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Which tablet PC should I buy?

Our Broadband Expert says...

If you want to fill your stocking with the latest shiny gadget this Christmas, look no further than the tablet. Tablet PCs have been around for years; Microsoft introduced a tablet computer in 2001, however the devices never went mainstream - until Apple launched the iPad in spring 2010.

Designed to be a “third category”, tablets are a bridge between a smartphone and a computer, allowing you to take all your movies and music with you wherever you go, access the internet and even make phone calls depending on the tablet you choose.

Apple is the obvious choice with its glossy iPad, but real contenders are emerging on the market with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Tab, the Dell Streak and BlackBerry’s PlayBook, which won’t be available until early 2011.

Perfect for watching videos and surfing the internet, you can also download apps and personalise your tablet with everything from games and photo editing software, to travel guides, ebooks and rolling news services.

Apple iPad

Apple kick-started the tablet market with its 9.7in iPad, bringing the sleek design, smooth touchscreen and simple navigation of the iPhone and iPod Touch to the world of tablets.

It comes with the following specs:

• 9.7in backlit, multi-touch display
• 680g for the wi-fi model
• 730g for the 3G model
• Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on wi-fi, watching video or listening to music
• Micro-sim card tray (3G model only)
• Apple iOS.

Notoriously, the iPad doesn’t offer Flash support, so there will be some online videos that you won’t be able to watch - and because of its slightly larger screen size and heavier body, you might find that you need two hands. The November update to the iOS 4 operating system will allow you to multitask though.

But unlike many competitors, the iPad doesn’t have a camera and you can’t add any extra storage space with a memory card.

Although all iPads come with wi-fi connectivity, allowing you to get online using your home broadband or a wireless hotspot, you’ll need to pay an extra £100 for the 3G model.

Samsung Galaxy Tab

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab is a real contender to the iPad, coming in a smaller 7in package but offering two cameras and 3G connectivity as standard, with a normal sim card.

It comes with either 16GB or 32GB of internal memory, with the option to add up to 32GB extra using a MicroSD card.

The Galaxy Tab runs on the 2.2 Froyo Android operating system, which has always offered multitasking.

It comes with the following specs:

• 7in multi-touch screen
• 380g
• Seven hours of movie play
• 1.3Mp front camera for video calling
• 3Mp rear camera with a flash and 720p video recording
• High-definition 1080p video playback
• Multitasking
• Flash video support.

The Galaxy Tab retails at £499 for the 16GB model, but because mobile broadband providers are offering it as part of a pay monthly contract, you can get discounts if you shop around.

BlackBerry PlayBook

Although it hasn’t launched in the UK yet, the BlackBerry PlayBook looks set to become another serious competitor in the tablet market.

It offers a 7in screen and weighs 400g, with a fast processor that will give you “full computing power in a tablet format”. It doesn’t offer space for a MicroSD memory card though.

Like the Galaxy Tab, it offers a normal sim card slot, multitasking and two cameras, along with the following specs:

• 7in multi-touch screen
• 400g
• 3Mp front camera for video calling
• 5Mp rear camera with a flash and 720p video recording
• Multitasking
• Flash video support.

UK prices for the BlackBerry PlayBook haven’t been revealed yet, but the device is rumoured to be launching in early 2011.

Dell Streak

Getting closer to a mobile phone, the Dell Streak comes with a 5in screen and uses the Android operating system.

It is available either sim-free or on a contract from O2 (www.O2.co.uk), and takes a normal sim card so that you can go online using the 3G mobile broadband network.

It also boasts the following features:

• 5in touchscreen
• 220g
• 5Mp front camera
• 5Mp rear camera
• Multitasking
• Flash video support.

Budget tablet options

If you want to go for a cheap alternative to the iPad or Galaxy Tab, then there are options available. However, you need to remember that you won’t get the same sleek features that come with the more expensive models.

Try the Archos 7, which costs around £139.99 online, or get your hands on the etouch 7in Android for less than £100 - it even comes with a MicroSD slot so that you can add to the internal 2GB of memory.

NB Best buy tables are always current.

Examples in the text of the article are correct at time of publication.

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