Computers are still the primary method that most students will use for doing their work but a tablet can be extremely useful option for those tasks that you don’t necessarily need the bulky PC. This could just be sending a quick email off, taking a few notes or doing some research on the web but it could also be used to access textbooks through a service like . After all, textbooks are one of the biggest expenses that students can have in college that even outstrip the cost for their computers. Of course, tablets can also make great entertainment devices for games, music or video when you just need to unwind. Find out which tablets I think can make excellent options for students.

Microsoft Surface Pro 3

OK, this is the tablet that you would get if you don’t want to have to carry both a tablet and a laptop computer. Effectively, the Surface Pro has been an ultrabook packed into a tablet frame. It is more expensive with the Core i3 version starting around $800 and the Core i5 model at $1000 but you are getting the full Windows experience here so you can use the full versions of Microsoft Office and use the wide breadth of Windows software and PC compatible peripherals. The only downside is that while it can function like a laptop, you really need to add in at least the Type Cover ($129) or an external Bluetooth keyboard so that you can type data into it. It is also possible to use an external mouse with it as well. The big downside here is that 64GB of storage of the Core i3 model is very restrictive.

You can see more of my thought on the Surface Pro 3 from when it launched this year.

iPad Mini with Retina Display

Sure, the iPad Air has a larger more colorful screen and a slight bit more performance, but students care about costs and how much they have to carry. This makes the iPad Mini with Retina display an excellent choice for those that want a well rounded tablet. It offers some outstanding battery life and Apple’s iOS platform has the broadest range of apps available for it such that the device can be used for just about anything. Whether you are using it for notes, playing some games or streaming some music and video, the iPad is a great all around tablet. The best part is that it gives you near the experience of the Air in a more compact design that also costs $100 less with a base starting price of $399.

For more details, check out my at About.com.

Kindle Fire HDX 7-inch

Amazon’s Kindle Fire HDX 7-inch is a very affordable tablet with a price tag typically of $229 but often on sale for less that comes with an amazing screen and equally long battery life. While it does not have the breadth of applications that Apple has, most of the major ones are available here. The key advantage that Amazon has is its Prime subscription service that includes free shipping on items from Amazon but also Amazon Prime Instant video and now Prime Music. This makes the tablet a great source of entertainment for college students in addition to something they can use for note taking. Amazon also offers a textbook rental service that can be used to help reduce the costs of books.

For more details, check out my at About.com.

ASUS MeMO Pad HD 7

If you have a very tight budget for a tablet for school, the ASUS MeMO Pad HD 7 offers a surprisingly good experience at a price as low as $129. While the performance is not as fast as the other tablets on this list, the tablet can still do basic tasks just fine and it does features a 720p capable display that can be used for high definition video playback. The Android OS for the tablet also brings with it a lot of potential in terms of applications and tweaking of the overall experience compared to the Apple and Amazon tablets.

Find out more details in my at About.com.

Other Things to Consider

While tablets are great for portability, they have one major weakness in their storage capacities. Each of these tablets mentioned have fairly limited space in them. While it is possible to buy models with extra capacity, the cost can be prohibitive compared to the same capacity additions in laptops. One option to get around this problem is to use a cloud storage service. This can allow you to store your data online but you must be connected to the internet in order to actually retrieve the data.

Another thing I highly recommend for tablets is some form of case or slip cover to use with them. This is because many people abuse their tablets by just throwing them into a bag. But I will discuss in greater detail cases and other accessories for tablets in my next back to school article on Friday.