Apple iPad, Tablet, Hybrid, Laptop, Netbook, or Notebook?

An impressive range but which is right for you?

I have always been impressed with the Apple iPad, Tablets and countless other versions put out by the vast spectrum of computer manufactures. There is very much something for everyone, but it is important that you the prospective buyer understands the differences and chooses wisely.

Apple iPad, Tablets:

The iPad and Tablet are very much in a class of their own. A great idea for many, but if you need something that is a little more perky and versatile then there are plenty of options available for you. The main attraction of these is in being compact, light weight, and having a relatively long battery life. On the other hand they have limited hard drive storage with a current maximum of only 64 Gig. These are fine for "Surfing the Net," sending and receiving emails and playing around with a plethora of boutique programs.

The small 64 Gig hard drive renders devices of this nature useless for me in my line of work. To give you some idea, storage of a 1 hour 30 min MP4 movie takes up about 5 Gigabytes alone, while my basic essential programs on my desktop take up just over 85 Gig. If your heart is set on an iPad or Tablet then ensure it has both a USB port and a HDMI socket of some description. These will come in handy, particularly if you plan to take your device with you on your travels. The bigger the hard drive the better. For me a USB port is essential. Prices range from as little as $250.00 up to $1,200.00 AUD/USD.

The Apple iPad 3 at a glance:

Aside from an "Over Charging" issue, I can only recommend a personal appraisal before finalising any purchase, especially if you are considering an iPad or one of the vast arrays of Tablets. Again the new Apple iPad 3 has a limited hard drive 64Gig and no native USB or Video output socket. It does however come with a USB to Apple Dock connector cable, and boasts of battery life of up to 10 hours on a single charge. Do not hesitate to ask questions, It is important to get the details on the iPad 3 charging issue, and more importanly what is being done to address it.

Transformer hybrid tablet with keyboard docking station:

These consist of a tablet with a keyboard docking station. A good idea but the brands I looked at all had one major problem, they were clumsy to use, and in short the "Tablet" component was continually falling off the docking station mount rendering them close to useless for any practical application. Prices range anywhere from $500.00 to $1,500.00 USD/AUD. All those that I have looked at are far too fiddly for my liking.

Laptops:

Nowadays these are quite good value for money, with relatively large hard drive capacity, long battery life, and many now faster and more powerful than some home PC's. These are a great option to have if you do not intend buying a dedicated desktop PC for your everyday home or business use. Prices range anywhere from $600.00 to $3,400.00 USD/AUD depending on your needs. My only concern is that some of these tend to overheat when left on for a while; it is well worth enquiring about that aspect before making any purchasing.

Notebooks and Netbooks:

These are little gems, small, and compact usually with a 10 inch screen, decent hard drives ranging from 120Gig to 500Gig, what sets them apart from the rest is their massive power to weight ratio. Apple iPads and Tablets are very close to the same size and weight, but the added advantage of between 2 to 3 USB Ports puts them way in front. Almost all have a video output of some description, and usually a HDMI Socket. What really surprises me is speed and power of these tiny devices. Although in a slightly different category to the iPads and Tablets, I believe that they are a much better buy than their iPad, and Tablet, counterparts. Prices range from as little as $300.00 up to $1,500.00 USD/AUD.

Specifications Common to Laptops, Netbooks, Notebooks and Hybrids Hardware:

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Hard drive 250 Gig plus, 2 to 4 Gig RAM Plus, USB, HDMI, SD Card slot.

Software:

There are an impressive range of "Operating Systems" depending on what type of device you purchase. One that has caught my attention is the OEM "Windows 7 Starter." This is a little ripper and there is no reason why you shouldn't be content with it as your dedicated Operating System, There are two main restrictions between this and Windows 7 Home, one being that you cannot change the desktop background, The other being that the program is 32 bit and as a result will only read up to a little over 2 Gigabytes of RAM.

Pros:

Small, light, and compact with a long battery life. Wifi is a great asset if you can get that option.

Cons:

Tablets and iPads generally have a small hard drives of 64 Gig or less. The absence of a native USB port on the Ipad is enough to put me off ever purchasing anything from that range.

Conclusion:

Everyone has different needs. There is something for everyone, with plenty of brands, styles and prices to choose from. USB and a HDMI port's are important as is a decent hard drive capacity greater than 120 Gigabytes. Choose carefully, and don't be afraid to ask questions. If you are buying direct from a retailer then there is usually plenty of room to haggle. Retailers will be well aware that you can get a better deal by going online and are usually prepared to fight hard to get your business.

Article by: Brendan Mckenna - Outstanding

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Copyright: Brendan Mckenna 21 March 2012 Warrnambool Australia

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Dell Tablet

Dell has launched the new Latitude ST, expanding its tablet range. The company claims to customise the tablet to the specific business or end user needs with certified applications and professional services. This ensures a safe and secure computing environment using Trusted Platform Module and Flexible Dell Data Protection. For example, the device is certified to be used in Dell's Connected Classroom solution for students, while to make it useful for healthcare professionals it is certified for the company's Electronic Medical Records and Mobile Clinical Computing solutions. On the hardware front, the tablet features a 10.1" capacitive multi-touch display and is powered by a 1.5 GHz Intel Atom Z670 processor with 2 GB RAM and up to 32 GB SSD (upgradable to 64 \ 128 GB). A 5.0 MP 720p rear camera along with 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity allows for Skype video conferencing, although we haven't figured out how you can do so with a camera that faces away from the display. The tablet comes with a stylus for writing, TV connectivity, photo sharing, network printing and optional docking station. It runs on Microsoft Windows 7 and claims to have a battery life of up to 6 hours using the 4-cell battery. The Dell Latitude ST is available for Rs 36,000 (plus local taxes as applicable), with a 1 year Next Business Day warranty. You can upgrade the memory to 3 GB by paying Rs 3000 (plus taxes) extra, while the docking station can be bought separately for Rs 8000.

When asked, a spokesperson told us that "there is a commitment on supportability with Win 8 [for Latitude ST] in future." Windows 8 compatibility was reported earlier too, during the time when Dell had announced the tablet.. so we expect a Windows 8 upgrade for this tablet when Windows 8 reaches retail shelves, although we aren't sure if the upgrade's going to be free-of-cost.

he new Windows 7 enterprise tablet by Dell has arrived on Indian shores. Latitude ST is powered by Intel Atom Z670 single-cored processor, 2 gigs RAM, SSD storage (from 32GB to 128GB SSD), and to the expectations it features some integration for enterprise ecosystem. Latitude ST has 10.1 inch capacitive touchscreen display layered on with Corning Gorilla Glass. It comes with a stylus aswell. Along with Docking Station, it has 3xUSB 2.0, one LAN, HDMI and audio out ports. For mobile connectivity, it holds WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and HSPA+ mini card. More specs - SD card reader, front facing camera capable of streaming at 720p, 5MP rear cam and A-GPS. Head over here for detailed specs.

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Five Helpful Tips for Dealing With Your Android Tablet Apps

Today, Android tablets have become an alternative to heavier, thicker notebook computers or netbooks. Armed with the Android Operating System, these tablets offer you many helpful and interesting applications for easier computing. However, some applications may not perform as expected and may cause you some disappointment. Here are some tips and tricks to deal with your Android tablet applications.

1. Operate GPS without Internet connectivity

You normally need to be connected to the Internet to activate the GPS services on most Android tablets. While some tablets may support offline Google Maps, Mapquest, or other mapping applications, some other tablets simply don't permit this. For this, you will need to download and cache all the expected map routes that you need before you break the Wi-Fi connection. One of the recommended applications that does this is Locus Free, which enables you to access cached GPS navigation and map zooming.

2. Accessing websites in their normal appearance

Since Android is a descendant of a handset-based Operating System, you might find that some websites may recognize your tablet as a handset device and display the content as a reduced mobile version instead of in its normal form. The content, of course, may not look very good on your 10-inch screen. This problem can be solved by changing your Browser setting. Pick 'Advanced' settings and change the 'User agent string' to be desktop or tablet so that the websites no longer identify your tablet as a mobile device.

3. Syncing bookmarks with your desktop

If your tablet uses Android Honeycomb and Google Chrome as your website browser, you will not need additional applications such as Xmarks for syncing your bookmarks. Google has provided the needed ability in both the Chrome and Honeycomb browser settings. For syncing from Chrome, you will need to access Chrome's Preferences > Personal Stuff. Meanwhile, you can sync your bookmarks on Honeycomb's browser by accessing Preferences > Personal Stuff.

4. Making your own wallpaper

Thanks to a larger background image from Holographic UI and its swipe-able homepages from Android, you can use the built-in cropping tool for creating your own wallpaper. For a 10-inch tablet, you will need wallpapers with 1280 x 800 pixel resolution. However, if you intend to use the wallpaper on a larger device, the ideal resolution is 1920 x 1408 pixels.

5. Uninstalling applications easily

This trick is only applicable to tablets with the Android Honeycomb Operating System. You may be aware that previous versions of Android OS do not have the convenience to uninstall applications. With Honeycomb, you can easily delete the applications by activating the full launcher, then dragging and dropping the application icons into the trash can. This will be sufficient to remove the applications completely from your tablet.

If you want more tips and guidance on Android tablet apps, kindly visit our website.

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Tablet PC Comparison - What Is the Best Tablet PC to Buy?

Tablet PC Comparison: Apple iOS vs Google Android

Although there are a number of different companies, utilising different operating systems (OS for short), now creating brilliant options for tablet computers, the chief tablet PC comparison for almost all consumers still boils down to the Apple iPad's iOS and different Google Android tablets. So which choice of these two systems (or any other) is the correct one for your needs?

Look and feel: Most industry experts largely agree that Apple's iOS works extremely well both as a smartphone and a tablet PC operating system. The system works very intuitively on the iPad - particularly if you've used an iPhone or iPod Touch before. The interface can be said to be iOS's best benefit, which no other tablet currently on the market can match.

Apps: In addition to the look and feel seniority, Apple also have a major marketing point with their App Store. There are currently over 350,000 apps available to download for free or buy for a small price from the Apple Store. It's a certainty that when a new app is created by a company or developer, the first version is for the App Store and after that it is ported to other platforms. However, Apple's store is not the sole player in the arena - the Android Market is rapidly growing, passing the 100,000 apps mark in early 2011.

Android has one major advantage on the competition when it comes to apps: it's far more open and has more of a laissez-faire policy to the Market, whereas the App Store exercises very tight controls on every application, particularly in regard to adult content. The Android market allows developers much more creativity and flexibility.

There have also been complaints from some developers about Apple's rigid marketeering, with Apple requiring developers to remove any links from inside apps to the developers own websites. (The benefit to Apple is that they keep 30% commission from every app sale, whereas previously customers may have upgraded from free to paid version from within the developer's own site.)

Hardware: One major difference between iOS and Android is that iOS is exclusive to the iPad, while Android is open source and is being used by a number of different companies. This effectively means that the iPad and iOS are joined at the hip - you can't run the iPad without iOS. The iPad therefore has much more restriction of choice than other tablets, and much tighter pricing. However, those choices that are on the market are all good quality, and the hardware and software do work together harmoniously - crashes are very rare on the iPad.

Android, by contrast, is used in many different tablets from a large number of makers. From Blackberry to Samsung, you have a much wider choice of tablet PC to suit your budget and particular needs. However, you do need to do your homework. Some companies have customised Android and improved it, but some may not work as well and might still be based on older Android releases.

Conclusion

Right now, the iPad is still the most well-known and iconic tablet PC on the market. However, popularity is growing with a number of other tablet PCs. The choice is certainly good news for customers, who now have much more availability to get their exact requirements from a tablet computer. A lot of people still favour the Apple iOS, particularly if they have used other Apple products, but in the end it comes down to doing a tablet PC comparison yourself, by researching, checking them out, testing some in store, and selecting the one that feels like a good match for you.

TabletPCReviewer.com brings you tablet PC comparison guides, reviews, and articles all about the world of tablet PC computing.

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EReader Vs Tablet PC - Which Should You Buy?

It's a hotly-debated point at the moment, being brought up by the selling power of gadgets like the Kindle and the iPad. Should you buy an eReader, or go for a tablet PC? Which one is worth spending your money on?

What will you mainly be using it for?

To start off with, let's make one thing clear. An eReader is just what it says it is - it's for reading electronic books. It may have some other capabilities, depending on the manufacturer, like note-taking, dictionary look-ups, an MP3 player, and sometimes a very basic web browser. But at the end of the day it only has one purpose: to read electronic books.

On the other side, we have the tablet PC, which is designed to be a very portable computer. It can connect to the internet, send and receive emails, watch movies, listen to music, play plenty of games, and use thousands of apps (applications) which can allow you to do much more.

So when you're trying to decide between an eReader vs. tablet PC, you need to remember that they have different markets. The eReader is made for bookworms - people who read a great deal and love to read. It's designed to make the reading as natural and simple as it can be using "e-Ink" - the nearest you'll come to "real" ink and paper on any digital device. On the other hand, the tablet isn't as comfy to read with, using its more computer-like display screen - but it can perform a lot more functions, and display color illustrations.

What's your budget?

In the war of the eReader vs tablet PC, the eReader certainly beats the tablet PC on price. eReaders are much much less expensive than the vast majority of tablets. OK, you can get a tablet for the price of an eReader - but it will be a low-end option which runs a lot more slowly and has less impressive features overall. You certainly won't get anything alike to the iPad for anything less than $500, which is a big wad of cash if you're not really sure whether you need one!

On the other hand, an eReader can easily be found for under $100 even for the best models. They are very simple to use and the battery can last for weeks (as opposed to 10 hours on a tablet.) This simplicity and battery life is down to the fact that they only have one functions.

Perhaps in the end it revolves around one simple question: "How much do you like reading, and how much are you planning to do?" I you are a real hardcore bookworm, and you're planning to read every day, then you should definitely consider an eReader - the reading experience is far superior than using a tablet screen.

However, if you'd rather have a device with the flexibility to do many other things as well, then the tablet has to win the eReader vs tablet PC debate!

TabletPCReviewer.com brings you tablet PC comparison guides, reviews, and articles all about the world of tablet PC computing.

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Getting to Know the Real Benefits of a Tablet PC

Since the first release of the iPad in 2010, many people have been asking what the real benefit of a tablet Pc could be. Considering we already have laptops which give us portable computing, and we have powerful desktop PCs which can perform pretty much any task we ask of them, AND many of us have smartphones that also bring us mobile web browsing and email - on top of all that, what could a tablet PC bring to the table?

1) They're Quick

When it comes to quickly looking someone up on the internet, or showing your photos to friends or family, a tablet's main benefit is that it is much, much quicker to load up than a laptop or desktop. On the flip side of this, the apps themselves may not always run as quickly as a desktop application would, but the pure speed of loading the tablet PC - literally less than two seconds if it's in standby - make it a huge time-saving convenience.

2) They're Compact

Given the size of a tablet, it packs a heck of a lot of computing power into a tiny space. Not just this, but consider the size and weight of a tablet PC compared to a laptop, and in any situation where you have limited elbow room, or are on the move, a tablet PC has a massive advantage. Commuters have grown to favor tablets over laptops for this very reason: they are easy to use with comfort in the confined space of a train or plane seat, they are far more comfortable to carry around all day, and can be stored in a handbag or briefcase instead of a bulky laptop bag.

3) They're Ideal for Presentations and Meetings

Tablet PCs are now becoming a commonplace sight in meetings and business presentations. Tablets are completely flat and small enough that they won't be obtrusive when connecting with your audience. You can also easily make notes using a stylus using one of the many apps which will allow you to search and sort your handwritten notes. Which brings me to...

4) You Can Use Your Tablet PC to Write and Draw on the Screen

This is a huge bonus for anyone into art or sketching, in addition to the note-taking capabilities. The main benefit of a tablet PC vs. a desktop PC regarding this is that the tablet will come with this built in to the hardware, whereas to achieve the same thing with a regular computer requires buying extra components and software.

5) They Give Gamers a New Way to Play

Gaming is changing overnight due to the increasing popularity of gaming via tablet. Developers are bringing advanced but inexpensive games to the App Store and Android Market every day, and new features are thought up all the time. But the biggest advantage to gaming on a tablet is that it can go everywhere you do - so you can play your game during lunch break, while waiting in a supermarket queue, or in the park - plus you can let your friends play too!

6) They Replace a Multitude of Items

Once you've got a tablet, suddenly there's no need to carry around a significant amount of physical stuff: books, notepads, pens, paper, address book, to-do list, etc. You can do all this and much more with your tablet PC, saving you tremendous space and weight in your bag or pocket.

Clearly, there is no single main benefit of a tablet PC - there are a lot! it really depends on what you personally want to use your tablet for - but there is little doubt that the Tablet computer has brought many benefits and features to many people's lives since it first broke onto the scene.

TabletPCReviewer.com brings you tablet PC comparison guides, reviews, and articles all about the world of tablet PC computing.

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Shopping for A Cheap Tablet PC - More Info On What to Consider

So here is part 2 of what to look for in shopping for a cheap tablet PC. Again, there is so much to consider and so much out there but the bottom-line is, make the best choice based on what suits your needs for the device, not on what the hottest thing out is. That's the key to finding them at a good price.

The OS

Right now it's no secret that Apple and Android are the 2 big players here. Android is surging upward for sure, but Apple is the number one right now in terms of OS and applications, and will be for a good while. With that said you need to make decision on which one is right for you. Some Applications may be available for one but not the other. The Android market at this point is known more for quantity over quality whereas Apple personally reviews every app before it hits the market.

Available Ports

If a particular port is not available on the tablet you are looking at then you can pick up an adapter for pretty cheap. Of course a USB port and 3.5mm jack are standard.Being able to plug in your tablet to a projector or a television is something that those with a business use for a tablet are going to require without a doubt. VGA and HDMI are the mainstays in that regard.

Wi-Fi Connections

If you're willing to pony up the extra cash for a 3g connected tablet then you can count on having a connection wherever you go. Normally this will run you an additional monthly fee, even a contract for this service. If you live in a home with an internet connection already and mainly plan on using the tablet in your home perhaps you can forgo getting yourself hung up into contract. Bluetooth is also something that can be useful. Not only does it allow you to transfer data wireless, you can also plug in peripherals wirelessly as well such as keyboards, mice, even headphones. Of course no mobile device is complete without GPS and is indispensable for those on the go and needing directions. This is just a few of the many features and things to consider when looking for that tablet that is perfect for your needs. This Blog will continue to help you keep an eye out for what to consider. Stay tuned for more posts!

Ready to buy a Tablet PC? Visit us at http://www.cheaptabletpcpro.com/

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Buying a Cheap Tablet PC - What to Consider First

With the Tablet quickly becoming the direct competitor with the iPad, it's clear that we can expect to see these devices rise in popularity for quite some time. With so many different brands, specifications, and capabilities it may be difficult to decide what is best for you and at what price. There's no doubt that you could spend a considerable amount of time shopping around. There are many places you can find a cheap tablet PC for a decent price, such as eBay, Best Buy, Craigslist (which I will elaborate more on in future posts), and many others. When making an informed decision on what is the best tablet to purchase for your needs here are just a few things to consider:

We all Love a Big Screens

Another aspect to consider on your journey through shopping for a cheap tablet PC is Screen Size. One of the biggest concerns of anyone buying an electronic device of any type is the view area and its quality. Even a half an inch is a significant difference for an enjoyable experience with everything from watching movies to typing an essay. Screens range in size from 5 inches, all the way to 10 inches! One caveat to that is there is chance of an increase in weight which may end up being a bit too bulky for the user that spends a lot of time on the go. It's important to test the screen out and see how the visuals stack up in different situations, such as video recordings, movies, photos, screen responsiveness, and anything else you may plan on using it for. After all, you're going to be using this thing often, so it's important to make sure all of your needs are met and that you make a satisfying purchase.

Got to Love Memory

Another key aspect is memory. Of all the other features to consider when shopping or cheap tablet computers is storage. You can never have enough memory on a portable device. Period. Most of the tablets out right now however have only a few Gigs of RAM. So your best bet is to grab one with an SD slot.

Camera Quality

Camera quality is another aspect to give consideration to. Many use their tablets for things such as family photos, vacation snapshots and many other things. Everyone likes to have a decent quality camera and the amount of mega pixels is the measuring factor you want to make a comparison with for picture quality when shopping for a cheap tablet PC.

Those are just a few more aspects to consider. My next post is coming soon. Stay tuned.

Ready to purchase a Tablet PC? Visit us at http://www.cheaptabletpcpro.com/

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Is It Worth It to Buy a Tablet PC?

Is it worth it? This is a question that is often asked by many when the next hot Tech Device comes out and has every consumer making a bee line to their nearest electronics store. Many are addicted to being able to keep up with the latest and greatest and don't give this question a second thought. In this economy however, many are on the opposite side of the coin and are not in a hurry to shell out the cash for the next big thing. However, the Mobile device wave has hit and is showing no signs of slowing down, and finding a cheap tablet pc may not be a bad idea as the market lead by the IPad continues to grow. The level of convenience and productivity that these amazing devices provide may make it as necessary as the PC you keep at home. Fortunately, finding a good Tablet PC isn't too difficult if you know what to look for. Instead of drooling over the capabilities of the myriad of devices that you come across as you shop for one, its best to analyze what your needs are for the device so that you can determine which model is best suited to your needs and at a decent price. Some of the things that are always a concern are the Screen size, memory size, processor, and operating system.

I mention operating system because there ma y be those that are loyal to one OS or the other, namely Apple or Android. Each has their advantages and disadvantages and many of these loyal ones develop from the Smartphone market. If you're wondering what the limits are on these things then you'll be hard pressed to find a long list, Tablets do it all. The only caveat with the mobility of these devices is the issue with battery life and of course memory. It won't beat out the PC sitting on your desk at home as far as memory, but it's great for working on some files while you're out, or giving a presentation to the office, or watching movie at the beach. Mobile technology has been a major game changer not only for the normal consumer, but at the Corporate as well allowing more and more workers to continue to be productive while away from their desks. So is it worth to buy a Tablet PC? I think so.

For more info on Tablet PC's and where to get on at a great price, visit us at http://www.cheaptabletpcpro.com/

For more info visit us at http://www.cheaptabletpcpro.com/

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6 Best Tablet Computers of 2011

Since the launch of the first iPad in 2010, tablet computers have become almost ubiquitous, with plenty of users now taking advantage of the many benefits of being able to use a touch screen computer on the move. Bigger and more powerful than a touch screen phone, yet slimmer and more convenient than a laptop, tablet computing offers web browsing, multimedia entertainment and much more.

If you're in the market for a tablet computer, this handy review of the top six 2011 models will give you a great place to start.

1. Apple iPad 2
Apple were the innovators when it came to tablet computing, expanding on the success of their iPhone and iPod touch devices to bring multi-touch technology and the tremendously easy to use iPhone interface to a larger portable device. Now in its second generation, the iPad is the original and still the best, especially if you are an Apple fan. That's why this tablet is the best-selling on the market today.

Over its predecessor, the original iPad, the iPad 2 offers a faster dual-core A5 chip, superfast graphics that help apps perform better, and two cameras. With one camera on the front and one on the back, they are specially designed for video calling using the "Facetime" feature, and they work together so that you can be filmed for the person you are talking to, whilst at the same time looking at their image on the screen.

The iPad 2 is also 33 percent thinner and lighter than the original by up to 15 percent, so it feels more comfortable in your hands and is even more portable. The 9.7 inch diagonal LED-backlit display with 1024x768 pixels make everything appear on the iPad 2's sleek screen remarkably crisp, vivid, and bright. Ambient light sensors allow the device to automatically adjust the screen's brightness to suit your surroundings.

The iPad 2 has the same amazing 10 hours of battery life. This is enough juice to keep you entertained throughout an entire flight across the Atlantic, allow you to watch movies or play games for a whole night, or keep you amused for a week of commuting to the other side of the city.

The only real drawbacks to the iPad 2 are those which come with all of Apple's devices - firstly, it is more expensive than any of its competitors, and secondly, you can't replace the battery - once it begins to wear out you have to send your unit back to Apple to have a new one installed. Also, Apple are expected to release the next iPad relatively soon, so you may find your iPad 2 isn't the newest and best thing around for long.

2. Motorola Xoom
The Motorola Xoom, although somewhat heavier than some of its rivals at 730g, is selling well and receiving good reviews. The Xoom's 10.1 inch-screen boasts the same 1280 X 800 screen resolution as you would get on a laptop. The super-fast dual-core processors run the Honeycomb OS and support high speed downloads via the 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi networks. When you consider its 10 hours of sustained video playback and the twin cameras and micro HDMI slot, the Motorola Xoom is as feature rich as any other tablet out there, and significantly cheaper than the comparable iPad 2, though it is currently only available in a 32GB capacity model.

Some have criticized Motorola's phones in the past for not having the most intuitive menus or user interface, but with the touch screen tablet format a lot of this has been resolved and you should find the Xoom easy to set up and use.

3. Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101
Another android tablet which uses the Honeycomb OS is the Asus Eee Pad Transformer. This offers a whole range of apps, as Android's app market is almost, if not as strong as Apple's. It has a 9.5 hour battery life, so only slightly less than the iPad and Xoom's 10 hours, even though it is the cheapest tablet reviewed here.

One of the downsides of the Asus in comparison to more expensive models is that the cameras are not as good, with the front camera being only a 1.2 megapixel. It also only comes in a 16GB and 32GB capacity, whereas the iPad, Xoom and Blackberry Playbook all have a 64GB model available. If you don't plan to store endless hours of video and music on your device and aren't too bothered about the resolution of the front camera, the Asus really is a great budget tablet.

4. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi
The Samsung Galaxy Tab is widely regarded as one of the best Android Honeycomb based tablet devices on the market. The hardware is comfortable, attractive and light and it has a high definition 10.1 inch-screen.

The dual-core processors smoothly load the OS and applications very quickly and the Android Honeycomb operating system easily manages the browser, plays media and runs and switches effortlessly between multiple apps. Like the other tablets reviewed here, it has front and rear cameras and built in speakers, and the device offers a 9.5 hour battery life. The only significant drawback that this tablet does not come with built in USB, HDMI, and SD card slots. The versatile Galaxy Tab can work with both Wi-Fi and 3G when you need internet connectivity.

This device is the second most expensive reviewed here after the iPad 2, however it is also probably the iPad's closest competitor from the Android market.

5. Acer Iconia Tab A500
The Acer Iconia is another budget tablet, which offers great value for money for an Android Honeycomb based device with the same dual core NVIDIA CPU as all the other non-Apple devices reviewed here. It has slightly less battery life than the other tablets with 8 hours, but that is still quite a lot of time and will see you through most long haul flights. It is the heaviest of the six machines at 766g, but still looks and feels sleek. One of the main drawbacks is that it only supports Wi-Fi, so you won't be able to use it over 3G when you're out and about and you want to take it online.

6. Blackberry Playbook
In the smartphone market, Blackberry has been a key player for even longer than Apple, and with so many fans of Blackberry phones out there RIM's tablet was eagerly awaited.

The PlayBook has a browser that puts the Web in your hands. Coming in at just 0.9 pounds, 0.4 inches thin, and with a 7 inch-screen, the PlayBook is truly portable, though this is a significantly smaller screen size than any of the other tablets reviewed here.

Aided by Adobe Flash 10.2 support (unlike the iPad), the QNX-powered OS loads sites in full desktop splendor. The dual-core processor lets you multitask on a high resolution display with more pixels than an iPad. With full HD playback, an HDMI outlet, and with cameras front and back, the PlayBook packs a lot into a little space. It offers 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models, all at a substantially lower price than the equivalent iPad.

So if you're looking for tablet device, whatever your budget or brand preferences, these tablets are six of the best on the market in 2011. If you want to find a tablet with specific features you might want to click here. This site will help you compare the specs of the Best Tablets of 2011 and help you find one that is ideal for your needs!

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