Here’s a brief look at what’s new in the tablet space this year:

Apple iPad Air and Mini Tablet

During Apple’s recent keynote to introduce its new iPads. The new iPad Air is already available for purchase and claims a lighter form factor, improved hardware, and of course iOS 7. The iPad Mini should be ready later this month, and boasts a 2048×1536 high-resolution display that the company refers to as Retina as well as faster processors the hood.

Microsoft Surface 2

Microsoft learned some important lessons when it first began its entry into the tablet business. The company has dropped the RT moniker and now calls its basic model Surface 2. Yes it’s the RT version of Windows, meaning you can’t install desktop programs on it. Although it does come with Office 2013 Home and Student edition. The Surface Pro 2 has the full version of Windows 8.1 on it and can easily be a laptop replacement. This years lineup also offers several interesting accessories that you can purchase separately for an improved experience.

What’s arguably the coolest accessory is the Docking Station. The Docking Station for Surface Pro provides a display port, audio input/output jack, Ethernet port, and a high-speed USB 3.0 and three USB 2.0 ports. This will cost you an additional $199.99 – the same starting price as 7” Android tablets. When all is said and done, you’re looking at a hefty price of around $1400. The Surface 2 Pro is best served as a laptop replacement to use for serious work and productivity. But, it makes a groovy entertainment device too.

Google’s Nexus 7

Maybe you’re more budget conscious and want a smaller form factor Android device that’s more affordable. If your looking for a quality tablet on the cheap, Google offers its new Nexus 7. Don’t expect to be super productive with it, but you can keep up with email, social networks, and your favorite RSS feeds. It’s more suited as a companion device in your computing realm, and is great for playing games and music or video consumption. The latest generation starts at $229 for the 16GB WiFi only model.

Kindle Fire HDX

Of course there’s other tablets out there from other manufacturers like Samsung, Dell, and even Nokia is releasing its version of a Windows 8.1 (RT) tablet — Lumia 2520. It you haven’t yet bought a tablet and are on the fence, now is a good time as they are second or more generations in. But if you already have one, the question is… Do you even need a new tablet? Or is the one you have currently sufficient and you see no reason to upgrade? Leave us a comment below and let us know your thoughts about this years crop of tablets, and whether or not you plan on getting one. Also, Microsoft is now marketing the Surface 2 for exactly that — you can be productive, get your writing work done, and at the end of the day use it as an entertainment device to watch videos, listen to music, and play games. I hate having to type on it and I suspect any other tablet device is not suited for typing either. For real work, I will stick with my laptop. I love the fact that when I make a typing error (which I do often) I can ‘feel it’ right away. Trying to correct spelling/typing errors on my iPad is a pain in the tuckuss! However, I will probably get a new iPad Mini, because all I have now is an iPod touch 4th generation which can’t run iOS 7. Of course, I will only be getting it so I can write up awesome tips and tricks and review it here for all our groovy readers. In fact, if I didn’t do this job, I wouldn’t have half of the stuff I do. I would of course have my command central power desktop PC and a Windows Phone 8. I think I could get by just fine with that. But I do admit, I love new gadgets, but unless you’ve never had a tablet before or are still rocking the first gen iPad, now is a good time to upgrade. Comment

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