Does Size Matter?

Ah, I thought my title might provoke some raised eyebrows.  It’s an important question don’t you think?  Does size matter?  Or perhaps more aptly put Is Bigger Better?  Now before I go too much further and this blog leads you astray in thinking that I’m talking about something more risqué than tech, let me put my question into context.  I’m talking about tablets (and shame on you for thinking otherwise).

The iPad, with it’s 9.7” screen is currently the market leader in a space that truly is in its infancy.  I think that 2011 will see many new entrants coming into the space, including RIM with their Playbook.  In attempt to not go head-to-head with the iPad, these vendors are trumpeting differentiating features, one of them being size.   The Playbook will come in with a 7” screen and everyone is wondering whether the smaller screen will hamper the device.  Is the larger screen really better suited for a tablet.

Well, as always on mip’s scan, I like to experience things first hand.  I decided to take the Galaxy Tab for a spin and assess it from a size perspective only.  I didn’t want to do a comparison of apps and the overall ecosystem, mainly because Apple has such a lead in this area that it wouldn’t be a fair comparison.  I wanted to see how the device's smaller form factor faired against the larger form factor of the iPad.

With that in mind I carried the device around with the intent of seeing how usable several things would be on a smaller screen: web browsing, ebook reading, newspaper reading and email.   Keep reading to see what I found.

Web Browsing

I found the web browsing experience to be lacking on the smaller screen.  It wasn’t terrible by any means.  I’d definitely take the web browsing on the 7” device over any smartphone screen.  Undoubtedly though, I found using the 9.7” screen much better suited for browsing the web.  The screen real estate was important so I didn’t have to zoom in and out as often or scroll around a page as much.  

eBook Reading

Here I found an interesting surprise.  I found the actual reading experience (the visual experience of looking at the page) to be no different on the 7” versus the 9.7” – both sizes seemed to deliver a perfect experience for me.  What I did find, however, was that the 7” Tab was better suited for reading in bed.  It was easier to hold, especially with one hand. It was lighter. It felt more natural in my hand in that setting.  It was like holding a paperback, and the smaller screen size didn't hamper the reading experience because it was bright and crisp. For reading in bed or lounging in my favourite chair, the smaller screen was great.  In any other setting though, the size made no difference with each unit performing perfectly for me, whether it was in a coffeeshop or around a meeting room table.

Newspaper Reading

Here again, my experience was like that of the web browsing test.  I found that the newspaper is more enjoyable to read on the 9.7” device rather than the smaller 7”.  The larger format screen really lent itself to the natural way I use to read the physical paper.  You just see more of the paper on screen at one time and I like that. 

Email

For reading emails I found both sized screens worked for me.  I didn’t prefer one of the other.  For replying however, the 9.7” screen worked better for me.  The keyboard was better.  Here was what I found that surprised me.  The 7” screen is too small for the keyboard to be used like a touch keyboard and yet it is too big to try and use it like a smartphone keyboard.  The 7” device was sort of trapped between the smartphone and the iPad and it just didn’t work as effectively for me.  If I tried to use it like my smartphone email habits, then the Tab was a little too big and my fingers had to cross more space and stretch around too much for me to be comfortable with it.  If I tried to use it like my iPad habits, now the keyboard seemed too cramped for me to comfortable touch type my responses.  Was it terrible?  No, not at all. It just wasn’t as effective.

Conclusion?

I disagree with Steve Jobs that the 7” tablets will be DOA (whoever they come from, whether it be Samsung, RIM, Microsoft, etc).  I think there is a definite place for them.  In my opinion I suspect at some point Apple will introduce their own 7” version of the iPad.  I don’t think it is as effective as the 9.7” screen except for some instances of eBook reading but I think the smaller size does make the device slightly more portable.  It is a trade off that I think many users would make and I think that there will be a market for this size device.

So does size matter?  Well, as it is in other areas of life, it’ll all boil down to a matter of preference.  It will matter more to some and less to others. 

Comments

[mcerto]

Clever post! LOL
I agree with your perspective as well.

[Sams]

Excellent post!

[Donald Seers]

What did you think of the GalaxyTab from an overall experience? If it was the same size as the iPad would you buy the Tab or the iPad? Or vice versatile, if the iPad was 7" which device would you buy?

[AEXD]

Interesting test, I guess. How long did you test for? Do you think over the long run the smaller screen would be as effective? I think that the 7" devices are limited. They are too big to use as a phone and too small to use as a tablet. The iPad fit perfectly between the laptop and the smartphone. The Tab sits between the smartphone and the iPad but I don't think that many users will find that to be a useful space.

[Stefan]

My girlfriend says that size DOES matter LOL

[Philip T.]

Is that an iPad in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

[Rachel Teiges]

I have the Tab and think it is fair more portable than the iPad as it slips easily into my purse. I've used a Blackberry Pearl for the last few years and the Tab was the perfect companion device for me. You are right....it is a matter of preference.

[david]

I had an iPad and decided to go with something smaller to take into meetings. The Tab has been perfect for that. Totally portable and easy to hold in one hand. The apps are lacking somewhat. Even though the Android marketplace has many apps, a few of the key ones I used are not scaled correctly for the Tab. I hope that the developers will remedy that situation for me.

[siloux]

Here is a good video for those of you who want to see a video review of the Tab in action. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoOWPjIel-c

[Jim Hayward]

Considering your personal bias to Apple, I think that was a very balanced evaluation. I guess however the problem at this stage is that Ipad has a lot more apps. I wonder if that will change.
Thanks.

[richard lambord]

Interesting post and good discussion. I've been looking at both the Tab and the ipad and like the fact you focused on size and not software. The ipad has the advantage today on the apps side but that gap can be closed by android/google/developers over time. The size is a different matter though because once you get a 7" or 10" tablet you are stuck with it unless you sell it and buy something else. I think I'm going to go with the Tab because it seems more portable and the software updates will make it more usable over time.
Thanks for the info! Great blog

[spuppet]

Yes! Android rules. 7", 9.7", 4"....size doesn't matter. If it's android its all good.Portalable and totally open. None of this closed crap like you get from CrApple.

[churchill]

To combat weight and make it easier to read with in bed, Apple will make a thinner, lighter product for iPad 2 but the screen will NOT be 7" - that is too small for effective use.