How the Galaxy Tab 10.1 Compares to the iPad 2

by Lori Cunningham

In January, I reviewed the Galaxy Tab 7 inch tablet.  I took it with me to the Consumer Electronics Show and found it very helpful in reviewing my over-scheduled calendar, full of manufacturer meetings to learn about their latest products.  My also son loved the Galaxy Tab and played Angry Birds on it any every chance he could.

When I bought the iPad 2 in April, I quickly got used to and favored a 10 inch screen over a 7 inch screen.  I loved having more landscape to read articles, e-mail’s, and documents.

Samsung recently came out with the Galaxy Tab 10.1 inch which is even larger than Apple’s 10 inch iPad.  Now, you might think that’s not much of a difference, but it does expand your reading view.  The Tab is similar in size to length of a 8 1/2 x11 paper; its size works well for reading.

I have been using the Galaxy Tab 10.1 inch for several months now and I really like it.  It’s one of the first Android tablets with the new improved operating system, Honeycomb.  Honeycomb offers enhanced multi-tasking, home screen customization, better redesigned widgets with more interactivity, tabbed browsing, and syncing with your Google Chrome bookmarks, among many other things.

Tab Features:

• New Honeycomb Android operating system
  

  I love this menu feature where you can be in one app and see what other windows are open. Touch on a window takes you to that app.

• 10.1 inch screen
• 20 ounces
• 1 GB RAM
• 1 GHz Dual processor – so it can process games and apps much faster
• Adobe Flash Player support
• Front 2.0 megapixel camera
• Rear 3.0 megapixel camera
• Built-in Flash
• Two versions 16GB or 32GB
• 4G capable
• Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity available
• USB 2.0 port for transferring data, video, pictures
• WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n built-in

 Galaxy Tab 10.1 versus iPad 2:

Pros:

• lighter in weight
  

  You can see the slightly larger size allows you to read more of the words on the screen.

• a brighter and better screen resolution
• You can touch anywhere on the screen to place the cursor. With the iPad you end up deleting words to place the cursor where you want
• Has a back button! (iPad does not)
• Most apps have a menu or a navigational map
• Built-in voice commands
• Integrates well with Google mail, Google calendar, and Google Docs
• Docks landscape – the iPad docs portrait (landscape provides a better viewing angle when showing picture slideshows)
• Can see and navigate to multiple windows – a screen pic of each open window
• Live wallpapers available – I have a map of the US that changes to your location
• HT9 built into Tab, great for word prediction, next word prediction, customisable for your preferences
• Has a remove trashcan on each screen when activated, to easily delete unwanted apps
• Shows what apps use the most battery
• Camera quality is lacking on both tablets, but the quality is better on the Tab
• can see Flash images (Apple does not allow this common interface to show on their devices)

Cons:

• same pricing as the iPad 2 for the WiFi version only
• Less apps available in the Android Market than in iTunes Store
• Must have a Google email account to begin using an Android tablet
• Not as many cases and accessories for it yet
• Cannot make folders so your apps are harder to find as your app library grows
•  No physical button on the face to turn the Tab on.  You find yourself turning the Tab all around looking for the “on” button
• It has a plastic backing which makes it lighter but makes it appear less sturdy than the iPad
• Neither of the tablets have a micro SD card slot
• Neither of the tablets have a USB port

Pricing

A Mom’s Perspective

Galaxy Tab 10.1

iPad 2

Android Market vs. iTunes

Android has over 300,000 phone apps with 230 of them specifically for Android tablets. (1.) The iPad, on the other hand, sports 90,000 apps in addition to the 475,000 iPhone phone apps Apple’s iTunes carries.  That’s a big difference.

Before I had a tablet, I always thought that with the hundreds of thousands of apps available from Android and Apple, you can’t go wrong with either tablet.  Having used tablets now for nearly a year, I realize how important it is to choose a tablet based not only on its capabilities and speed, but also on the apps you can’t live without.   For me, I use Microsoft One Note extensively on my desktop as well as on my tablet – they are sync’d through the cloud.  Many people use Evernote for the same reason – to keep track of notes and work.

Looking for more insight on choosing an Android or Apple tablet?  See the article, “Why I Chose Android Over the iPhone 4” to give you a better idea of the differences between the two platforms.

Top Uses for Tablets

source: tuaw.com

According to this survey by  Google’s AdMob, the top use of tablets is for games.  Now, you might say, I never play games, but let me tell you, you will once you get a tablet.  There are so many fun games to play for both adults and kids.

 Searching for information unleashes you from your laptop or desktop and allows you to Google things in a more comfortable setting…the same is true with checking your e-mail.

What are your top reasons for getting or using a tablet?

* I was loaned the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 to conduct my review.  All expressed opinions are my own.

(1.)  http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/01/mystery-how-many-android-tablet-apps/