COMPARING THE TOP THREE TABLET COMPUTERS

CHRIS GIANCAMILLI
MEDIA MANAGER

When the iPad was released in April 2010, consumers and tech geeks alike were certain of one thing: competing companies would do their best to develop an “iPad killer.” The iPad’s release anniversary is only two months away, and within the past year a slew of devices have challenged its popularity. The Samsung Galaxy Tab and the Dell Streak are currently the iPad’s biggest threats. Though these devices are all tablet computers, they each have distinct features that can mean the difference between a purchase or a pass.

The operating system is the most obvious difference in these devices. The iPad, starting at $499, currently runs on Apple’s iOS 4.2.1 on AT&T and Verizon’s 3G network. Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch also run on this same operating system (which can be a positive or negative aspect depending on your own experiences). Both the Samsung Galaxy Tab, starting at $549 and the Dell Streak, moderately priced around $200, run on the Android operating system version 2.2 called Froyo. The Galaxy Tab is available on all carriers that offer 3G coverage. The Streak is only available through AT&T’s 3G network. Consumers who already have Android phones or iPhones might choose their devices based on the operating systems or networks they are already familiar with.

The iPad utilizes Apple’s popular App Store to bring users the largest library of applications to date. However, the Android Market’s growing fan base has given Apple stiff competition. While proponents of Apple and Android have their disagreements regarding which store is better, a number of the most popular apps can be found in both the Android Market and the App Store.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab and the Dell Streak were designed for portability. The Samsung features a seven-inch display and the Dell features a five-inch display. The displays of both devices are in widescreen, a component ideal for watching movies. The iPad’s display is a whopping 9.7 inches with a standard 4:3 aspect ratio. When choosing the right device, size does matter. Though bigger does not always mean better. The Streak can be a handy tablet that fits in most any purse or large pocket, whereas the iPad can serve as a light laptop replacement suitable for backpack storage.

Each device has attractive features to set it apart from the other two. According to endgadget.com, the Streak is the only one of the three with the ability to make phone calls and send texts, allowing it to serve as a phone replacement. The Galaxy Tab and the Streak have front facing cameras, giving them video-chatting capabilities. Both the Samsung and the Dell feature cameras while the current iPad model does not. However, the iPad does have three different models with varying storage sizes; the largest is 64 gigabytes. The Samsung has a 16 gigabyte model and 32 gigabyte model with a microSD slot allowing for more memory.

The Dell has only one 2 gigabyte model with a microSD slot.

While these tablet computers are relatively new to the mainstream market, consumers can expect to see more devices in the coming year with even more enticing capabilities.