SAMSUNG'S Galaxy Tab is a small but feature-packed tablet PC that outdoes the Apple iPad in many ways.
But it also induces sticker shock with its $999 price tag.
Where the 9.7-inch screen iPad is a bit unwieldy to tote around and requires plenty of bag space, the 7-inch screen Galaxy Tab will fit, just, in a jacket pocket.
It's also much lighter than an iPad at 385g versus 730g for the 3G-enabled iPad and can be held one-handed for activities such as e-book reading.
Also unlike the iPad, the Tab can make phone calls, sports two cameras and has an SD slot for boosting the gadget's memory beyond the 16GB internal memory that comes standard. It can run Apple supremo Steve Jobs' software hate object, Adobe Flash player. The Galaxy Tab runs the latest 2.2 version of the Google Android operating system that also powers a plethora of recent smartphones such as Samsung's own Galaxy S phone.
While the Tab's feature set is long and inviting, the price appears steep, but unlike the iPad, the Tab can be bought on zero-dollar upfront plans such as Optus $59.95 a month plan.
The pot is sweetened further by the inclusion of some very useful apps, including a two-month free subscription to The Australian's news app, the excellent Navigon turn by turn navigation software that turns the Tab into a high-end GPS (a car dashboard mount is in the wings) and the Thinkfree Office suite, which can open and edit Microsoft Office documents.
A 1Ghz processor sits in the Galaxy's engine room and, combined with the excellent 1024 by 600 pixel resolution, capacitive touchscreen, makes for fast app loading, smooth multi-tasking and a very responsive finger-driven interface rivalling iPad.
The pop-up, touch keyboard is a beauty and lends itself to rapid thumb typing in either portrait or landscape mode.
The Tab plays HD video and makes quite a good handheld, mobile movie theatre. The DLNA media distribution standard is supported, meaning you can stream movies and music from the Tab to many recent big screen TVs.
Two speakers in the base of the Tab do the sound. While it will make phone calls, you can't hold it up to your ear like a regular phone - it's permanently in speaker phone mode . . . best to employ a headset for phone calls.
The Tab has all the desirable tablet features, including GPS, gyroscope, accellerometer and ambient light sensors, WiFi b/g/n, a 3.5mm audio jack and Bluetooth 3.0 for hooking up wireless keyboards and headphones.
Unfortunately, the USB/charger port has a proprietary connector, meaning you can't use any old USB lead for recharging.
The 3MP pixel camera with LED flash on the back of the gadget is OK but should have been a 5MP unit for the price.
Rating: 8/10
Cradit : The Australian
Also unlike the iPad, the Tab can make phone calls, sports two cameras and has an SD slot for boosting the gadget's memory beyond the 16GB internal memory that comes standard.
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