With the tech world staking their futures on new form factor tablet computing we thought we would give you a low-down of what's hot and what’s not in the world of tablet computing - all of these tablets should be available by Christmas. Apart from the iPad which of course is available already.
Apple iPad
First of all we have Apple's ubiquitous iPad - many will see the iPad as a giant iPhone, this is of course true, but for us this is what makes it great. The iPhone is an amazing phone and it's only let down is the tiny screen, make it bigger and you're on to winner. Well, 6 months ago Apple did that and is now selling a million a month.
Reading e-Books through Apple's iBooks app is snappy and comfortable. The backlit LCD screen, while less natural-feeling than a paper tome, is still enjoyable enough to spend an hour or two flicking pages, playing the myriad of games or indulging in many other pass times via the App Store.
Likewise, its e-mail and web browsing abilities offer a luxurious experience compared to the cramped confines of the iPhone. Apple's new pop-over menus make the iPad's apps feel almost like desktop equivalents, with menus and inboxes appearing as layers over e-mails and webpages underneath.
It's a comfortable way to skip through messages and websites, and one that easily out-classes the fiddly keyboards and dinky trackpads of the iPad's netbook competition.
Shortcoming are a plenty though – lack of office applications that rival Microsoft’s office are lacking – you can be productive with the iPad, just not as much as you can with fully-fledged laptop.
Web browsing in particular is very close to perfect. Apple's roomy 9.7 inch screen lets you swoop and zoom, as well as read lengthy passages without squinting. When rendering web pages, the iPad is as quick as our current-generation MacBook Pro, but don't be misled. There are flaws, serious flaws, lurking underneath the iPad’s slinky shell. The lack of Flash support, some websites still don't work a 100% of the time especially if there are scrolling sub menus and drop boxes. But we can forgive this - the iPad is the probably the most accomplished tablet, and with a bulletproof App Store for you to explore the iPad will become your new best friend.
Price: 16GB £429.00, 32GB £499.00, 64GB £599.00
Release: Out now
Buy Now:
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Samsung's Galaxy Tablet
Samsung's Galaxy Tablet is already being talked about as an operator-friendly alternative to Apple's iPad. The 7-inch form-factor is more portable than the iPad and runs the Google alternative operating system Android. It will come in two flavours 16GB and 32GB and Samsung announced 200 apps on launch. No pricing details are available but don’t expext much change from £500.
In a nutshell, the Galaxy Tab is smaller and lighter. It has the same speed processor but twice the RAM. Like the iPad, the Galaxy Tab comes with different options for internal storage. It also, however, supports up to 32GB of expandable storage; Apple’s device is limited to the internal space only.
The Galaxy Tab has two cameras — a rear-facing 3.2-megapixel camera and a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chatting — while the current models of the iPad have none. Samsung claims up to 7 hours of video playback for the Galaxy Tab; Apple says its iPad can last up to 10 hours.
Price: 16GB £616.88 via Clove.co.uk
Release: Early October
Toshiba Folio
Toshiba has announced their foray into the Tablet world with their compelling software full Folio, which runs on Android. The tablet has a 10.1-inch, diagonal screen with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. Folio runs on version 2.2 of Google's Android operating system.
The Toshiba tablet comes with a plethora of pre-installed apps to make it the most productive tablet without having to shell load of cash on Apps. The full list of app has yet to be announced but expect to see some office apps, making it more a laptop than Internet reader.
The fact that Toshiba used Android 2.2 is important because the Folio will be able to run Adobe Flash, a ubiquitous Web technology for playing video. That's a key advantage over the iPad, which along with the iPhone can't play Flash video. The Folio is equipped with DNLA, SD card slot, and HDMI and USB 2.0 connectors. The device supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless, with a 3G model scheduled for the near future, according to Toshiba.
Price £329
Release TBA
Veiwsonic also announced a tablet which features Windows 7 as well Android, but there is a compromise you can only run Android 1.6, which is already considered several steps outdated. This is because it's the most recent version that supports the x86 processor on the tablet, which is required for Windows 7. Not the worst compromise, but still a compromise. The rest of the specs are typical netbook-level stuff: Intel Atom N455 processor, 1GB memory, 16GB SSD, 1024×600 10"³ LCD.
Price: TBA
Release: TBA
Windows Archos 9 Tablet
The ARCHOS has internet tablets in both Windows and Android flavours, which will be out in time for Christmas. with a large, high-resolution 10.1'' screen, a weight of 480 g, and a thinness of just 12 mm. Beyond containing your window into the Internet and your HD multimedia. With the adjustable leg stand, it will always have the best position to tap out your emails, view a movie or enjoy the photo frame application.
We especially like the sound of their Windows Archos 9 Tablet – the thin and sleek slate pc displays a 9″ wide, matte--finish touch screen with High Definition video. With Windows 7 and a 60 GB hard drive, you can install your favorite software. All of these features come in one 29 oz device. Slip your tablet pc in your purse or bag. The ergonomic shape is only .67 inches thick. The latest processor ensures fast performance with a 1.2GHz Intel Atom Z515 CPU.
It comes with a built--in webcam, Wi--Fi, stereo speakers, and a microphone which you can us on your favorite video chat service from anywhere you have a wireless internet connection. It’s a full office and entertainment center. The Archos 9 comes pre--loaded with Lotus Symphony to easily create and edit your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Multi--task and run multiple applications simultaneously in Windows 7.
This pc tablet also features Bluetooth connectivity. You can connect your Bluetooth keyboard to your ARCHOS 9 and be productive wherever you are.
Price: US $429.99
Release: Out now
If your planning to purchase a tablet you need to be sure that the right tablet is right for you needs – if you want something more akin to a smartphone you can’t go wrong with either a Apple or one of the many Android variations. But if your looking for something that is more similar to a notebook or laptop you should choose either dual-booting Android or Windows – but the downside of the Windows based tablets are that they aren’t specifically designed for tablets and the user interface is just a little clunky for our liking. And they just aren’t as cool – fine for a business user but maybe unforgivable for someone who’s looking to make a statement.