Apples and Oranges

I keep reading reviews of Windows 8/RT tablets that complain that they are too expensive.  I feel like it is time to answer that question once and for all.  Recently, I read another one, a review of the Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet 2, that ended with the conclusion that the iPad and Nexus 10 were more cost effective.

 

Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet 2 Review: Just Barely a Laptop

 

All of the prices I list, will be, so far as is possible, from the manufacturer's website.  Obviously, you can find better deals, but by using the manufacturer's list price, we are using level ground for our comparison.  Also, all models are compared with WiFi only.  This is a comparison of price, and not of features...for now.

So, here are the actual figures for the three tablets mentioned in the Gizmodo Review.

 

Apple iPad w/Retina Display

WiFi

16GB          $499

32GB          $599

64GB          $699

128GB        $799

 

Nexus 10

 

16GB          $399

32GB          $499

 

Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet 2

 

64 GB          $679

 

Now, we have one immediate problem, in that there is no Nexus 10 apple (note the lower case).  We cannot truly compare like models, because there is no 64GB Nexus 10.  And, there is no 32GB Thinkpad Tablet 2.  Now, we can extrapolate either way, and I think we will see that while the Thinkpad Tablet 2 and the iPad are virtually the same price, $20 different, any comparison/extrapolation of Nexus 10 or Thinkpad Tablet 2 prices will conclude that the Nexus 10 will be about $80 cheaper, and it is $100 cheaper than the iPad.

So, the first stage of the comparison shows that the assessment in the article is only half true.  The Nexus 10 is more cost effective, but the iPad is not...well, unless you know that you want 32GB or less in your tablet.

There is one other thing to remember.  The Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet 2 has many more features than either the iPad or the Nexus. 

 

Thinkpad Tablet 2 (but not iPad or Nexus 10)

• USB support (thumbdrives, mice, keyboards, etc.)
• MicroSD

You can claim these are not needed, but with the Thinkpad Tablet 2, you have them, rather than wishing you did.

 

And don't try to play the app card.  The Thinkpad Tablet 2 runs Windows 8, and will run every Windows app ever written, so it has a larger app ecosystem than iOS and Android put together.

 

And lastly, the Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet 2 has the longest name.