OutNext - Passionately Curious

4 cheaper alternatives to the iPad Air

Let’s face it: Apple products are expensive. They’re high-quality pieces of tech, but when they’re first released; the price tag can be a tad off-putting. There are so many other tablet computers on the market, many of which offer functionality rivalling that of the newest tech. Here are four of our favourites that won’t break your bank account.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8
The Samsung Galaxy Note earns a spot on this list thanks to its compact size and fair price point. Retailing for £269 at Amazon, it’s a slim and feature-packed device that’s perfect for those who are constantly on the go. With 16GB of storage, two built-in cameras and a sharp eight-inch display, this is a tablet that’s well suited to long chill-out sessions in your local café. The screen can be optimised for reading, so you can achieve a comfortable level of illumination in a variety of lighting conditions.
 
 
iPad Mini
Yes, were looking for alternatives to the iPad, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Apple’s own budget option. Available from retailers like Play for as little as £263, the iPad Mini is fitted with a HD FaceTime camera, a powerful A5 processing chip for smooth multi-tasking and a 7.9-inch display.
 
Tesco Hudl
A supermarket tablet? Yes, we thought the same thing too, until it came top of The One Show’s family tablet test. Available for the budget price of £119, this tablet stands out for its excellent battery life, high-quality screen and sleek design.  Ideal for sharing among the family, the Tesco Hudl is equipped with 16GB of storage, 1GB of RAM and a seven-inch HD screen that’s made from scratch-resistant, anti-smudge glass.
 
 
Disgo 9200
Finally, we have the Disgo 9200. Retailing at £159 from Viking, it is probably the tablet that gives you the most bang for your buck! The 9.7-inch screen makes it the largest tablet on our list and it runs with a sharp 1024x768 pixel resolution. Housed in a stylish aluminium and glass chassis, this is a smart-looking device that’s perfect for reading, surfing the internet and watching video on the move.

ASUS

Wouldn't you love a computer that is a laptop one way and a book if you flip it the other way ... I would!

The device features double touchscreen that are coupled with software allowing for virtual interface devices like a resizable keyboard and trackpad—or the laptop can simply be rotated for eBooks that read more like real books.



The Asus Dual Panel laptop is part of a concept competition designed through WePC.com so while there’s no news as to whether the Asus will actually make the Dual Panel laptop we hope mac would make it because ... I am a MAC :-)

3D WEBCAM ! PUT YOUR OWN "DIMENSION" IN YOUTUBE

This USB-friendly camera will have you and your online buddies cowering behind your keyboards in awe as noses, fingers and anything else you’d care to thrust forth are given genuine depth and incredible reach-out-and-touch realism.

Can you imagine all the things you could do with it !? ... Well I was not thinking about those kind of things but now that you mentioned it ... that sounds like fun too ;-)

Of course don't forget to wear a pair of old-school 3D glasses otherwise you may just get motion sickness ... Price: $89

+ Buy it here

PERFECT FOR USB CABLE-PHOBIC

USB cables are not the best thing to carry around! How about a stylish bracelet instead !? Not sure this will become a best seller but it looks better than your old black cable at the bottom of your draw.

THE SONY VAIO MOUSE PHONE

Sony has created the VNCX1A/B Vaio Mouse Talk Internet Phone for those who still wanna do skype the old fashion way ... Available in black. Compatible with Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows XP enabled PCs. Price: $72.

+ The Mouse Phone by Sony

THE DISHWASHER SAFE KEYBOARD

Pproduced for the medical community it can also be a good deal for you if you're kind of messy, like spilling some coffee or wathever on your keyboard ... Then this is for you !!!

Seal Shield keyboards can be cleaned, disinfected, even put into a dishwasher for cleaning! It's your mum who's gonna be surprised to see your computer's stuff into the "to wash" pile ;-) Price: $89

+ Seal Shield Keyboard

FEED THE LAPTOPS !!!

As skinny as a super model, this prototype was designed by Intel along with Ziba Design. The slim, champagne-colored magnesium notebook which is only a quarter of an inch thicker than a Motorola RAZR cellphone will include a magnetically attached folder that will be available in different fashion colors.

+ The Thinnest Laptop via Gizmodo

FITTING ROOMS GO HIGH-TECH

Imagine standing in front of a mirror at your favorite boutique and having your friends at home vote on your look and make suggestions about another top you should try on. A new dressing room technology called the "Magic Mirror" from New York-based digital technology developer IconNicholson claims to do just that.

Using a cell phone equipped with wireless technology, shoppers point the camera at the mirror and transmit their image to a Web site. Through the Web site, friends can vote on the outfits as well text-message their opinions to shoppers. Shoppers can text-message back using their cell phones.

Those messages then appear on the interactive mirror. Additionally, the mirror displays recommendations of other styles and accessories that shoppers can try on. By touching those options, shoppers can see close-ups of the clothes, where they're located in the store and their prices. Read more ...

IconNicholson, a leading full-service digital agency to Global 1000 companies, ups the ante for retailers trying to reach young shoppers, with its designs for a unique in-store shopping experience known as Social Retailing.

READY TO ROLL COMPUTER !

Just think how could it will be to get your local daily morning paper on time wherever you are in the world, or carry rolled under your arm the equivalent of 15 books and 20 magazines ... UK-based startup Plastic Logic is to build a factory in Germany to start making flexible screen on a commercial basis.