In Berlin last week there was a lot of buzz around Samsung’s new tablet, the Galaxy Tab, and there were a host of display models on the stand available to check out. I managed to get hands on with the device for a few minutes to check out a few features, including You Tube, Web Browsing, Maps, Email and the device’s built in music application.
Overall, my experience was positive. I’m not a big fan of Android, finding it a little awkward in use, but the screen was bright and reasonably responsive to the touch (unlike the Toshiba Folio I looked at earlier, which was abysmal). The Galaxy Tab is not an iPad killer, despite what you might read elsewhere. A lot depends on the apps that become available over time, but the iPad has a better, bigger screen and offers a smoother experience in use. Still if Samsung get the pricing right, the Galaxy Tab is sure to sell.
Check out our video of the Samsung Galaxy Tab in action:
Given a free choice between the two, I’d still take the iPad. The smaller form factor of the Galaxy Tab is certainly more portable, but sits awkwardly between a smartphone and a tablet. As such, it makes for a very strange phone (a bluetooth headset is required), and it’s screen, whilst decent enough for video, is not a match for Apple’s device. Still, unlike the iPad, it’ll happily run Flash in the browser, and that’s a big pain point with the iPad. Overall, Samsung has done a decent job with the Galaxy Tab’s design, and if you’re looking for a 7” tablet, it’s definitely a serious contender for your money.
