Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Review

The time has passed where I decided to purchase my first tablet PC. The closest thing I had to an ultra-portable tablet previously was my Samsung Tocco phone, my Dell Inspiron 1545 laptop that has recently died, and my HTC Advantage PDA.

I had been saving up to buy an iPad 2 16GB WiFi only model for a few months now, and as soon as I got the money, I had second thoughts.

I have bought this specifically for school work, and taking around with me as all my coursework is set on a flash-based website. I know Flash sucks, but I am going to need it in the long run.

Now, my favourite two tablets have always been Apple’s iPad, and the Galaxy Tab from Samsung right from when they released the original Galaxy Tab. 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 claims to be the thinnest tablet on the market, and it really packs a punch. It boasts a damn good 720p HD camera, and a very sleek design. However, that said, the rear is very clunky, snappy and creaky. It feels cheap, and your hands start to sweat a bit after using it.

Personally, I prefer the iPad 2 simply because of it's aluminium design, and the stability of iOS, but if you need Flash, or just want a good tablet, then I'd go for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

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My Love for Android and the Galaxy Tab

You all probably know I am somewhat of an Apple fan. After all, I was born and raised Apple. My dad had one when I was young, and it was the first computer I had ever used. I still own that same computer, mint condition and still working, today. However, the Apple orchard can become dull at times, especially if one has had the same apple juice year after year. So a month ago, I picked up the Samsung Galaxy Tab.

As a complete noob to Android, I found the Tab to be quite a fun device. I have seen reports lately of the Galaxy Tab and its sales rates, but I completely satisfied. I love the fact that the screen is seven inches, compared to the iPad's almost 10 inch screen. The Galaxy Tab has proven to be more portable when carrying it around for long periods of time. Back when I had an iPad, my hands would fatigue after about 10 minutes. With the Tab, it's lightweight and feels like I am carrying a small paperback book.

The interface itself is your typical run of the mill Android Froyo OS. Very impressive on a Tablet computer, just as it is on the smartphones. A lot of people complain about this, and I really can't find a legitimate reason why. After all, didn't Apple do the same?

The Android store is my only complaint. There are so many spammy and janky apps on there that you really have to be careful what you install. Also I've noticed there are a lot of Chinese knock-offs and poorly coded apps. The upside though is that if you buy an app and decide you don't like it, you can get a refund. And the fact that you can choose to bill paid apps to your phone bill is amazing.

I am very happy with Android, and more specifically, the Galaxy Tab and I don't care what the reports say. High return rates do not phase me. I love my device.

Is the Samsung Galaxy Tab the Next iPad Killer?

This article was originally posted on Dromble.com.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab is coming out soon and there’s a lot of speculation that it will directly compete with the Apple iPad.  This is a decent competition seeing as Android and iOS are pretty close in popularity these days.  The bigger question is if the new Samsung Galaxy Tab will be a worthy competitor and if it will take any sales away from the iPad this holiday season.

On the Apple side, the iPad has sold a lot and continues to sell fairly well.  This holiday season Apple is planning on expanding the retail locations where you can purchase an iPad at all BestBuy locations.  I believe Apple knows that there are going to be big competitors in the tablet market coming up and they need to be ready for this rise in competition.  Now, not only will the Samsung Galaxy Tab become a big competitor against the iPad but there is already competition for the iPad such as the Dell Streak.   E-readers are also on the rise in this economy seeing as they’re inexpensive (compared to tablets) and are gaining in popularity because of the increase of publications becoming digital.

The Samsung Galaxy Tablet has a lot going for itself compared to the iPad.  Most noticeable is the thinness of the device.  The Samsung Galaxy Tab is smaller and lighter.  It also boasts twice the RAM as the iPad, same processor, and expands to 32GB’s of expandable storage via an external card.  The iPad on the other hand is hefty (but in its defense feels like a quality device), has a set amount of RAM, and is not expandable in storage.  The Samsung Galaxy Tab has not only 1 camera, but two.  One camera is on the front of the device (1.3-megapixel) of the Samsung Tab, and one camera is on the back (3.2-megapixel).  The iPad on the other hand has no camera as of the 1^st generation.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab will be running Google’s Android 2.2 operating system which means multitasking, Adobe Flash support, and full access to applications with no restrictions will be available to the end-user.  Apple’s iPad has iOS working in its favor but there is no multitasking, no Adobe Flash support, and Apple is notorious for restricting apps into their app store.

Now, this isn’t a poke at the iPad at all.  This is just a comparison on what the new Samsung Galaxy Tab has to offer and how it compares to the roughly 6 month old Apple iPad.  Features, operating system, hardware, and cost all play a factor in what a consumer wants in a tablet.  As of now, there seems to be no non-radio version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab that lets a consumer purchase unsubsidized at a fair price.  As far as the iPad, you can buy a wifi-only model and/or a model with a 3G radio inside on contract with At&t.  A new iPad may be on its way sometime soon and Apple may be taking notes at this very moment to conjure up a better iPad for their second iteration of the device.  Only time will tell which tablet takes the prize.  Tell me what you think.  Leave a comment below.