At this point in the tablet game, most people have at least one. Maybe it’s an iPad; maybe it’s a lower-budget Kindle Fire. In fact, you’ve probably had it long enough that you’re ready to move on up to the newer model (even if your old one hasn’t died yet). It can be really difficult to justify a new purchase if your old device has some life left in it, but what if I told you that you could just repurpose your old one? Waste not, want not, right?
Here is a list of ways you can give your old tablet new life.
Kids-Only Device
Who doesn’t have a kid hanging around, angling for a chance at their cell phone or tablet? If you don’t have children of your own, you likely have nieces, nephews, cousins, or friends’ kids who are tiny, vicious, Candy Crush addicts, picking up your device any time you put it down. If you buy a new tablet, you can set your old one up with a sturdy case as a child-friendly diversion and let them download apps to their hearts’ content.
Tip: With a parental control app, you can make sure the kids-only device is safe.
Dedicated E-Reader
A tablet is one of the best options for an e-reader. Although it doesn’t have the e-ink screen like the basic e-reader models, it gives you much more freedom. If you buy a Nook e-reader, for example, you can only read Barnes and Noble e-books. There are easily half a dozen e-reader apps, all with different libraries that you would be missing out on, like Kobo, Kindle, and Google Books.
Tip: The full color and high definition screens make tablets great for reading tablets or graphic novels, too.
High-Tech Cookbook
When was the last time you pulled out a hard copy of a cookbook when you wanted to try a new recipe? Honestly, I don’t even own one. Instead, I get my dinner ideas from websites like Pinterest, AllRecipes, and Yummly.
Bringing your laptop into the kitchen is just asking for an olive oil spill in your keyboard. Tablets don’t have keyboards, so they’re much less likely to suffer adverse effects from a similar accident. The touch screen is also easier to use when you’re elbows deep in biscuit dough than a mouse.
Tip: Buy a good screen protector first!
If none of these suit your fancy and you want a new tablet anyway, go for it! Check with the local tech stores near you, they may offer money if you trade it in or sponsor an environmentally responsible recycling solution.
