Best iPad 2 Alternatives

While the iPad and iPad 2 have dominated the tablet market, there are plenty of great alternatives. The iPad 2 set the standard for mobile tablets, but competition between top brands such as Samsung and RIM have provided the market with some serious competition. We judged our picks based on ease of use, design and useful features.

BlackBerry Playbook

The BlackBerry Playbook, set for release in April 2011, is the perfect combination between work and play. The tablet features a 1GHZ dual-core processor, Adobe Flash, 4G internet access, two cameras and BlackBerry Enterprise Server. With a modest 7" screen, the Playbook is portable, but large enough for a full experience. We love the wireless connection to BlackBerry smartphone's, which keeps your two devices working seamlessly together. Although the tech specs and features outweigh that of the iPad 2, we are curious to see if RIM will update their BlackBerry apps store. If Apple has one advantage, it is their huge library of iPad apps. Pricing starts at $500 for the 16GB version, $600 for the 32GB version and $700 for the 64GB version.

Samsung Galaxy 3G

The Galaxy utilizes the Android 2.2 OS and a 1GHz processor for fast speeds and ease of use. This tablet is designed for internet surfing, with a beautiful touch screen display and Adobe Flash support to ensure you will not miss a thing. The downside? Although there are two cameras for video chatting, the resolution is not as good as the Playbook with only 3MP and 1.3MP. We liked the 16GB built in memory with an expandable slot. This ensures that there is plenty of room if you need it, but if you do not you are not paying for it. The Samsung Galaxy starts at $500 with 3G capabilities.

Huawei Ideos 7" Tablet

The Huawei Ideos runs the Android 2.1 OS and is the least expensive tablet on our list, starting at $270. The tablet features a 7" touch screen, built in Wi-Fi and two 2.0MP digital cameras. The inexpensive price is great for those of us who do not want to pay $500 for an iPad, but it falls short on a few features. The battery life is very short and the outdated OS is a downside. However, for the price, the Ideos is a great budget tablet that delivers the basics. However, we recommend the Playbook and the Galaxy if you have the extra money.