This is the tablet that I actually landed on after owning an iPad, switched to the Xoom, and moved on from the Iconia Tab. Why continue to give Android a chance, after living with iOS for so long? It's because of this device: the Galaxy Tab 10.1. It was developed in direct response to the iPad 2. The original GT10.1 was too fat to compete with the freshly unveiled iPad 2 in dimensions. Samsung went back to the drawing board and redesigned it to what we have today. And let me say, it works!
It's a hair thinner and lighter than the iPad 2, by virtue of its all plastic but solid construction. The rounded corners and edges of the GT10.1 make it easier to hold for longer periods of time. The 16:10 aspect ratio of these 1280x800 displays makes it easier to use in portrait mode for things like thumb typing with both hands. With Swype pre-installed typing gets better! Placing the speakers on the side, facing out, rather than rear-ward like many other tablets is an advantage of the GT10.1. The GT10.1’s display does not disappoint. Using an IPS-like technology (PLS), you get incredible display performance, in the way of clarity, color and viewing angles. You get the IPS/PLS technology of the iPad, but at a greater resolution. The GT10.1 is also packing a Tegra 2 CPU, though the device feels a little hamstrung by the OS. Even so, the GT10.1 proves to be an above average performer amongst its Tegra 2 peers, in benchmarks
The one thing that really made the GT10.1 compelling was the addition of the TouchWiz UI. TouchWiz added those extra features that make Android a pleasure to use. The Quick Apps in the system tray add a bit of true multi-tasking to these mobile OSes. For example, if I have my credit card statement open in my browser and I need to make some quick calculations, I can launch the Calculator from the quick apps. TouchWiz also adds an easy way to take screen shots. Also added to the software is MediaHub , giving you a place to buy and rent movies. AllShare enables you to view content (photos, videos, and music) with DLNA-equipped devices. Battery life on the GT10.1 is admirable, going days before charging. I find it to be more comparable to the iPad than any other Android device.
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the Android tablet to own. From every perspective, it offers the kind of user experience and joy of ownership that can only be matched by Apple's own iPad. If you're looking for the iPad feel with the flexibility, customization and efficiency of using Android, you need not look any further than the Galaxy Tab 10.1. With the upgrade to ICS, you will find longevity in your purchase.
The Breakdown
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Design
8
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Display
10
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Camera(s)
7
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Speakers
8
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Performance
8
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Software
8
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Battery life
9
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Ecosystem
9
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