Of all the Android-based tablets that have been brought to market this near, none have made any significant progress against the leader, the Apple iPad, except the recently introduced Kindle Fire.

Wisely avoiding a head-to-head competition with the iPad, Amazon chose a smaller form factor and one oriented more to the e-reader market and its needs than to the wider audience that the iPad appeals to.  Yet the Fire is, after all, still an Android-based machine, but with extensive customization of the interface and tight integration with all of Amazon’s products and services. 

Now we have the beginning of estimated sales data, and the data supports the wisdom of Amazon in doing with their new tablet what they did.  A business information services company, HIS says:

“. . .Amazon will ship 3.9 million Kindle Fire tablets during the last three months of 2011, giving the company a 13.8 percent share of tablet shipments in the fourth quarter, beating out the 4.8 percent held by Samsung. Apple is pegged to control 65.6 percent of the market.”

The same data also shows that Barnes and Noble did a good job on their new tablet, the Nook Tablet.  It has established itself solidly behind Samsung in fourth place with around 4% of the market. 

The success of the Fire, specifically, shows the marketing muscle of Amazon, and is a tribute to their design team—as is the Nook Tablet.  The iPad can be taken on, but the most successful firm in doing it did it with a smaller (e-reader-sized) screen and a reduced functionality.  But, more importantly, it also comes in less than half the price of the iPad.  These factors, coupled with Amazon’s loyal customer base and marketing muscle, explain much of their success.

This success story may give other manufacturers some hope, but it also a warning.  Android cannot take on iOS directly.  Their interface is not as polished or consistent, although I hope the newest version, 4.0, will go some distance in closing this gap. 

But close is not good enough in the tablet market.  A price reduction is mandatory for those who aspire to take on Apple.  Look at the failures of Motorola’s Xoom, RIM’s BlackBerry Playbook and HP’s tablet.  Close isn’t enough. 

BlackBerry, similar to HP, has found, perhaps a sweeter spot at $200 than at $500, but it is far from clear that their 7-incher is yet a viable product.  This venerable firm had to take a half-a-billion dollar write-down on their existing inventory this last quarter.  I can’t see how this is good news for anyone but to the guys and gals from Cupertino.

Another piece of good news for those of us who buy this stuff, is that the 7-inch segment of the tablet market may have found its proper place.  At $200, it is viable.  The problem with this is that no one can make and sell a good quality 7-inch tablet at that price.  It is reported by those that follow the accounting statements and finances of Amazon that the Fire costs them a dollar or two more than $200—but they can make up the difference with the sale of all the other stuff they sell.  Samsung, HTC, Motorola, Toshiba and countless others don’t have this luxury.

Perhaps I should exempt Motorola from this category, however, because it is now owned by Google.  It is understood that Google does have aspirations to rival Amazon in the sale of books and other stuff, and they have made moves in that area.  But the Xoom is supposedly an autonomous division of Google, so on their own, the executives of that division could not sell their product for less than it costs to produce it.  Google has some organizational issues to deal with if they want their product to compete in this market.  They may have to adopt the old Gillette strategy of giving away the razor to make their profit on the blades.

Ray Hendon

These are muddled times in the 7-inch tablet computer market. Two of the best known brands, the BlackBerry Playbook and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7, are both due for major upgrades and large price cuts. There is a strong rumor that the Nook Color is due for a major hardware upgrade next month, and then there is the new Amazon Kindle Fire, priced at $199, that is going to shake much from the 7-inch trees when its sales begin next month.

A couple of other major players, Lenovo , whose IdeaPad A1 may be priced as low as $100, and Acer have new models either released or about to be whose pricing is rumored to be quite low. On the opposite end of the scale, HTC has priced their 7-inch Flyer at $500 (reduced in the last few days to $299) and you get the picture of how unsettled things are in this new market.

The 7-inch form factor began about one year ago when Samsung brought out the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 7. It was originally priced at $500, equivalent to prices of a 9.7 or 10.1-inch tablet. This was, in retrospect, a major miscalculation on the part of the Samsung. Their vaunted product sat on the shelves for almost a year before it became apparent that in the tablet world, small screens did not stand a comparison with their larger screen cousins. Price have been in a period of adjustment since their first introduction, and they will continue to drop until some equilibrium is reached and they can sell what they produce at an acceptable level of profit.

On the more positive side, by the time this year’s holiday selling season gets fully underway the pricing of the new and old models will probably be more or less settling down. They most certainly will be lower. And many of the new models will have enhanced performance characteristics. There will probably  be some blowout pricing of the old models (Galaxy Tab 7, Playbook and HTC) for starters.

The oddest development in this market is how many manufacturers are jumping into the fray in spite of the lackluster sales. The large screens, especially the iPad, have taken off, selling in the tens of millions of units, while the slow-selling Tab 7 has sold perhaps 2 million units and the Playbook, introduced much later, may sell one million by the end of the year, if the price falls enough. These are not the numbers most in the industry expected for the small screen tablets.

It is hard to see why the vendors are so anxious to compete for the few dollars being spent on this small form factor. It must be that brighter days ahead are being seen by those who attempt to measure and forecast this market. Most likely the Kindle Fire will ignite interest, but all the other vendors are going to have to scramble for their share.

Below is a brief showing of how today’s 7-inches compare and a similar treatment of what’s coming down the line.

· Samsung Galaxy Tab 7

This tablet set the first standard for the new generation of small screen tablets. It runs Android in a reasonably consistent and smooth touch operation. Its camera is good, it runs Flash, surfs reasonably well and has, for its age, a bright and high resolution screen.

It features an ARM Cortex A8 1 GHz processor. Although somewhat obsolete now when compared with the dual core Tegra 2, it still furnishes a livable surfing and video experience, and app switching is adequate. Screen resolution is OK at 600 x 1024 pixels. It has high speed WiFi and serves as a 3G hotspot for Verizon and AT&T, depending from whom you bought it.

I bought mine for $200 and I have used it for a Verizon hotspot when traveling, do light surfing, much email and more eReading. It’s small size comes in handy when holding it in one hand. I have dropped it more than I would like to admit, and it has survived it all. It is a well-built tablet.

Unfortunately, there is no future for this guy. Its 7-inch replacement has been announced but it not yet available. And, Samsung has anothers replacement at the FCC proving grounds now, and its screen has grown to 7.7-inches with an upgraded processor and higher screen resolution. If it is priced right it will probably do better than its older brother. I would think there will be some blow-out prices for it within a month or so.

· Galaxy Tab Plus

The replacement for the original Galaxy Tab 7 is the Tab 7 plus. Shown at right, the new Tab 7 plus adds some important enhancements.

For starters, it features an up-dated processor, a 1.2Ghz processor (probably a Texas Instruments OMAP), thinner, lighter and with better video and photo. It also can make phone calls and has a fast HSPA+ speeds for data.

· HTC Flyer (AT left)

The processor in HTC’s bright-screen tablet is a 1.5GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon® that runs a 1.5 GHZ—very speedy This is an up-to-date chip, and the graphics and surfing ability of the Flyer are a tribute to a good design. Screen resolution, at 1024×600 TFT, is the same as the Galaxy Tab 7. It also features two cameras, GPS and Android 2.3. Its small screen can also be viewed on a large screen through one of its ports.

The Flyer also features a hand-held pen input. While nice, in some respects, it is not especially functional—it accepts pen input only as a graphic file.

It greatest drawback was its $500 price. But the day after the Kindle Fire was announced, HTC dropped its retail price to $299. Expect further price adjustment before long.

HTC has a good reputation for producing high quality equipment, especially in the smartphone market. But they didn’t factor in the effects of Kindle’s Fire. The fate of the Flyer is uncertain as of now.

• BlackBerry Playbook

The PlayBook is an “almost” tablet. It has an operating system that is almost great, but it needs some honing for stability and for features. If it had a more competent set of email and contact features it would be much better. It was almost a hit, but its high price of $500 scared away buyers in droves.

Recent price reductions will help it find traction, but its fate, too, seems to me to be uncertain.

Its sales have been about a fourth to a fifth of their projections. RIM is cutting the price to the bone in Canada. This will spill over into the American market soon, as will some major upgrades to its software bundle. AT $200 is may be more viable, depending on how it is perceived by its corporate clientele. But Amazon has given them what may end up being a serious body blow.

The poor guys running RIM have been consistently behind the curve on this one, and it is questionable as to whether they can recover. They may end up being a takeover target of some vulture venture. It’s a sad tale—their hardware is great and it was almost a hit. But this isn’t horseshoes

· Acer Iconia Tab A100

Acer Iconia Tab A100, the company’s first 7-inch tablet, and the first 7-inch tablet to run Android 3.2. It features a Tegra 2 dual core processor, a five- and a two-megapixel camera, and micro-USB and micro-HDMI ports. Honeycomb runs without any kind of Acer OS overlay and with no proprietary widgets.

When its price at $329 for the 8GB model and $349 for 16 GB, those can be expected to drop by a hundred or so dollars now that Amazon’s Kindle Fire has been announced for $199.

I do not know if Acer can make money at these prices, but if they can it will be competitive in the tablet space. Good specifications and solid build quality will garner some buyers. How well it will stand up to the Fire, though, is not clear.

Reviews of the A100 are middling, but they were all done before the Fire was announced. The A100 is a competent tablet, but it offers no compelling reason to buy it unless it is priced at, say $149.99. If so, it might stand a chance.

For an Engadget review of the A100, Click Here

Nook Color Reader

Barnes and Noble has already mentioned their new Nook Color. But, its announced price of $249 will not hold now that the Kindle Fire is announced. Whether B&N can compete head to head with Amazon in this space is purely conjectural. I give the edge to Amazon, but B&N has proven to be a fighter, and they actually lead to the development of the 7-inch form factor much ahead of Amazon.

· Toshiba Thrive 7

Toshiba has come up with a good 7-incher in its Thrive. It is light, high resolution, and the reviewer for PC World praised the text resolution.

Although pricing is yet to be announced, it will sell well if they can keep it around the $200–$250 level. Whether Toshiba can do this and make money, though, is not know. Click Here for review.

The current crop of 7-inchers is looking up, but it will be some weeks or more before final pricing is stabilized. While the Kindle Fire has taken the lead in future outlook with its low price, there is going to be some robust competition for the holiday selling season.

Ray Hendon

Within the last year tablet computers have established themselves as an important new form factor in the computer industry. And while what at one time is seen as a trend will later be seen as a mere fad, the tablet will not fall to that fate. I have had an iPad since the first day of its introduction, and I know how it has changed how I use computers, and I do so in ways that would never have occurred to me before it came along.

The table below shows how the tablet computer has affected the use of other devices. Notice the forth category from the right side, eReaders, how 27% of new tablet owners declare they use their old eReader not at all or less. This does not bode well for the electronic ink readers. Losing that much of their audience probably spells their eventual doom. Although over half say the use their eReaders about

the same as they did before, that, too, may change over time as they get used to their new tablets. It is interesting to assess the impact on other devices. Even gaming consoles take quite a hit with about 20% saying they use their consoles less or not at all. Tablets are having an impact on everything that is connected to the internet.

It is estimated that about twenty million Americans will find uses for consumer tablets this year, and the iPad and iPad2 will probably account for 85-90% of them. And the number of new entries into the market by every major player in the industry is a testimony to what professionals in the industry think about this new form factor. The tablet is here to stay.

The chart above shows how dominant the iPad is in today’s market. But, this will change as other manufacturers learn how to make a touch-screen more attractive. Apple has a multi-year head start on everyone else, so it isn’t going to be easy to catch up. But, the rewards are so great, there is a great incentive to do so, and they are not sparing their budgets in the process.

A year has passed now since the iPad’s introduction, and the form factor seems to be settling down to two primary sizes. The dominant form is the large, 9-10-inch screens, but the small 7-8-inch screens also have appeal to some users.

This small/large division will continue, with both sizes having their own adherents. It’s a natural division, given the weight and cumbersomeness of the larger screen devices, and the inconvenience of the smaller screens for some tasks.

From my personal experience, being an early adopter of the larger size, I appreciate its strengths and suffer with its weaknesses. If it isn’t practical to have both sizes then the first choice needs to be right. This article is aimed at the process of choice, and I hope it will help those who are trying to decide between the two sizes make a better decision. As with most things there is no one “correct” answer; it depends on your uses and your budget as to which way you should go.

This first article examines the 7-inch form factor, of which there are only a few entries for now. But, I expect this to grow as the industry matures. The second article will be on the larger screens–those that run from 8.6 to 10.1 inches– which is today the preference for most users. The number of new larger screen devices is changing almost daily. There may be half a dozen new models introduced before the end of the year, so everything written today will be obsolete by December.

7-Inch Tablets

Within the 7-inch category there are low-end and high-end prices, with no single seller having an entry into both segments of the market. The machines at the low-end of the feature set are severely reduced both the build quality and functionality. Prices range roughly between $200 and $300 in this segment of the market. The low-end will not be covered in this piece. Most fail to make a case for themselves as a full functioning tablet, with the exception of the Nook Color which is covered below.

The high end prices, with full feature sets, run from $300 to $700–depending on WiFi and 3/G options and discounts if you contract for 3G services.

There are four devices in the 7-inch category on the market today that are potential competitors with the iPad in quality and features, and a new entry that looks promising, the HTC Flyer will be available later in the month. I include a brief on this device below. HTC’s experience in producing excellent devices is cause for optimism to me for this form factor.

1. The Samsung Galaxy Tab is the first of the full-featured 7-inch tablets. It is the clear leader in sales for now, but, in my view, has a strong probability of being phased out before the end of the year. I have no specific knowledge of this potential, but in a fast-paced industry, one cannot stick with an original for long. Apple updated the iPad is just about one year, and it was needed. The same is true for the Galaxy Tab.

Its price has dropped recently from over $600 when it was introduced to $350 today. At $350 it is a competitive device; at $600 it was not.

The quality of the Galaxy Tab build is apparent, and its feature set is impressive. Its main problem is the older version of Android that powers it. Samsung did all it could to make the older version of Android look appealing.  I recently made another trip to my favorite retailer to reacquaint myself with this tablet.  I found the experience rewarding.  The screen is bright, and its speed is fine.   It is a good machine, laden with features, and it remains a strong contender in the 7-inch category.

A WiFi-only version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab recently hit the market, and while it looks virtually identical to the 3G model which was launched last year, it turns out there are a few key differences under the hood. Samsung isn’t really publicizing these changes, but users have discovered at least three things (aside from the lack of 3G) which set the WiFi tablet apart from the original:

Instead of a 1 GHz Samsung Hummingbird processor, the tablet uses a different 1 GHz ARM Cortex A chip, that provides similar overall performance. There is a change in the graphics abilities of the WiFi-only versions, too. The new model cannot handle 1080p video. And lastly, the new model has Bluetooth 2.1 instead of Bluetooth 3.0.

The rest of the specs for the new WiFi model match the 3G model. Both tablets feature 7 inch, 600 x 1024 pixel capacitive touchscreen displays, 16GB of storage, 3MP cameras, and Google Android 2.2.

There is a good comparison of the Galaxy Tab and some of the other small-screen tablets. Clcik here for the review

2.  BlackBerry’s PlayBook is also of high quality construction, innovative in design and high performance in operation. But, it is so new that there are bugs and omissions to be accounted for before it becomes a fit competitor. While it may be the star of tomorrow, it is the crazy uncle at a family gathering for now. But it wows in speed and beauty of display. Once all the kinks are ironed out of this machine, it is going to be fabulous. The first version will be a bumpy ride, however. Version 2 should be smoother and more competent. Were I in the market for a 7-inch tablet, this would be my first choice because of its potential as the leader of the future. But I would be apprehensive about the quirks inherent in the first production run.

Its new operating system, QNX, shows much promise. I used one a couple of weeks ago and was impressed with its looks and operation. The screen was brilliant and the icon interface was excellent. It was fast, easy to get used to, although I must confess I was used to the Palm OS’s swiping motions from using my wife’s Pixi. But combining the general touch features of the iPad with the more advanced card metaphor of Palm is a great feature. I think it will be emulated by others, probably including the new WebOS system HP will be bringing to market soon. Its internet operation was exceptionally fast, and it is the only 7-inch screen I have tested that can stand shoulder to shoulder with an iPad in brightness and speed.

Although I am optimistic that RIM will correct the ragged operations, this is an assumption, and there are risks– RIM may fail in its implementation. Although the PlayBook is vital to RIMs success in the future, it doesn’t guarantee they will succeed. It has yet to be seen that they are up to the task they face. I love it, and I am afraid of it at the same time.

For a thorough hands-on review from ReadWriteWeb, Click Here.

3. The 7-inch model of the Dell Streak is not serious as a head to head competitor to the iPad or any other of the machines discussed here. It screen resolution is poor and general implementation is weak. It’s a little more than a cell phone, and a little less than a serious 7-inch tablet. At a $378 (Amazon price) for a WiFi-only model, it is a little pricey considering the Nook Color is a more competent device, if you can do without the cell phone feature.

4. Barnes and Nobel’s Nook Color may, to some, be an inappropriate inclusion in the class of tablets, but I maintain it is properly placed. It runs Android on an ARM processor, although a little slower than other designs, and its operation is well thought out and smooth. It is entirely capable as a browser and internet device, and there are apps for it that are beginning to appear. Although it was designed primarily as an eReading device, recent up-grades by B&N have brought it up to a competitive position relative to other 7-inch Android tablets. For $249 it is in my view the best deal for the money, and I would buy it over any of the cheaper devices in its price range. For a review of the Nook Color Click Here

5. HTC Flyer Android Tablet is scheduled to arrive on dealer shelves on May 22. There are two things going for it: It is designed by HTC, and this innovative firm has proven competent designers in the smartphone market. The specifications look great, and I was hoping a review would be out before publishing his piece, but it will probably be a week or so away.

The specifications of this new tablet are:

1.5 GHz single core ARM chip, aluminum unibody with 32GB storage memory and 1 GB RAM, two cameras, microSD storage and USB 2.0, plus high speed WiFi and 3G options and Bluetooth 3.0. Add to this list a pen/stylus input for writing on screen, and you get the makings of a fine 7-inch system. Recent press inquiries reveals that the pen that can be used for input will not come standard with the unit. $80 is Best Buy’s price for the pen. For a review of the specs by Engadget (not hands-on) Click Here.

This site also has a hands-on video.

In addition to the HTC Flyer there are two other 7-inch Android units slated for introduction within a few weeks. There is a new BeBook Live which will retail for $279—shown below, left.   Acer has scheduled its 7-inch tablet the Iconia 100 for the third quarter of this year—shown at right below.

I think it is safe to say that we will see a tremendous advancement in the user interfaces of these new devices as the market matures. The tablets have been something of a revolution, and the 7-inch category is probably more revolutionary than the 10-inch screens. It has not proven to be a big seller yet, however. Two or three of the new entrants may well change that situation and give those who prefer the smaller footprint and lighter weight of a 7-inch form factor a reason to go shopping.

If you are thinking about a 7-inch tablet, follow two rules in deciding on the form factor itself as well as a specific brand:

• Determine the tasks that you think will dominate your use of a tablet.  This will not be easy, since the convenience and capability of a tablet will open new uses to you that cannot be pre-determined.  Nevertheless, assess your needs as clearly as possible.
• Now, choose a couple of brands to check out, and find demonstration units of these brands that will allow you to handle them for a half an hour or so.  Use the demo unit for what you think you will want to do most on the 7-inch device and then check with yourself to see if the screen size is suitable.  If your use is email and web surfing, spend you time doing those things.  You will soon discover whether you are comfortable with that screen size or not.

Once you have checked out the suitability, remember that the smaller form factor is much more convenient to carry with you.  Large-screen tablets weigh well over a pound and are too large to fit on your person.  This demands that you get a special carrying case for them and it adds to the hassle of using it.  I bought mine for convenience, and a heavy, bulky mass is never convenient.

For my use, I find the iPad 2 to be convenient around the house or in a motel room.  But it is not convenient to carry, and its lack of any meaningful input device means I must carry it in addition to my ultraportable when travelling.  A 7-incher would be much better for this use, and two or three of those reviewed in this piece provide a rewarding experience because of their brightness and swiftness in execution.

Samsung has revealed two new tablets at the CTIA show in Orlando.  The Korean electronics giant has slimmed down their original 10.1-inch tablet to 8.6 millimeters, a full .2 millimeters thinner than the iPad 2, and they are doing to same to their 8.9-inch model.  The 10.1-inch model is the Galaxy Tab 10.1. 

The 10.1-inch model, is shown above.  The Galaxy Tab 8.9, is shown below:

Recall their initial entry into the tablet market last last year with the Galaxy Tab which was a 7-inch model.  It was introduced with great fanfare, but its sales have not lived up to the early hype.  It is apparent that they are still betting big on this new form factor of tablets but this time with larger screens.

A 10.1-inch screen is more in the mainstream of new devices hitting the market, but an 8.9-inch model strikes me as an oddity.  That said, however, it may be the in-betweener that wins them some market share.  A 10.1-inch screen has to weigh comparatively heavy, and it is possible that the 8.9-inch version will shed just enough heft to gain traction.

My take is from toting a 1.5lb iPad around, and as much as I love it, it is heavy—too heavy to hold with one hand for a long time.  This limits my use of the 9.7-inch device.  8.9-inches with a slimmer design may just be the sweet spot for tablet users.

The specifications of the two new models is much like the smaller 7-inch model– A dual core Tegra 2 running at 1GHz.  Screen resolution is 1280 X 800—quite good, especially on the smaller 8.9-inch screen.  Both have two cameras and both sport a proprietary user interface, TouchWiz 4.0, that runs on top of Android 3.0.

Samsung says the two new tablets will be sold in the U.S. by summer.  This is not surprising since it was revealed by Engadget that the Tab 8.9 shown at Orlando was a dummy mockup.

There is a useful video on the Tab 10.1 (the only working model) shown at CTIA.

As for eReader capability, being an Adroid device, all the major eReader software (Kindle, Nook and Sony) will work on it.

PCWorld has a good summary and review of four recent tablet competitors of the iPad.  Click here for full article.

Here are some pictures of the reviewed devices:

The Archos 7-inch is right side.

While reading the article remember that PCWorld lives off of advertising revenue, so they can condemn only with faint praise.  But the author, Brian Nadel, does a good job of listing the features and specs of each device. The Archos 10-inch is on the left.

He also used each of the devices for some time, so it is not a review based only on specifications.  This may help those who are still on the fence of what to buy.

The ViewSonic is to the right and the Galaxy Tab below.

The Galaxy Tab is available through the four major cell phone networks at a discount with a 3G contract for data services.

Ray Hendon

Nov 10, 2010

The Galaxy Tab is now for sale at T-Mobile stores, and I was there early this morning to get some hands-on time with it.

My first impression when handed the Tab was how small and compact it was when compared with the iPad.  It is small enough to be held in one hand, and it will fit in a back pocket or purse, but the idea of having it in my back pocket was immediately nixed by my practical self—if you carry it, a case or cover will be needed.

The build quality was what I expected from Samsung—it weighs .8lbs and felt solid in my hands.  The screen looks great—high resolution for pictures that exceeds the quality of an iPad or most computer screens.  A video from YouTube looked wonderfully crisp and clear in high definition.  The Snapdragon processor does its job with dispatch.

Touch operations and screen adjustments to orientation are fast and seamless, and scrolling, even with the protective plastic sheet in place on the screen, is sensitive.

I tried a few applications.  A Kindle reader comes installed.  I established a WiFi connection, logged on to my Amazon account and immediately downloaded one of the books in my library.  It was quick, and the book went immediately to the last page I had read.  Good implementation by Amazon.  I am confident that Nook  and Kobo will have their own apps available for it soon.

The only downside I detected with the Kindle reader was that in landscape mode the screen shows only one column for the page.  That makes the lines too long to read comfortably on the Tab, so for now, until Amazon addresses this inconvenience, it is best to hold it in the portrait mode for reading.

Amazon made this same mistake on their Android app, but it was fixed a month or so ago, and now it is my favorite eReading app on my Droid.  I expect this to be addressed with an update, soon.

Another minus on the reader, however, is that I didn’t find the brightness and font adjustment controls for the time I had it.  They are probably there, somewhere, but they are not in the same place they are for other Android devices.

There are a host of built in applications: calendar, contacts, maps,weather, etc.  I counted about 20 built in apps.  When I looked at the Android Market, there were more ready for download, but there were not the tens of thousands one finds on Android Smartphones.  But, this will be addressed as soon as Android 3.0 is released.  The current version on the Tab is 2.2.

The screen size is, to me, ok for what I do on this kind of device, at least for  most of the time.  While it is does not have as much real-estate available as the iPad, with its 9.56-inch screen, I found it entirely acceptable for everything but extended surfing.  The browser on the Tab is detected as a mobile device, and this cuts the graphics presentations out of view, with a few, small exceptions.

This is a serious demerit for my use, and I did not enjoy the general surfing experience as much as I do on the iPad.  There may be some work-arounds for the problem,  but even if there are, a 7-inch screen can’t show as much as a 10-inch, so there will be some sideways scrolling  to endure for many web sites.  I will have to give this problem  some more time to investigate before concluding anything definitive about the suitability of surfing with the Tab.

The WiFi connectivity is hale and hearty. The T-Mobile store does not  provide a WiFi signal, but the salesperson got an HTC Android phone into the hotspot mode and I was able to use it for surfing on the Tab.  Speed was excellent—YouTube HD videos played well.

The version of the Tab I was using also has the 4G receiving capability for T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network, but I couldn’t check it out since the personnel at the store did not know the password for this service.  I don’t think they were entirely ready for the Tab.

The Tab is sold at T-Mobile with the requirement of a two year contract for data services if you want it at a reduced price.  The salesperson said $40 a month for data, but I asked about smaller data plans and they found a 250 MByte plan for $24 a month.  You can also get it in a prepaid, no-contract account, but you pay $200 more for the device.  To me, $599 is too expensive for this gadget.

The on-screen keyboard is better than a smartphone but not as large as the iPad’s.  But, I found it ok for doing small things.  If serious typing is required, an external keyboard will be available before long.

Samsung has promised a WiFi version only, and I think that would be a good addition.  They haven’t set a price, however, so we must wait for this promise to mature.

The bottom line for the Galaxy Tab is that it probably will give the iPad a serious run, but perhaps not right away.  The biggest limitation for it now is the lack of apps.  Some of the tens of thousands of apps available for Android Smartphones have been blown up for a 7-inch screen, but only a handful.  Until Android 3.0 is released, it is going to be slim pickings for apps, and apps are a huge part of the usability of any tablet device.

Perhaps by mid 2011 the Tab will be closer to par with the iPad, but that is yet to be seen.  All the flash playing, front and rear facing cameras and other features of the Tab will attract some users, but in my view, to be fully competitive the browser issue and deficit in apps needs to be addressed before that happens.

The Galaxy Tab will be in T-Mobile locations on November 10th and Sprint and Verizon a few days later.  The two videos below offer a good look at what using a Tab will be like, so you might want to review them before visiting your favorite cell phone dealer.

The first video was taken at the electronics show in Berlin, and it was strictly a one handed-demo since the demonstrator was holding a camera in the other hand.  But, he still does a good job of showing some of the features of this newest of the new tablet gizmo.

The CNet video is informative and a more controlled demo. It was done a short while ago in the offices of CNet and is about the same length as the one above.

Pricing seems to be settling out on the Tab:  $700 for unsubsidized model, and $399 at both Sprint and T-Mobile with their data plans.

I haven’t seen a WiFi-only version, but that would be my preference.  I use the iPad as WiFi only, and it is fine for the way I use it.  When travelling, I can use the hotspot feature on my wife’s Palm Pixie.  Also, the Tab has a USB port, so it could also be tethered to a smartphone that allows it.

All the major carriers offer a small WiFi hotspot device, usually between $50 and $100 with a contract for service.  I actually prefer this type of arrangement, since a portable hotspot can be used for you laptop or other mobile device as well as a tablet.  The built in 3G cannot be shared.

An even more important benefit of a stand-alone hotspot is that you can get 4G on the Sprint hotspot card, if you live in an areas served by their WiMax 4G system.

For now, the push by Samsung is through the wireless carriers, but I expect to see a WiFi-only version out soon.

The Tab comes with the Kindle Reader software installed.

Mark Sullivan, writing for PC World (Click here for the full article) compares the iPad and Galaxy Tab.

He first notes the substantial differences in size of the two devices:  the iPad weighs in at 1.5 lbs and the Galaxy at .8 lbs.  The Galaxy is also much smaller in physical dimensions than the iPad.

This difference in portability and carrying comfort separate the two competitors quite clearly.  Notice the picture below of a Galaxy Tab being held in one hand. Try doing that with an iPad. Below that picture are comparison photos side-by-side.

Mr. Sullivan also notes that the iPad is too heavy to be held for long when reading in bed—the precise experience that told me to use my Kindle when using it in that manner.

More plusses for the Galaxy are the two cameras, one facing front and one facing and rear, and the ability to play flash videos.

On the negative side the Galaxy is slated to be sold initially through wireless carriers.  This entails a two-year contract for a reduced price—not a welcome expense for many users.  Although Samsung promises a WiFi model soon, it will be  a downside for Samsung until it is available for sale.

It should be noted that this review is not hands-on.  As far as I know, Samsung has not released a production version for review.  So, we must take what we can get at this time.

I look forward to getting my hands on one as soon as they hit a wireless store in Lake Charles—not that I need another cell phone contract. But I will spend some quality time with it in the store.

I will be more interested in buying one when the WiFi model is introduced.  I suspect that Samsung will be selling it through more conventional retail chains—Best Buy, Radio Shack, etc..

Having tired the 7-inch screen on another device I found that the internet on this size screen was ok, but just ok. The iPad would be much more preferable for surfing.  The extra mobility of the smaller Galaxy, though, could make it more palatable for short surfing and email.

A seven inch screen is more than adequate for eReading .  Kindle, Sony and Nook readers have models with six-inch screens.  This helps keep the weight and size down to manageable levels.

In the interest of full disclosure, I own an iPad, and I am quite fond of it–using it every day, mostly around the house.  But I confess that the Galaxy Tab, with its superior portability, is appealing.

I have a feeling that the constraint imposed by the contract terms of wireless carriers will limit the Galaxy’s popularity until the WiFi version is released.  But, I have no doubt that Samsung has come up with an appealing new device and is a serious contender against the present hegemony of the iPad.
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The eyes of gadgeteers were turned to Berlin last week as IFA put on its 50th show. A trade show in all things electronic, it was Europe’s turn to spotlight the latest gadgets that will be coming to market soon.

The main play this year was in the tablet domain, inspired, of course, by the raging success of the iPad. Since its April appearance manufacturers are lusting to join this new market, and, in their own way, help define it.

As expected, Asian manufacturers, Samsung and Toshiba, seem to lead the charge with high quality products. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab (7” version) was officially introduced at the show, and its reception has been positive by those who write on this subject. The Toshiba Folio 100 was also introduced at the show although not quite ready to be released. What was seen of it was impressive.

Both of the Asian machines will run Android 2.2 operating system. But, each firm has chosen a different variant of the ARM CPU to power its operations: Samsung elected the Cortex version of the ARM A8, a proprietary design of Qualcomm which runs at 1 GHz. It is reputed to handle graphics well, and 1080p quality is supported.

For a review of the Samsung Galaxy Tablet by Endgadget, Follow this link

Toshiba’s Folio 100 has a 10 inch screen and a much faster and more capable CPU.  A dual core version of an ARM 9 that Nvidia has modified with some serious graphics capabilities and with advanced multi-processor control. that they call the Tegra 2. It runs at 1.66GHz and is a real screamer.

At the moment, Toshiba’s entry will be the first to deploy this third generation chip. Early test on a smartphone running the Tegra 2 saw an increase in execution speed over second generation designs by a factor of 3!

For a brief review of the Toshiba Folio 100, follow this link.

ViewSonic, an American firm, had a booth in Berlin, showing its ViewPad 100. It is the only tablet running Windows 7, and it definitely is the only tablet that is capable of a dual boot: Windows 7 or Android 1.6. It seems strange to include an older, less capable version of Android. I haven’t read of their rationale in configuring their tablet in this manner—more research is necessary to uncover whatever the benefits might be.

The CPU of this device also brakes with almost all the other tablet manufacturers by using Intel’s Atom N455 processor. This is a single core processor, but it does not do high performance graphics well. It does reduce power consumption by 20% according to Intel.

For an Endgadget review of the ViewSonic ViewPad 100, follow this link.

Archos, a French firm, introduced the Archos Iablet 7, which is reported to be a capable machine—another Cortex A8 running Android 2.2, but with the most limited graphics of 800X480 and 720p qualify video. It does have an HDMI output and accepts SD cards to expand available memory.

Engadget reviewed an Archos 7” screen here. The tablet is the same, but Archos hadn’t settled on the formal name for their new device when this review was published.

Aside from tablets, there is also interest in the new netbooks with  dual core Atom processors that are just now coming to market. The HP Mini 5103 was shown at IFA. This is the next generation netbook: thinner, longer batter life, better keyboards and, now, upgraded dual-core processors and touch control screens.

The 5103 employs a dual core Atom N550 that runs at 1.66 GHz.  You can also get a single core Atom N455 at 1.83GHz. The touch screen model comes in at 2.8lbs. HP claims a six hour battery for their new entry.

Liliputing has a review of the HP Mini 5103 here.

Asus’s Eee PC 1215N (pictured below) has a dual core Atom N525 coupled with a new iteration of an Nvidia graphics chip. This chip doesn’t run when not doing graphics, so it is a battery saver as well as a great GPU. This allows longer battery life, up to 10 hours according to Asus. It also has a 12” display and comes in at just over 3 lbs. 1366X768 screen resolution and USB 3.0. The screen size of the 1215 would normally put it beyond the definition of a netbook, but Asus is labeling it that way..

Liliputing has a review of the Asus Eee PC 1215N here.

My guess is that by Christmas, we will see all of the models reviewed here and many others, on dealer shelves. The netbooks are giving up to the tablet computers.  They are fighting back with enhanced capacity and abilities. We will probably see this form factor for a long time to come.

PC World has done us all a favor by packaging all the relevant specs of the iPad and the Galaxy Tab into a comparison matrix.   The tale is shown below.

It appears that Samsung has a real rival to the iPad, not only from the specs but also from some of the early reviews of the device.  If Verizon is the first mobile phone vendor to offer the Galaxy Tab, that would be a win for those who need 3G coverage.  AT&T’s coverage is notoriously horrid, and from my experience in recent travels in some remote corners of the U.S., Verizon 3G is a vast improvement.

Also, the Galaxy Tab will have a built in smartphone, although it would have to be used with a bluetooth device to be practical.

Rumors have it that Samsung will also introduce a 10” screen later this year, and this would make for a better, toe to toe comparison.

For the full review of the Galaxy Tab, follow this link.

I am anxious to see how the eReader looks on the Galaxy, too.  They have one, or two eReaders, depending on who was speculating, but being Android 2.2, it will have the Kindle Reader and the Nook Reader software available for download.  The seven inch screen is close enough to the Kindle and Nook native formats.