Question 1

How much does a business tablet cost?

Accepted Answer

The cost of a business laptop really depends on what you need to use it for. At the lower end, you can get away with something like an iPad 9.7-inch if you don’t need to run any demanding software. These start at $329, but naturally, you’ll need to add in the cost of a keyboard too.

At the top end, a business tablet can run you over $1,000+, plus that additional keyboard cost. However, if you’re talking about a vital bit of business kit – something that lets you run or work for your company efficiently on a daily basis – we think it’s a small price to pay.

Yes, we know that you can get tablets cheaper – you could go out right now and buy one for under $100. However, your experience is likely to be poor, and you’ll be left with an underpowered, disappointing slate that hinders you, rather than helping you. Don’t scrimp on the cost of a tablet: if you pick well, a really good one will become another essential member of your team.

Question 2

Do I need a keyboard for a business tablet?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We may sometimes overlook the humble keyboard, but go without one for a few hours, and you’ll soon learn to appreciate it. Not only is typing on a screen not very comfortable for a long period of time, it also means that the display real estate is half occupied by the virtual keyboard.

Not only that, but many keyboards also double as a stand for the tablet itself, propping it up and emulating a laptop design. Not many tablets come with a keyboard out of the box, and for a decent one, you’re looking at around $100. With that said, we really do recommend it if you’re serious about making a tablet your main business device.

Question 3

Which tablets can run Microsoft Office?

Accepted Answer

All of them! That’s right – you don’t need to buy a Windows 10 tablet to have access to everyone’s favorite office suite. While Microsoft used to be fairly protective of its software in the past, in recent years it has seen the logic of opening it up to as many people as possible, meaning that you can now download the Office app on Android, and even Apple tablets.

As is the case with Microsoft Office on any platform, you’ll need to sign up for a subscription to make full use of the software.

Question 4

Should you get a data plan?

Accepted Answer

WiFi points are pretty ubiquitous these days, especially if you’re in a populated location, but if you absolutely rely on an internet connection to carry out your business, a data plan is a good investment. There are two ways to tackle this – firstly, you can choose to pick up a tablet with a dedicated SIM-card slot. Be aware that these tend to be more expensive than those without: for example, there’s a $150 difference between the WiFi iPad Pro model and the cellular model.

A cheaper way to tackle the problem is to tether your mobile to your tablet, and use your existing data plan. There’s a few caveats to this – you’ll always need to have your phone with you, and you’ll be using up your phone’s data allowance – but for those that need to connect to the internet without WiFi sporadically, it can be a smart move.

Question 5

Can you get business tablet deals?

Accepted Answer

As with most business buying, you’re most likely to get a discount if you’re buying in bulk. Kitting out your entire office with tablets? You’re bound to be able to strike a deal, either with the manufacturer directly or via a reseller. Pick up the phone and ask for a quote, and feel free to ask for a little movement if you’re not happy with the price.

For smaller companies however, there’s less chance of making a saving, especially if you’re just after one tablet. In this case, it’s worth keeping an eye on seasonal sales like Black Friday, and buying at the right time.

Question 6

Can you set admin rights on a business tablet?

Accepted Answer

If you’re a sole owner of a business, then you probably won’t be too worried about administrative rights. However, if you work in a large company and want a little more control over what your staff can access and change on a tablet, then you’ll be pleased to hear that it is possible to set different levels of access with administrative rights on all the main platforms.

The actual method for doing so varies slightly for each one. For example, Apple has its dedicated Apple Business Manager portal, which gives administrators granular control over company devices via the cloud.

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