

A single tablet can hold a mountain of children's books, to say nothing of games, movies, educational apps and more. Special features: Kid-proof case and 2-year warranty Just don't pay full price it goes on sale at least once per month. It's affordable, versatile and covered by a 2-year, worry-free replacement warranty.

I won't say that's the best of both worlds, but it's certainly one of the most versatile options.

In fact, you might want to consider a convertible, a laptop with a touchscreen and 360-degree hinge. (Microsoft's app store offers only a fraction of the software available to Android and iOS users.) Plus, the keyboard is sold separately, which once again begs the question: Why not just buy a laptop? They're expensive and don't afford many tablet-y benefits. What about Microsoft's Surface tablets, which run Windows? They're quite popular, but I honestly don't see the appeal. So if you're buying a tablet in hopes of getting your work done, make absolutely sure it's compatible with all your work tools. And there are certain web-based tools that won't work properly in a mobile browser. (They're not Mac OS, either.) If you rely on Windows or Mac software even a little, a tablet probably isn't your best bet. Something else to consider: While Android, Fire OS and iOS are capable operating systems, they're not Windows. At that point, why not just buy a laptop, especially if productivity is your main goal? Sure, you can splurge on the iPad Pro 12.9 and roomier Apple Magic Keyboard, but now you've spent a minimum of $1,450. So how do you pick one? Read on, we've got you. Wait, the shapes are pretty much the same, and the sizes aren't all that different, either.
