen colour comics are not going to look like the printed versions. Kobo has a downloads site, making filling it easier.

AMAZON KINDLE
Amazon, $159 to $219
Amazon’s famous Kindle started the e-book craze and now comes in a 3G version ($219) and a wi-fi only model ($159). Its 6-inch screen uses E Ink technology that simulates a paper page and will let you read it in direct sunlight or under a lamp. The Kindle can hold up to 3500 books, but is best with novels rather than picture-heavy books as no colour can be seen.

That screen helps it save power – it offers two months of battery power – and even the 3G version is light enough to hold for long periods. The Kindle is easy to navigate, and once you get used to how pages refresh, it is almost as intuitive as reading a print book. It is linked to the Amazon bookstore and connects without a computer.

SONY READER WI-FI TOUCH
Sony, $179
The Sony Reader is smaller and lighter than the Kindle, with a 6-inch screen and a 168g weight. It also has a smaller storage capacity at 1200 books, though you can add a 32GB memory card. The Reader has a touch-sensitive screen and comes with a stylus, making its menus intuitive.

Battery life is a month or more, depending on how you use the device, and it offers audio playback so you can listen to music while you read. The Reader uses E Ink technology so books can be read in the light.

LASER EB700
Laser, $149.95
The Laser EB700 is a colour e-book reader with 200 e-books preloaded. They are mostly classics but still make for a solid “reading out of the box” experience. The device has 4GB of storage that can be expanded to 16GB so it can hold thousands of books. Because the device has a 7-inch colour screen it can also play videos and images as they were meant to be seen, but this comes at the price of battery life.

It will play 15 hours of music or show books for seven hours. It supports digital rights management so you can enjoy e-magazines and a-books from a variety of sources. Also supported are EPUB, MOBI, TXT, PDF and a variety of other formats.

BEBOOK CLUB S
Beeook, $269
This BeBook model is one of the simplest e-book readers on the market, with well-labelled buttons and simple screen navigation. It has a 2GB memory expandable up to 32GB via an SD card and offers a 6-inch E Ink screen and natural page turning thanks to its800MHz processor.

It comes with USB cable and a 3.5mm. audio jack in case you want to plug in headphones. The Club S weighs 278g, and so is comparable to the Kindle in weight and size. The page refresh takes some getting used to but otherwise reading is simple.