Should
you wait to buy?
It’s
a dilemma faced by most technophiles—to buy the new, sleek, feature-rich gadget
or wait for its enhanced version six months later. Help is here take a decision
about six devices rumoured to be out soon.
Blame it on the pace of technological progress, but today there are almost as many interesting products in the pipeline as there are in the market. The result: consumers are torn between buying a product as soon as it is out or biding their time and waiting for a better one just around the corner. In fact, many people have postponed their purchase of iPhone 4S because they expect the new iPhone (about which no official word is available) to be released later this year.
This is the case with a number of other high-profile products, rumoured as well as real, which have consumers in a tizzy. Your decision to buy now or later depends on your need. If you are not in a hurry, rest assured that something better will come along. Here’s a look at six such devices and whether they are worth waiting for.
Nokia Lumia on Windows Phone 8
Expected in: October 2012 Existing
alternative: Nokia Lumia 800
Making the most of its pact with Microsoft, Nokia is likely be the first phone manufacturer to release a Windows Phone 8 device. On offer will be a high resolution display, resizable tiles and better processing power than seen in a Windows Phone device or any Nokia phone.
Worth waiting for?
Certainly, if you are a Windows Phone fan. If all you want is a smartphone with a good interface and display, there are many alternatives.
Making the most of its pact with Microsoft, Nokia is likely be the first phone manufacturer to release a Windows Phone 8 device. On offer will be a high resolution display, resizable tiles and better processing power than seen in a Windows Phone device or any Nokia phone.
Worth waiting for?
Certainly, if you are a Windows Phone fan. If all you want is a smartphone with a good interface and display, there are many alternatives.
iPhone 5 Expected in: October 2012 Existing alternative: iPhone 4S
No, we don’t know what it will be called, and there is no confirmation from the company yet, but it is almost certain that a new iPhone will hit the market before the year is out. Rumour has it that it will come with a bigger display, different build and a better camera. What’s definite is that the interface and apps will be very similar to those in the current iPhones.
Worth waiting for?
If you are an iPhone fan and want better hardware, definitely. If time is at a premium, go grab the iPhone 4S. It is not going to become outdated anytime soon.
No, we don’t know what it will be called, and there is no confirmation from the company yet, but it is almost certain that a new iPhone will hit the market before the year is out. Rumour has it that it will come with a bigger display, different build and a better camera. What’s definite is that the interface and apps will be very similar to those in the current iPhones.
Worth waiting for?
If you are an iPhone fan and want better hardware, definitely. If time is at a premium, go grab the iPhone 4S. It is not going to become outdated anytime soon.
iPad Mini Expected in: September/October 2012 Existing alternative: The new
iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2
Again, a product that has a rumoured, rather than an official, existence. The iPad Mini could bring the app and the fabulous interface of the iPad to a smaller device with a 7-8-inch screen. It is unlikely to have a camera but could be slimmer than the new iPad and is also likely to cost much less.
Worth waiting for?
You may if you want the benefits of the iPad in a handy 7-inch format. However, nobody has as yet hinted officially that this product is in the offing.
Again, a product that has a rumoured, rather than an official, existence. The iPad Mini could bring the app and the fabulous interface of the iPad to a smaller device with a 7-8-inch screen. It is unlikely to have a camera but could be slimmer than the new iPad and is also likely to cost much less.
Worth waiting for?
You may if you want the benefits of the iPad in a handy 7-inch format. However, nobody has as yet hinted officially that this product is in the offing.
BlackBerry 10 device Expected in: Early 2013 Existing alternative: BlackBerry Bold 9900
BlackBerry wants to redefine its phones with the BlackBerry 10 OS. The first device to run on it will be a touchscreen phone driven by gestures and a dazzling display reminiscent of the PlayBook. All indications are that it won’t have the iconic physical Qwerty keyboard but a powerful on-screen one.
Worth waiting for?
Definitely, if you want to be a Black-Berry Boy with the latest phone. Not so much if you want a smartphone with a large display.
BlackBerry wants to redefine its phones with the BlackBerry 10 OS. The first device to run on it will be a touchscreen phone driven by gestures and a dazzling display reminiscent of the PlayBook. All indications are that it won’t have the iconic physical Qwerty keyboard but a powerful on-screen one.
Worth waiting for?
Definitely, if you want to be a Black-Berry Boy with the latest phone. Not so much if you want a smartphone with a large display.
Microsoft Surface Expected in: October 2012 Existing alternative: Asus Transformer
Prime
Microsoft’s foray into the tablet arena has the tech industry abuzz. The Surface will combine a 10.6-inch touchscreen display with a keyboard that also doubles as a cover. There will be a high-end avatar as well as a mainstream one, and both variants will run the next version of the operating software, Windows 8.
Worth waiting for?
Certainly. The Surface is one of the most innovative mobile computing devices we have seen and could redefine notebooks.
Microsoft’s foray into the tablet arena has the tech industry abuzz. The Surface will combine a 10.6-inch touchscreen display with a keyboard that also doubles as a cover. There will be a high-end avatar as well as a mainstream one, and both variants will run the next version of the operating software, Windows 8.
Worth waiting for?
Certainly. The Surface is one of the most innovative mobile computing devices we have seen and could redefine notebooks.
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Expected in: Late August/early September 2012
Existing alternative:
Samsung Galaxy Note
Samsung’s Galaxy Note was one of the surprise success stories of last year. Consumers lined up to purchase it, dazzled by its brilliant display, innovative S Pen stylus and features. Samsung is believed to be getting ready to launch its successor. If rumours are to be believed, it will pack in a slightly larger 5.5-inch display, a quad core processor as well as a 13-megapixel camera. It will run on Android Ice Cream Sandwich.
Worth waiting for? We are not too sure. The original Note remains a formidable proposition, and we have not really seen too many apps that take advantage of the quad core processor that the new one is likely to pack in. Also, the rumour isn’t confirmed.
Existing alternative:
Samsung Galaxy Note
Samsung’s Galaxy Note was one of the surprise success stories of last year. Consumers lined up to purchase it, dazzled by its brilliant display, innovative S Pen stylus and features. Samsung is believed to be getting ready to launch its successor. If rumours are to be believed, it will pack in a slightly larger 5.5-inch display, a quad core processor as well as a 13-megapixel camera. It will run on Android Ice Cream Sandwich.
Worth waiting for? We are not too sure. The original Note remains a formidable proposition, and we have not really seen too many apps that take advantage of the quad core processor that the new one is likely to pack in. Also, the rumour isn’t confirmed.
Buy it now if...
• There is no credible information about a future product.
• Even if a product has been confirmed, there is no information about its price or availability. The original iPhone and Kindle Fire never made it to the Indian shores, remember?
• You need a product at a short notice.
• You don’t need to be at the cutting edge of technology. A recently released product is not likely to get outdated soon.
• Pricing is an issue. New gadgets, in most cases, tend to cost more than their predecessors.
• There is no credible information about a future product.
• Even if a product has been confirmed, there is no information about its price or availability. The original iPhone and Kindle Fire never made it to the Indian shores, remember?
• You need a product at a short notice.
• You don’t need to be at the cutting edge of technology. A recently released product is not likely to get outdated soon.
• Pricing is an issue. New gadgets, in most cases, tend to cost more than their predecessors.
NIMISH
DUBEY ET120813
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