Key Specs For The Apple iPad 2

* Costs $499 – $829
* Released in 2011
* Runs on iOS 4 (soon to be iOS 5)
* 9.5 x 7.31 x 0.34 inches in size
* Weighs 1.33 lb. / 0.60 kg
* 9.7 inch screen
* 1024 x 768 resolution
* Storage options: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
* Apple A5 1 GHz processor
* Wi-Fi/ 3G & Bluetooth connectivity
* 1MP & 0.3 MP cameras
* 10 hour battery life

What's Great About The Apple iPad 2…

Design: Let's start with one of the iPad's most impressive features: the design. There's no denying that the iPad 2 looks fantastic, and feels great in your hands. There's now a choice of black or white versions of the device, and the new smart covers (see below) help you to personalize the color even more.

Apple has set the bar high when it comes to build quality. Other tablets come close to the iPad 2 in terms of the way they look, but there's no denying that the iPad has lead the way in terms of how tablets are expected to look.

Weight: The new iPad 2 is lighter than before, coming in at 1.33 lb. When compared to the other bestselling tablets on the market, this is extremely light (only beaten by the Samsung Galaxy Tab). This is an important improvement, as not only does it make it more portable but it also means that the iPad's now easier to use for longer periods of time.

Processor: The new dual core processor in the iPad 2 means that it's on a par with the other high-end tablets currently on the market. You can browse the web or load apps with speed (a lot faster than with the original iPad).

Gaming: Many people also use the iPad to play games, and the good news is that the graphics are noticeably better with the iPad 2. Couple this with having the best app store in the world, and the iPad 2 is probably the most attractive tablet option for gamers.

Apps: As mentioned above, the Apple App Store is the biggest in the world. There are hundreds of thousands of apps available: this is where Apple really has the edge over all other tablets. That said, Android Market is catching up and is more open to developers. This means that the Apple App Store won't necessarily hold the crown forever. For now, however, it will probably have everything you could ever want from an app (and more).

Operating System: The App store isn't the only good feature of the iOS operating system. iOS is widely regarded as having the best interface among tablet computers. It works well, with a number of inbuilt "gestures" that help you achieve what you need to simply with the way you move your fingers.

That said, there are some complaints of the system. Many people opt for Android because it's what they're already used to from their smartphone, or they simply don't like Apple's system for notifications and multitasking. There's no doubt that the operating system you choose does come down to personal preference. But if you already use and love the iPhone, then you'll be happiest sticking to iOS for your tablet.

Keyboard: The iPad keyboard works very well. Not only is it extremely responsive, but Apple also has a good autocorrect function when you type things incorrectly (which is very important on a touchscreen keyboard). If you do a lot of typing (emails, documents and so on) then a good quality keyboard is a must. You can also get hold of a keyboard dock or wireless keyboard to turn your iPad into a more powerful desktop computer alternative.

Accessories: Because the iPad is one of the most popular tablets on the market today, there is a huge range of accessories available (both official and third-party). Whether you want a trendy case for your iPad, a keyboard dock, speakers, car charger or anything else, it'll be easy to find it.

With the release of the iPad 2, Apple also unveiled the new Smart Cover. Although it doesn't come cheap, it is somewhat unique in the world of tablet computers. It attaches to your iPad magnetically, and automatically wakes up or puts your iPad to sleep when you remove it or put it back on. This is a great, colorful way to keep your screen scratch-free (unfortunately it will scratch if you leave it uncovered).

Battery Life: The battery life on the iPad 2 is second to none. There are currently only a few other tablets that can match the advertised 10 hours (namely the Samsung Galaxy and Motorola Xoom). This is good news if you want to be able to take your iPad out and about for long periods of time, away from a power source.

What's Not So Great About The iPad 2…

No Flash Support: Any review of the iPad has got to include one of its biggest complaints – there is no Flash on the device! Apple have purposely chosen not to support Adobe Flash, despite the fact that it's used in many games, websites and videos around the net. Thankfully Apple does employ technology that means you can watch videos from YouTube and other websites. However, if you're into Flash games then this could be a deal-breaker for you.

Screen: There's no denying that the screen looks great, and has a good viewing angle. However, at 9.7 inches with a resolution of 1024 x 768, there have been no improvements since the original iPad. Many people have questioned why Apple didn't bring out an HD screen, even though the camera can record HD quality videos.
 
Cameras: Many people have also questioned Apple's choice not to include cameras in the original iPad. Although the cameras make a welcome addition to the iPad 2, they are still far behind most other tablets on the market. The front-facing camera (designed for video chats using FaceTime) is extremely low quality. And the rear-facing camera, for photographs and videos, isn't much better. These don't make for fantastic photographs, but they do the job.

No USB: This is another common criticism of Apple's iPad. USB ports are something that many of the iPad's rivals have chosen to include. The lack of USB ports means that you can't attach flash storage drives or external peripherals (unless they use Apple's specific connection), and there's also no memory slot for adding additional storage space.

Conclusion

As you can see from this review, even the king of the tablets is far from perfect. There really is no such thing as a perfect tablet computer. For many people who already enjoy the Apple operating system on their smartphones, the iPad does come pretty close. It's very hard to match it in terms of user interface and sheer style, though you may choose to go elsewhere if features such as Flash, USB ports or expandable memory are something you're really looking for.

Key Specs For The ViewSonic gTablet

* Costs around $260
* First released late 2010
* Features Android 2.2 OS
* 13 x 2.75 x 9.75 inches in size
* Weighs 2.5 lb. / 1.13 kg
* 10 inch screen
* 1024×600 resolution
* 16GB storage (expandable up to 32GB)
* NVidia Tegra 2 Dual 1 GHz processor
* Wi-Fi & Bluetooth connectivity
* 1.3 MP camera
* 8 – 10 hours battery life

What's Great About The ViewSonic gTablet…

Battery Life: With 8-10 hours average battery life, the gTablet really is up there with the best (including the iPad, Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab). What's really impressive about this is the fact that the ViewSonic tablet costs nowhere near as much as its competitors in this area. This is a huge benefit for a far more budget tablet offering.

Expandable Storage: Although the ViewSonic gTablet only comes with one basic storage option (a mid-range 16GB), you can expand it up to another 32GB with the included micro-SD card slot. This is an excellent boost. Again, the storage size is fantastic value given the budget price of this tablet.

Price: If you hadn't guessed it already from the points above, the price is another reason to consider buying this tablet computer. It's under $300, which is far less than the higher-end tablets out there and only a little more than the budget offerings. The great thing is that it's far more powerful than the most budget tablets, and not far off the expensive devices with its powerful NVidia processor (also used by the likes of Xoom, Galaxy Tab, the Eee Pad and others).

Ports: There are plenty of ports on this high-value tablet. This includes a USB port (for external storage or keyboards), mini USB port and an HDMI port for connecting to a big HDTV screen. This is more than tablets such as the iPad 2 have to offer!

Screen: Unlike some of the most budget tablets out there, this one does include multitouch. This is the far more advanced type of touchscreen technology included on the high-end tablets. It means you can make use of controls that involve touching the screen in two places (important for certain apps and games). The viewing angle on the screen doesn't quite match up to more expensive competitors, however. This effectively means you'll find it harder to see what's on the screen when you're not viewing it straight on.

What's Not So Great About The gTablet…

Operating System: Although there are many benefits associated with running on the Android operating system, this is not the newest version of Android. The version running on the gTablet (2.2) was not originally designed for tablets, and not all Android apps will work on it. Thankfully it still has the ability to run Flash if that's a feature you're looking for (for Flash games and videos on websites).

Camera: The built in webcam is not great quality at 1.3 megapixels, but will do the job you need it to do (for making video calls across an internet connection).

No 3G Access: Although you wouldn't really expect it on a tablet at this price, the gTablet doesn't have the option of connecting to 3G mobile broadband. This means you're limited to connecting only when there's an available Wi-Fi hotspot.

Apps: Although the tablet runs on Android, it doesn't actually feature the Android Market app store out of the box. It has an alternative app store that's more limited, though you'll still be able to find most of the common types of apps you'd be interested in (check that the specific apps you want are available before buying).

Interface: The device uses "Tap N' Tap" which has replaced the standard Android interface. This doesn't offer the same level of experience, so you may want to switch back to the Android 2.2 interface (thankfully a ViewSonic update made this option available).

Weight: Weighing in at 2.5 pounds, this is certainly not the lightest tablet available. This will be noticeable when using the tablet for longer periods of time, as you may find it less comfortable to hold up. Thankfully there are keyboard docks available to help address this issue, and the tablet is still highly portable and small in size.

Conclusion

This is an excellent value tablet buy if you aren't too bothered about not having the latest version of Android. As long as you still find the older version easy enough to use (which you probably will if you've ever used it before on a smartphone) and aren't too bothered if some of the latest apps aren't compatible, then the ViewSonic gTablet will probably do everything you need. The fact that it has the ability to install custom firmware to override the installed "Tap N' Tap" is also a massive benefit.

It's got a good processor, a webcam for video calls, a good-sized screen, and it doesn't look bad either! This is definitely a contender to the biggest Android tablets based on the fact that it costs a lot, lot less!

Key Specs For The Toshiba Thrive

* Costs $430 – $580
* Released in 2011
* Runs on Android 3.1 OS
* 10.75 x 0.62 x 6.97 inches in size
* Weighs 1.6 lb. / 0.73 kg
* 10.1 inch screen
* 1280 x 800 HD resolution
* 8GB, 16GB and 32GB storage options
* NVidia Tegra 2 Dual 1GHz processor
* Wi-Fi & Bluetooth connectivity
* 5 MP & 2 MP cameras
* 7 hour battery life

What's Great About The Toshiba Thrive…

Storage Options: There are many different storage options to choose from on the Toshiba Thrive, which is always a good thing. It means you can get exactly what you need, and choose the option that fits your budget the best. Although the general rule should always be to get the maximum storage you can afford (to account for future expansion), going with a lower option will still give you plenty of space for apps. The prices are also comparable to the other most popular Android tablets.

Design: A key feature of the Thrive's design is the inclusion of a non-slip interchangeable rubber back plate. This means that the tablet is less likely to slip out of your hands while you're using it (a problem that some iPad users may be able to relate to). It also helps to make it more comfortable to hold for longer periods of time – an important feature for anything that's designed to be used primarily while held in the hands.

Toshiba also make it easy to personalize the design. The back plate can be replaced with one of six different color options. Although these cost more, they're a funky addition to a device that helps it to stand out from the standard black tablets available today.

Screen: The HD screen means that your videos will look great on the Thrive. There's also inbuilt video enhancement to improve the quality of standard-definition content, bringing it more towards what you're used to from HD. Some effort has been made to help the screen stay readable in sunlight, with automatic adjustment of brightness and color (though no tablet will read that well in bright outdoor sunlight).

HDMI Port: You can take your favorite videos from the Thrive and use the HDMI port to connect them up to a big screen HDTV. This will be a welcome addition if you want the flexibility of watching downloaded content on a higher quality screen.

Camera: The Thrive includes a front-facing and rear-facing camera, like most of its competitors. The latter is an impressive 5-megapixel camera, including the ability to capture HD quality videos, which gives it a strong edge on most of its rivals. Even the 2-megapixel webcam means you'll be making higher quality video calls than you would with most other competing tablets.

Flash Support: Like most other Android competitors, the Toshiba Thrive supports Flash on websites (whether in games or videos). This gives it the edge over the iPad if you know you tend to watch a lot of Flash videos, though bear in mind that the iPad 2 still has the ability to play videos on YouTube and many of the most popular video sites.

Processor: The Toshiba Thrive makes use of the NVidia Tegra 2 Dual Core processor – the same processor used by the most popular Android tablets on the market today. What this means in real life is that you'll find multitasking works very well, and that functions generally load quickly. You'll also have access to a wide range of games that display in great quality on the Thrive's HD screen.

Accessories: The number of accessories available for the Toshiba Thrive is both a benefit and drawback of choosing this particular device. Toshiba have a very good range of accessories available for the device, including:
* Battery pack – see below for more information.
* Interchangeable colorful back plate.
* Docking station – this adds the ability to display your Thrive in a prominent location, with one or two USB ports depending on the dock you choose.

On the downside, there aren't nearly as many accessories available for the Thrive as there are for the most popular iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab, but the number's growing all the time. This is still one of the most popular tablets around so you can almost be certain that you'll be able to find the kind of accessory you're looking for.

SD Card reader: Rather than using a micro-SD card slot, which many rivals have chosen, the Thrive comes with a full sized SD card reader. This is beneficial to users who like to transfer photos, as it'll be compatible with far more camera memory cards. It also allows you to expand on the base storage size options (perfect for more advanced users with lots of files).

User-Replaceable Battery: This could just sway it for you, as it's a feature that none of the other high-end tablets currently have on offer. Toshiba have made it as easy as possible for you to replace your own battery. Not only does this mean you can avoid large costs when it comes time to replace the battery (as most tablet batteries will decline with age), it also means that you can purchase a spare battery and have it on hand for emergencies. This is a fantastic addition and one that is very important if you want more control over your device.

Ports: As well as the SD card slot and HDMI port mentioned above, the Toshiba Thrive also includes a USB port and a mini USB port (with extra ports when you use the docking station). This is very useful for adding external USB storage or peripherals.

What's Not So Great About The Toshiba Thrive…

Battery Life: With an average battery life of 7 hours, the Thrive can't quite live up to the standards set by the higher-end tablets. If battery life is very important to you (i.e. you're away from a power source for many hours of the day) then this could turn out to be a major drawback.

Weight: At 1.6 pounds the Toshiba Thrive is by no means heavy. However, it is slightly heavier than the lightest and most portable tablets out there (such as the iPad) and you could just notice that slight difference when you're holding it for longer periods of time.

No 3G/ 4G Connectivity: The fact that there's no option for 3G or 4G is a drawback for those who want to connect when they're away from Wi-Fi, but it's really not that bad when you look a little deeper. There are dongles available that you can plug into the Thrive's USB port to help you connect on the go.

Conclusion

The Toshiba Thrive is a solid contender to the Android tablet throne, though it doesn't quite make the cut with the same design standards as the Samsung Galaxy Tab, for example. Where it does have the edge is on a slightly lower price (for a lower storage option) and the fact that you can replace the battery yourself. This won't mean anything to some, but for many it'll make all the difference.

Key Specs For The Superpad

* Costs under $200
* Was first introduced late 2010
* Comes with Android 2.1
* 10.5 x 0.5 x 6.5 inches in size
* Weighs 1.59 lbs. / 0.72 kg
* 10.2 inch screen
* 1024 x 600 resolution
* 4GB inbuilt memory (can be expanded up to 32GB)
* FlyTouch ARM11 1GHz processor
* Wi-Fi connectivity
* 1.3 MP camera
* 3-hour battery life

What’s Great About The Superpad…

Price: There’s no denying that the Superpad Tablet is cheap! Going on price alone, this would win the tablet wars! Of course we do know that cheap usually means a lack of power and features, so you shouldn’t expect anything as powerful as an iPad here. That said, it’s good that such a budget option exists at all. For those who want to buy a tablet but can’t afford the high-end options, this is the perfect, simple solution.

Design: Considering this is such a budget device, it really doesn’t look bad at all. It also comes with a decent sized screen and resolution. It won’t look as sleek as the iPad, of course, but it still looks good.

Camera: OK, so the camera that comes with the Superpad Tablet is by no means going to replace your current digital camera. Nor is it as detailed as many of the other tablet cameras out there. However, when you’re looking at specifically budget tablet offerings, it’s a bonus they there’s a camera included at all! Remember the iPad 1? It didn’t even include a camera off the bat and cost $500+!

Android: If you already own an Android smartphone then you’ll find this tablet intuitive to use. It’s also very useful that there even is such a low cost Android tablet available (you won’t find the same with Apple’s iOS)! You can access the famous Android Market app store, which is growing all the time. However, you should bear in mind that the reduced processing power of this budget tablets means that not all apps are going to work as they should.

2x Micro-SD Slots: The addition of two micro-SD memory slots is very useful. It’s a necessary one too, meaning you can upgrade the 4GB memory by as much as 32GB extra. This will bring the storage space more in line with higher-end tablets, giving you more than enough space for plenty of songs, movies and apps.

Ports: Aside from the micro-SD slots, the Superpad also benefits from 2 USB 2.0 ports, mini HDMI and a standard headphone jack. The addition of USB (which devices such as the iPad 2 don’t even include) means you can attach an external keyboard/ mouse or extra storage. It also has an Ethernet port for wired internet connections (Wi-Fi is also included).

What’s Not So Great About The Superpad…

Battery Life: The main point of tablet computers is that they’re portable, and this means you’ll want a battery that lasts you long enough. Unfortunately the Superpad only comes with a 3-hour battery life. This is fine if you can charge it up in the car, or only need it on short train journeys etc., but it isn’t going to last you very long on the go!

Wireless: Many users have reported issues with the wireless connection dropping off regularly. This isn’t great if you mainly want to use the tablet to stay connected to the internet, and for emails.

No Multi-Touch Screen: This budget tablet doesn’t come with a multi-touch screen. What this means is that it doesn’t allow for controls based on touching the screen in two places at once, and that the controls are more basic. But it’ll still get the job done, and is what you would expect for a

Key Specs For The Samsung Galaxy Tablet

* Costs between $500-$600
* Released in 2011
* Android 3.1 Honeycomb OS
* 0.3 x 6.9 x 10.1 inches in size
* Weighs 1.2 lb./ 0.54 kg
* 10.1 inch display
* 1280×800 resolution
* 16GB or 32 GB storage options
* NVidia Tegra 2 Dual 1 GHz CPU
* Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
* Two cameras: 3MP and 2MP
* 10 hour battery life

What's Great About The Samsung Galaxy Tablet…

Battery Life: With an advertised battery life of 10 hours, the Samsung Galaxy is at the higher end of the scale, and a firm contender to the iPad 2. 10 hours is enough time to keep you occupied through a long plane journey, though activities such as watching movies will deplete the battery faster on any tablet computer.

Cameras: The Galaxy Tab comes with two cameras. The front-facing camera, at 2 megapixels, is designed for chatting via video across the internet. At the back you'll find a 3-megapixel camera designed for taking photographs or for recording HD quality video. You'll still want to keep hold of your digital camera for high quality photography, but for a tablet these are good quality cameras that'll do the jobs you need them to do.

Design: When it comes to size and weight, the Samsung Galaxy is king of the tablet world. Although it's only slightly lighter than the iPad, it's a noticeable difference given the fact that you need to lift the devices to use them. It also looks pretty sleek, with a larger screen and a more detailed resolution than the iPad 2.

Storage: There are two storage options available for the Samsung Galaxy Tab: 16GB and 32GB. This will be more than enough for most users, though some may be disappointed that it doesn't go up as high as 64GB (an option that's included for the rival iPad).

Samsung Accessories: There are already a huge range of accessories on offer for the Samsung Galaxy Tablet, which has proven to be one of, if not the most, popular of the Android tablets. More buyers mean more scope for accessorizing the device with a wide range of third party offerings.

There are also the official Samsung accessories. The docks are especially notable: it's important that you can get your hands on a dock if you're the kind of person who wants to use their tablet to type with ease. Although the on-screen keyboard works well (see the notes below), it's still far easier to type using physical keys.

Flash Support: Unlike the Galaxy's biggest rival (the iPad 2), this tablet does support Adobe Flash thanks to the Android operating system. And it performs very well on websites with Flash videos, games or other content.

What's Not So Great About The Samsung Galaxy Tablet…

The Keyboard: Many users have complained about the built-in keyboard, both on this and older Samsung Galaxy Tablet models. The truth is that it can feel cramped, and slow to respond. This isn't good news if you'll need to type a lot, but there is a pretty simple solution. Switch to the Android Keyboard option in your Settings menu and you'll find the keyboard works a lot more as you'd expect it to.

No SD Slot: Unlike older models of this tablet, the newest Samsung Galaxy Tab doesn't come with an SD card slot. This means that there's no option to upgrade your memory in future, and no way of transferring files from a memory card onto the tablet. It also lacks a USB port (though there's an add-on you can buy for that functionality). Note that these features are also lacking on the Galaxy's biggest rival: the iPad 2.

No 3G/ 4G Connection: Some users wishing to go with the Samsung technology, but also looking to stay connected via mobile broadband, may be disappointed that this feature isn't yet available. The good news is that 3G/4G tablets are due to start shipping soon. They'll have exactly the same specs, just an extra requirement to sign up to a mobile contract (and pay a little extra for the privilege of owning the 3G/4G technology, just like the iPad 2).

Design: The Galaxy doesn't look bad by any means, but some users have complained of a plasticky feeling. It simply isn't as sleek as it could be. And looks are important in a world where you're competing mainly with the likes of Apple.

Conclusion

In answer to the question of whether the Samsung Galaxy is a rival to the iPad, the answer is a mixed one. Its specs certainly don't blow the iPad out of the water (except where Flash is concerned). Its price is pretty much identical for the storage options available. It's a well-made tablet that looks good (not quite as sleek as the iPad) and performs well. Whether you opt for the iPad or the Galaxy will depend on whether you prefer Android to Apple's iOS. What's clear is that the Galaxy is certainly giving the iPad a run for its money.

Key Specs For The Dell Streak 7

* Costs $298 – $450
* Released in 2011
* Runs on Google Android 2.2
* 7.87 x 4.72 x 0.49 inches in size
* Weighs 1 lb. / 0.45 kg
* 7 inch screen
* 800 x 480 resolution
* 16GB storage (up to 32GB additional)
* NVidia Tegra 2 Dual 1 GHz processor
* Wi-Fi/ 4G & Bluetooth connectivity
* 5 MP & 1 MP cameras
* Battery life has not been publicized – tests suggest around 3.5 – 4 hours

What's Great About The Dell Streak 7…

SD Card Slot: Although the Dell Streak 7 only comes with one base option for inbuilt memory (16GB) you can expand this by as much as an additional 32GB thanks to the included SD card slot. This slot supports SD, MMC and SDHC memory card formats, and is useful for those who wish to transfer photographs (as SD cards are more common in cameras than micro-SD that many other rival tablets use).

Design: The 7 inch screen is noticeably smaller than most other tablets out there today, and the resolution is proportionately lower too. However, this is a feature that's been designed to make this tablet as portable as possible, and the quality of the screen really doesn't disappoint. The colors look bright and bold, though the viewing angle isn't as good as some of the other tablets available. It makes use of Gorilla Glass to minimize scratches that inevitably happen with any tablet screen, and it feels like a solid and well-built design (if a little plasticky).

Connectivity: This is one of the most impressive features of the Dell Streak 7 – it has the ability to connect to 4G networks (as well as the standard 3G and Wi-Fi hotpots). So far its only rival in this area is the Motorola Xoom, so this will turn a lot of potential buyers onto the Streak.

4G broadband is a very new technology, and at present is only available to around a third of all Americans. However, the network is growing all the time, and using it means that you'll be able to download whole movies across a mobile network! This does come at a price in the form of a more costly tablet and a monthly data plan, but it'll be well worth it for those who wish to stay connected wherever they are. You can't beat 4G technology!

Camera: At 5 megapixels, the rear camera is among the top for tablet computers. It comes with extra features to help improve photo and video quality, such as LED flash, auto focus and multi-shot mode. It can also capture HD quality video. The front-facing camera is decent at 1.3 megapixels (enough for the video chats it was intended for).

USB Port: A USB port is also a very welcome addition to any tablet, meaning you can connect it up to mass storage devices for fast file transfers and backups, as well as external keyboards that'll make your device even easier to use.

Price: Although it does have a smaller screen and less storage space than its competitors, the Dell Streak 7 is far more affordable starting at $300. The 4G option is also good value at around $450 – far cheaper than any 3G versions of the iPad, despite the fact that they don't even have the option for 4G. This is a good "in-between" option for those on a tighter budget who don't want to compromise on processing power.

What's Not So Great About The Dell Streak 7…

Operating System: The Streak runs on the Google Android 2.2 operating system. This isn't as modern as the latest versions of Android, and doesn't work as smoothly as alternatives such as iOS. However, you'll still get access to the Android Market app store, with a good selection of apps (some may not work with the older 2.2 OS).

Battery Life: There seems to be a good reason why Dell don't make it easy to find out how long the battery is supposed to last, and that's because it doesn't last long at all. Tests have shown it'll last around 3.5 to 4 hours on average, which is less than half of what you can expect from iPad, Galaxy Tab or Xoom (all boasting a long 10 hours). This really isn't great if you're out for long periods of time, as you'll frequently need to charge it up.

Ease Of Use: Although the touch screen works well, the virtual keyboard does somewhat let the Streak down. It is cramped, not surprisingly because the 7-inch screen is a lot smaller than what we're used to seeing on other tablet computers. You'll want to stay in landscape mode for the bulk of your typing.

Conclusion

The Dell Streak 7 really is a decent tablet with a very good price tag. The price tag alone will be enough to steal a number of buyers away from the likes of Apple and Samsung, onto this smaller yet still well-built tablet. Unfortunately, however, the battery life will turn an equal number of potential buyers away from the tablet.

Overall, this tablet has a good screen, good features and a powerful processor. But the lack of the latest Android version, a smaller screen and the battery life are all important issues for you to consider before making your final decision.

Key Specs For The Coby Kyros

* Costs less than $200
* First launched in 2011
* Runs on Google Android 2.2
* 7.7 x 4.8 x 0.5 inches in size
* Weighs 0.87 lb. / 0.39 kg
* 7 inch touchscreen
* 800 x 480 resolution
* 4 GB storage (up to 16 GB)
* Telechips TTC8902 1GHz processor
* Wi-Fi connectivity
* 2.1 MP Camera
* 7-hour battery life

What's Great About The Coby Kyros…

Price: Anything under $200 is generally considered a good-value tablet. A low price does mean less powerful features, but this tab will do everything that basic users need it to. You can load up office suite apps, browse the internet, chat with friends over the web and play your multimedia files.

Design: The Coby Kyros does not appear to be made on the cheap, despite the low price. It looks good and feels solid, though it's also light and thin enough to carry and hold easily.

Battery Life: Although a 7-hour battery life isn't as impressive as some of the higher end offerings, it's very good considering the price of the Coby Kyros. 7 hours is long enough to keep you occupied during most car, train or plane journeys when you won't have access to a charger. Very important if you'll mainly use this tablet when you're out and about! It also charges up very quickly.

Camera: Although this camera isn't sophisticated enough to take over the role of your digital camera, it has some retty impressive specs for one of the most budget tablets out there. This means that you get the ability to use the camera as a webcam for video chats when connected to the internet via Wi-Fi.

Ports: Like some of the high-end tablets, this comes with a number of different ports. They are: a standard mini-USB port, a headphone jack, a micro-SD port for expanding the memory, and a mini-HDMI port so that you can connect the Kyros up to a big HDTV screen.

Operating System: The operating system is both a benefit and drawback of buying this device. On the one hand, it's a great budget Android tablet with a good selection of apps available. Although there are by no means as many apps available for Android as there are for the iPad, it's the second best in terms of what's available, and you're almost certain to find what you need.

That said, the choice of apps is reduced somewhat when you factor in the version of Android the Coby Kyros runs. This comes with Android 2.2, meaning it's not the newest version available, and this older version wasn't even designed with tablets in mind. On the contrary this was a smartphone OS, and as such it doesn't run as flawlessly as something such as iOS. It's also not compatible with all the latest Android apps.

Media Support: Despite being a budget device, this tablet still supports the main media formats for video and music, as well as PDF files and even Adobe Flash. The latter is useful for watching certain videos on websites or playing Flash games.

What's Not So Great About The Coby Kyros…

Screen: 7 inches is relatively small in the world of tablet computers of today. Of course, this needn't be a drawback if what you're looking for is something compact and as easy as possible to carry around. It also makes for a very lightweight tablet, easy to carry around in your bag, and easy to hold in your hands for longer periods of time.

Processor: It almost goes without saying that budget tablets aren't going to have the same processing power as more expensive options, so bear this in mind if you're looking to perform more intensive applications (certain games, for example).

Resistive Touch Screen: Unlike most of the popular tablets on the market today, the Coby Kyros makes use of a resistive touch screen. In real terms this means you usually have to push harder to see things work, and you can't use functions that require multi-touch (touching on more than one place at the same time). It'll take a little getting used to for people who haven't used it before.

Connectivity: Although the Wi-Fi on the Coby Kyros works well, there's no option to buy a 3G version that'll keep you connected even when you're away from a Wi-Fi hotspot. You shouldn't expect one, really, since 3G undoubtedly costs more than the sub-$200 price tag of the Kyros! If you really need to stay connected no matter where you are, this isn't the right tablet for you.

Storage Space: The Coby Kyros comes with a very limited 4GB storage space. This is very small by today's standard, and far less than even most smartphones. If you want to store lots of movies or a very large music collection then you're going to need to expand the memory. Thankfully the micro-SD slot does allow for expansion up to 32GB, so this isn't too much of an issue, thankfully.

Apps: Instead of providing access to the Android Market, the Coby Kyros comes with AppsLib. This means that your choice of apps on this tablet could be somewhat limited.

Conclusion

In short, this is a budget alternative to some of the more expensive Android tablets out there today. Although it lacks the latest Android technology, and doesn't include access to the Android Market app store, it still works well as a budget tablet with a wide range of features. It also appears to be more reliable than other budget tablets (such as the Superpad) making it a good buy for the price.

Key Specs For The Asus Eee Pad

* Costs $450 – $500
* Released in 2011
* Runs on Android 3.0
* 10.7 x 7 x 0.5 inches in size
* Weighs 1.5 lb. / 0.68 kg
* 12-inch screen
* 1280 x 800 resolution
* Storage options: 16GB and 32GB
* NVidia Tegra 2 1 GHz processor
* Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Connectivity
* 5 MP & 1.3 MP cameras
* 9 hours battery life
 
What's Great About The Asus Eee Pad…

Price: When compared to similar tablets on the market, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab, the Eee Pad comes in slightly cheaper, which may give it an edge for some users. It uses the same processor, so it's just as powerful as its rival high-end Android tabs with a lower price tag!

Screen: The screen is very large compared to its rivals, which gives great potential for viewing movies, sheet music, presentations or simply typing on a larger keyboard. It also has a high HD resolution. The Gorilla Glass means that the glass is sturdy and scratch-resistant.

Cameras: The Eee Pad comes with two cameras. The 1.3-megapixel camera on the front is enough for video chats over the internet. And, at 5 megapixels, the rear-facing camera is one of the highest quality options available on a tablet today. The camera has the ability to record HD videos, and the HDMI output port lets you watch these on big screen HDTVs.

Flash: The Asus Eee Pad supports Flash, unlike the iPad. This means that you'll be able to view Flash content around the web, whether that means a Flash-based website, Flash games or Flash videos. Although there are other technologies to play most videos on devices that don't support Flash, it's good to know you can watch it if you regularly browse websites using Flash.

Micro-SD Card Slot: The card slot on the device means that you can add extra memory should you need it. Although the 16GB and 32GB storage options will be more than enough for the average user, it's always a good idea to have the ability to use as much memory as possible, as your needs are only going to grow with time. This is a big advantage over rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab and the iPad.

Keyboard Dock Accessory – The Eee Pad Transformer: Asus have created the Eee Pad Transformer not just as a keyboard dock for this tablet, but also as a way to greatly extend its functionality. This will cost you extra, but when you plug it in you'll benefit from the following:
* Specific Android function keys for convenience,
* 2x USB 2.0 ports (for connecting external storage or other devices),
* A 4-in-one card reader that means you can read memory cards from cameras or other devices, and even save data from the tablet to your cards.

The Transformer really is an excellent accessory that helps to bridge the gap between your tablet and desktop computer (effectively "transforming" it into a netbook). It makes multitasking and typing a breeze: perfect for anyone who uses it for work or college. When connected to the keyboard dock, the Asus Transformer looks just like a stylish netbook computer.

Battery Life: The 9-hour battery life makes the Asus Eee Pad a serious contender when it comes to true portability without the need to charge it up. Even better, if you use your Eee Pad along with the keyboard dock, you can extend the battery life up to 16 hours in total. This is better than any other tablet on the market, and could be a huge factor for you if you like to work away from a power source but know you'll still have the space to connect the dock.

What's Not So Great About The Asus Eee Pad…

Charger: With the addition of the Transformer accessory, many users will want to use this at home, keeping it plugged in to save battery. Unfortunately the cord on the included charger is very short. If you're not right next to an outlet, you won't be able to keep this plugged in while you're using this.

No 3G Model Available: Unlike the iPad or Motorola Xoom, the Asus Eee Pad doesn't come with the option of choosing a 3G/ 4G mobile broadband model. What this means is that you'll need to be near a Wi-Fi hotspot in order to connect to the internet on this tab. Although this makes it cheaper, some people may prefer to have the option of an additional mobile broadband contract if they prefer.

Weight: Although the Asus Eee Pad is still more than light enough to carry around with ease, it's noticeably heavier than other tablets on the market. It's over a pound heavier than the Apple iPad 2, for example. In the world of tablet computers, where devices are primarily held in the hands, this weight does matter and may affect usability.

Conclusion

This really is the only tablet on the market with an accessory that truly has the ability to transform it into a stylish and high performing computer. This is something you'll be able to work on as if you were sitting at your desk with your standard computer, yet still portable and with a long enough battery life to stay away from a power source for the best part of a day. If that's something that appeals to you then you may just forgive the Asus Eee Pad its weight!