Watch the ballgame...at the ballgame.
Although tablets aren't very old, even in "computer years," their technology is still advancing quickly and new models threaten to make the early ones obsolete. Even if advances in hardware and operating systems mean you can't run your favorite software on your old iPad or Galaxy Tab, it should function marvelously as a specialty device. Now, you could choose simply to sell your old tablet, but consider: you can get more years of use out of it -- by dedicating it to one or two of the tasks it does well.
E-book Reader
If you enjoy uninterrupted reading, the most obvious use for your old tablet is to dedicate it to your collection of e-books. The critical first step in this conversion is to delete any other apps that might distract you from your reading, so you're not tempted to play "Angry Birds" midway through your quiet time. Likewise, turn your alerts and calendars off so you're not interrupted. You probably have a preferred e-reader app already installed, but if you don't, the Kindle, Nook and Apple Books apps are all available free of charge. Lock the rotation so that the orientation is constant, adjust the brightness settings for reading in your preferred light, and you're ready for quality reading time.
Learning Center
Kids love tablets, and if you delete all of its "adult" apps and install a few kid-friendly titles such as Word Wizard, Singing Alphabet or Doodle Fit plus a drawing app or two, you've got a great learning and entertainment option for the small fry. Disable the Wi-Fi connection so you won't have to worry about the kids surfing to websites that aren't on the learning agenda -- or purchasing unauthorized apps. Best of all, perhaps: they'll stop pestering you to let them play with your new tablet.
Entertainment Center
Depending on your existing entertainment devices and preferences, you can fill in the gaps in your setup using your old tablet. If you have an Android tablet, get an HDMI adapter and the Plex app to turn it into a streaming media center for your TV. Buy or create a wall mount and you've got a personal video screen. Fill it with your music and connect it to your stereo as a dedicated jukebox. Add a DJ app for house parties. When you're not watching shows on it, use the Picture Frame mode to shuffle through a specially created photo library -- doubly cool with a musical background.
Remote Control
With the right app and an infrared dongle, your tablet will become a remote that's almost impossible to lose. A plethora of software, from RedEye to iRule to Dijit tablets, offer your tablet dominion over your TV, DVD player, receiver and other devices. Most cable providers also offer free apps for programming your DVR with no additional hardware required. If iTunes is the heart of your entertainment system, Apple's Remote app allows you to edit your playlist and skip tracks from across the room.
Arcade Console
A full-size tablet has a perfect screen size for some old-school gaming. There are two ways to go if you want to build yourself a dedicated gaming console. First is to build your own, and if you have the creativity and the parts, it may be the way to go, although it would require jailbreaking your iPad -- bypassing the iOS restrictions that keep you from accessing the device directly, and voiding your warranty (if it's still in effect) in the process. The second and much easier option is to buy the iCade, which connects with your iPad using Bluetooth and includes an app with classic Atari games.
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