Busy Mom? Back Up Your Smartphone with a Budget Tablet! #IntelTablets

#spon: I’m required to disclose a relationship between our site and Intel. This could include the Intel Corporation providing us w/content, product, access or other forms of payment.

I’ve had more than one person accuse me of having too many devices. “If you have a laptop and a phone, why do you need a tablet?” they ask. Well, it’s hard to explain, exactly, because not too many people understand exactly what it is I do for a living as a blogger and freelance writer (and honestly, I was even wondering if maybe I was being overly dependent on my e-stuff.) So for one week, I paid careful attention to all the ways my small, speedy workhorse tablet – the Asus Memo Pad 7 – came to the rescue… and I’ll never doubt myself again!

Let me count the ways…

I used my tablet to keep up with multiple email and social media accounts during the Black Friday– Cyber Monday blitz (because one device was just not cutting it during that madness!)

I used Google Maps on my tablet to find directions because it’s so much easier (and safer) to see the map on a tablet-sized screen.

I used it to keep track of the weather, as we were planning on picking up our new paneling for the basement and needed to avoid the rain.

When we went to order our carpet, I used it to pull up Caillou on the PBS Kids app and keep the kids occupied so we could actually get an accurate estimate and leave the displays in one piece. (There’s just something about a carpet store that makes my kids CUH-razy.)

I used it to record brainstorm notes and story ideas for both the blog and my other clients’ campaigns.

I finally set up my Google calendar on it, so I can now keep track of my ridiculous amount of appointments and obligations in December. If I make it through without messing up any dates, It will be solely because of my tablet.)

I used it for my alternate social media accounts so I don’t have to keep signing in and out (<<major timesaver.)

I used it to research the ingredients for an upcoming recipe while stuck in traffic during my commute. (Stopped…not driving. Safety first, folks.)

In-store photos for a few different posts were a breeze with my lightweight tablet instead of my big clunky DSLR (not that I don’t love my camera, because I SO do.) And knowing that if I happen to drop it, I’m not out $600? Priceless.

I used it to play Hay Day. (Shh…do not tell anyone I told you that.)

And finally, I relied on my Intel Tablet every single time I shopped. At the grocery store with my list and coupon apps, and at Target with Cartwheel. This is really where the need for an additional device comes in. I was noticing more and more that my phone was always dead. It’s so annoying, and a huge time-waster. Then, I realized that I was using apps or accessing email coupons in almost every store I went to, as well as using Google Maps and other apps that can really tie up my phone. Some might say it’s overkill, but my needs really do surpass what one smartphone can handle right now – and while I’m working on unplugging more often, the work I do is what allows me to be home with my kids instead of commuting 3 hours a day.

And you just can’t put a price on that! But if I had to, I’d say that a sub-$150 price tag is pretty darn cheap.

The Specs

The Asus MeMO Pad 7 from the Intel Tablets lineup is a value priced tablet with a 1280 x 800 display, a powerful Intel quad-core processor for multi-tasking, and a 9-hour battery life to keep you connected. It’s incredibly lightweight so it’s perfect to carry in a purse or diaper bag without adding bulk, but it has a stylish bezel design and glossy screen and finish (and side buttons that are not easy to hit accidentally.) It also comes in five colors: white, black blue, red and yellow.

And, whether you’re a blogger or just someone who likes to capture lots of life’s special moments, this matters: ASUS MeMO Pad 7 has a 5-megapixel/2-megapixel* rear-facing camera that lets you snap quality images; as well as a 2-megapixel/0.3-megapixel* front-facing camera for clear video chats. Is it the best camera out there? No. But it takes care of business.

To learn more about getting a super bang for your buck with #IntelTablets, take a moment to watch this quick video about the smaller, speedier Asus MeMO Pad 7:

 

Do you use more than one handheld device? What does your lineup look like?