Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Review: Is it a Viable Alternative to the IPad 2?

With the Apple iPad and iPad 2 continuing to dominate the tablet computer market, viable options do exist for those not willing to submit to the "Cult of Cupertino." The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is an example of a powerful Android Honeycomb tablet, providing high-end video playback and web surfing functionality that rivals the iPad.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Specifications

• 10.1-inch Capacitive Touchscreen
• 1280x800 WVGA Graphics Resolution
  
• Android Honeycomb OS
  
• Battery Life: Up to 9 Hours Video, Up to 72 Hours Music
• Adobe Flash Support
• Either 16GB/32GB/64GB Memory
• Both Forward and Rear Facing Cameras
• 1080p HD Video Playback
• Android Market License

While some users prefer the lighter weight of a 7-inch tablet computer, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 definitely provides a more robust content consuming experience than its smaller brother. Choosing between the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and an iPad 2 depends on a user's preference of quality apps over a more open experience and superior video playback.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1's Video Playback

Both the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the iPad 2 support HD video streaming. The Galaxy Tab sports a better resolution - up to 1080p on the device itself, while the iPad 2's screen appears brighter, although this may be a personal preference. Neither device sports a HDMI output port, but both provide a connector cable as a separate accessory. In fact, the iPad 2 streams full 1080p to an external monitor through its HDMI connector cable.

The "open" nature of the Android operating system gives the user a bit more flexibility in managing content when compared to Apple's perceived "closed garden." The Galaxy Tab 10.1 also supports Flash, but that advantage is becoming less important with Adobe discontinuing future support for the mobile Flash framework.

The iPad Still Provides the Best Apps and the Best App Marketplace

The iPad platform still provides a much more robust selection of apps, with the App Store also topping the Android Market in the interface for finding tablet apps. Considering technical differences surrounding lower-level native programming on both devices, an app like the innovative Korg iMS-20 synthesizer just won't work on the Android platform at this time.

Many developers also prefer the App Store to the Android Market for other reasons running the gamut from app return policies to Android's greater propensity for hacking and viruses. So if running the widest array of quality apps is the reason for purchasing a tablet computer, the iPad platform still wins over Android.

Frankly, a choice between the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the iPad 2 is based on the user's ultimate reason for buying a tablet computer. App fans should choose an iPad, while those planning on web surfing or consuming media content might very well feel at home with the Android Honeycomb-powered Galaxy Tab 10.1.