Consumer Reports tests new tablets

If you're shopping for a tablet, you have a lot of choices.New entries in the tablet wars are the Nook HD and HD Plus, iPad Mini and Surface.Consumer Reports tested them and found although the top ones all have something to offer, there are big differences.For example, the $500 Surface has a superb 10-inch screen plus a handy stand, and you can get a cover with a built-in keyboard. But when it comes to content, Microsoft has a way to go. Windows tablets lack access to the content selection from Apple and the Android Marketplace, and even the Amazon and Barnes & Noble content offerings.Size is another important consideration. The 7.8-inch iPad Mini is Apple's first smaller tablet competing with other small tablets such as the Barnes & Noble Nook HD and Kindle Fire HD from Amazon.
Consumer Reports found  that in many ways the Mini is every bit as good as the bigger iPads. The screen offers crisp text, optimal photo viewing, and good sound. The $330 iPad Mini is also light, making it extra portable.But for $200, the Barnes & Noble Nook HD is well worth considering. Sharp text that fills the 7-inch screen makes reading a pleasure. However, the larger 9-inch Nook HD+ is a better choice if you're a magazine lover. It starts at $270.The iPad still offers the most content, and the screen is a bit bigger than the Nook HD+. But at $500 and up, it costs almost twice as much.If you're thinking about buying an extended warranty for a tablet, Consumer Reports says it may not be worth the money.In a recent survey, only 4 percent of tablet owners needed repairs. If you still want an extended warranty, Consumer Reports says consider less expensive coverage, such as the $28, two-year accidental plan sold at Walmart.
The entry-level model starts at $499 and comes with hefty 32G of memory. You can get a 64G for another 100 bucks. For yet another $119, you can get a keyboard you can snap onto your Surface that also comes with a protective cover. The keyboard is really a must-have to maximize the features of this computer.For another $99 you can get virus protection. For another $99, you can get software support and for $49 more, you can get software training that will "unleash the potential of Office or Windows."It has a front-facing camera, a big, 10.6" display, you can read, type, do all the stuff you want to do.The Surface works with Office, Windows, Xbox, Skyping is easy, and the kickstand is a simple, useful feature. It's a solid, well-made machine - it's also pricey and the add-ons can really add up.The Nexus 7 is made to compete with Kindle Fire and like the iPad mini, is smaller than its beefier and more expensive cousin, the Nexus 10.