While a computer is going to be the workhorse for any student, a tablet is an extremely valuable and compact companion that can be used when you may run out of battery on the laptop or just as a supplemental device to be used for research or communication. One of the best uses they have though is to be used for textbooks rentals with . This can greatly reduce the costs for students as college textbooks have outrageous pricing. Of course not all textbooks are available on the service so you might want to check before setting out to buy a tablet for this purpose. Tablets can also be used for entertainment through games, music and videos when you need to unwind. Below are some of good options that I think make the cut for back to school tablets:

Google’s latest version of the 7-inch Android tablet is a technical marvel considering its small size but long list of features. This includes the highest resolution display in its class, improved cameras and its compact and lightweight design. There have been some reported problems with the GPS unit since launch so if you also want to use it to help guide you between classrooms you might want to hold off till Google corrects it or look at another option. It also can double as a streaming device for a HDTV if it is paired up with the device hooked up to an HDTV. Pricing is very good at just $229 for the 16GB version.

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Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD is getting a bit old by technology standards but it is still quite serviceable. The best part is that if you are primarily using the tablet for textbooks, this is the best tablet for organizing and annotating them with the Kindle Rentals. If you happen to also have an Amazon Prime account, it can also be used for watching Instant video or borrowing from the Kindle library. Pricing is typically $199 but there have been many special offers recently dropping it as low as $159.

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Apple’s iPad may be one of the most expensive on the market but it is still the king of the 10-inch tablets thanks to its outstanding display, incredible battery life and huge selection of applications that can be loaded onto it. It is heavier than the 7-inch tablets but the increased viewing area can make it easier to read. The best part is that the Apple platform has the largest selection of applications for just about any type of program imaginable. The big downside here is the pricing which starts at $499 which is considerably more than the 7-inch tablets and even Apple’s iPad Mini at $329.

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Other Things to Consider

Tablets have a very limited amount of space on them and all of the models listed above come with just 16GB of storage. If you think you will need additional space, by all means look at 32GB or 64GB versions if necessary but expect about an extra $100 for each of the steps up in storage. The other option is to pair the devices up with cloud storage services such as Amazon’s Cloud Drive, Apple’s iCloud or Google Drive. Third party options are also available such as DropBox. These add some addition storage at no cost but can charge monthly fees for large capacities.

Tablets tend to be fairly durable thanks to their rigid design but many people tend to treat them pretty roughly. This is something that you need to consider if the tablet will just be tossed into a general compartment of a bag with other items that can bump into them and potentially crack a display. As a result, a good cover or slip case is something to consider and something that I will discuss in a future Back to School article.