iPad comparision

To iPad or not to iPad

The iPad is finally here, but is it still worth investing in? We explores some of the forthcoming competition for the iPad and whether they are worth waiting for.

NINE MONTHS is a long time in technology. So when the Apple iPad finally made its official appearance in the Indian market, there were, apart from the usual squeals of delight from Apple fans, a few frowns in the tech community about whether the tablet had in fact taken too long to come to India. For, in the period since its launch (US availability started April 2010), a number of manufacturers have announced products that seem just as promising, if not more, than Apple's über tablet, which some claim is showing signs of growing long in the tooth. So, given all the goodies that could be coming your way later this year, does it still make sense to go for the iPad? Here’s our look at the competition and how it stacks up against Apple’s tablet.

THE iPAD ADVANTAGE

Hundreds & thousands of apps that work perfectly and add tons of functionality to the device Staggering battery life in excess of ten hours on Wi-Fi Excellent browser and e-book reading software A price point that is in netbook territory Ability to pair with a Bluetooth keyboard with minimum fuss A higher resolution display than most of the major tablets available in the Indian market Incredibly smooth and intuitive interface

CURRENT COMPETITION

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB

A price cut might have finally brought it below the 30,000 level, but many consider it as too little too late. The Tab remains a great option for those who love Android and need a tablet that can double up as a phone and a camera, but those looking for a pure tablet experience will go for the iPad.

OLIVEPAD

The Galaxy Tab's price cut and the low entry price of the iPad would have come as a blow to this sturdy rather than spectacular tablet whose biggest strength was its value for money proposition. As nearly 23,000 now it is too close to the price points of both the lower-end iPads and the Galaxy Tab to be considered a serious challenger. Barring a price cut, its day might have passed.

DELL STREAK

The tablet that seemed more of a smartphone finds itself in the unenviable position of being the most expensive tablet in the country. Yes it does have some very good specs to back up that price, but we cannot see people lining up for it, now that both the Galaxy Tab and the entry level editions of the iPad cost lesser than it does.

MOTOROLA XOOM

It came, it saw and it conquered all at CES 2011. Boasting a powerful dual core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, dual cameras, a magnificent 10 inch display and most importantly, the first version of Android (3.0) that has been designed for tablets rather than smartphones, the Xoom is being seen by many as major competitor to the iPad. Its biggest strength, however, is also its biggest challenge — Android 3.0 is by no means a finished product, so one does not really know how well it will perform. There is also the question of how many apps it will come with, as indications are that the apps in the existing Android Market will not work perfectly with it. Vs the iPad: Well, it is on paper one of the iPad's most formidable challengers and has Motorola's great design on its side. The only place where it could lag behind are the OS and the apps.

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB 2

Its first edition has been widely acknowledged by many to be the best tablet in the market this side of the iPad. And the second edition of Samsung's Galaxy Tab is likely to be even more muscular in the specs department. According to sources, it will pack in a dual core NVIDIA Tegra processor and even though its screen is expected to remain at its current seven inch size, its resolution could be almost doubled to 2048 x 1200 with a Super AMOLED display to boot. Round that off with an 8.0-megapixel shooter on the rear and this could be a multimedia behemoth that fits into your coat pocket. And yes, it should be running Android 3.0 as well. Vs the iPad: If it does live up to its rumoured specs, this could be one of the most powerful tablets in the world, and one of the most portable too. The challenge is likely to be in the pricing, and of course, the fact that it is, as of now, still unconfirmed.

BLACKBERRY PLAYBOOK

It might have been a while since it was announced, but the BlackBerry PlayBook remains for many corporate warriors the tablet worth waiting for. On paper, it packs a formidable punch with a powerful dual core processor,
a seven inch display, dual cameras, support for Flash and HTML browsing, phenomenal multi-tasking ability, and of course, complete compatibility with BlackBerry Enterprise Server and the ability to pair easily with BlackBerry handsets. A whole new interface based on the QNX OS should make it fun to use as well. Vs the iPad:We cannot see it winning in the apps department, honestly, but enterprise users might like its compact form and the good old RIM security factor. And if it can run Android apps too (as is being rumoured), even the apps might not be that much of an issue. The price tag however, is expected to be stiff.

MOTOROLA ATRIX

We can hear the howls of protest go up, saying the Atrix is not a tablet but actually a smartphone. Fair point, but we think it does enough to be considered a threat to the iPad, not just because of its extremely powerful specs which include a four inch touchscreen and a dual core processor, but also because of the fact that it can actually be connected to a notebook-like dock, letting you work on a larger screen with a full keyboard and a proper Firefox browser to boot. So one actually ends up getting the best of all worlds - phone, notebook and touchscreen. The fact that it runs Android 2.2 is a bit of a downer, but an upgrade is expected. Vs the iPad: No, it is not a tablet, but is perfect for the productivity types, although it does involve carrying the notebook dock along for best results. Just how many apps will run on the notebook dock is going to be interesting.

SAMSUNG SLIDING PC 7

Carrying the Windows standard in this slew of gadgets is the Samsung Sliding PC 7. It might not be grabbing as much attention as the Galaxy Tab, but there can be no doubting its potential for those who want to stay in the familiar Windows environment. Powered by the Intel Atom Z760 chip, it features a 10 inch touchscreen, dual cameras, the ability to support USB devices and solid state storage. But the party trick is the full keyboard which slides out and transforms it from a tablet into a netbook. It is not the lightest device around being just more than a kilogram, but netbook lovers longing for a touch experience will adore it. Vs the iPad: The perfect device if you want to have a tablet without giving up your notebook. The keyboard helps. Forget about a different experience from your routine Windows, though.

RAZER SWITCHBLADE

Once again, not really a tablet, but the Switchblade wowed enough people at CES 2011 to make it a device worthy of being compared with any portable gadget. It features a 7 inch touchscreen and a keyboard whose keys change according to the function for which it is being used. It runs an Intel Atom processor, and is is being seen mainly as a gaming device. But it could well have uses as it runs Windows 7 and therefore should be capable of handling routine computing tasks (web browsing, document editing, presentations). It is still in the prototype state, but could turn out to be one of the gadgets of the year, if released. Vs the iPad: The Switchblade is the only device in this list that can go toe to toe and outslug the iPad in gaming. However, details remain sketchy on other fronts and it is unlikely to match the iPad when it comes to apps.

IPAD 2

Apple has not confirmed its existence and we do not even know for sure whether it will be called the iPad 2, but for many people, the expected successor of the iPad is the best reason not to invest in the current one. Details of it are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks, with speculation rife about a retina display, dual cameras (for Apple's Face Time video calling) and a much faster processor. The biggest problem is that absolutely none of this has been confirmed. What one can be reasonably sure of is the fact that Apple's successor to the iPad is unlikely to change too much from the current one, as that would mean alienating almost 15 million users. Vs the iPad:The cameras and faster processor might be worth waiting for, but most of the thousands of apps will work just as well on the current one.