A Nice, Big Display

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 comes with, as one might expect, a 10.1-inch display. The iPad 2, on the other hand, comes with a 9.7-inch display. Though the difference might not be great on paper, in your hands it quickly becomes apparent. As more and more people opt for tablets to handle their mobile-entertainment needs, they will want bigger displays. Samsung is capitalizing on that with its Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Its important to note that those who dont necessarily want a big tablet can opt for smaller sizes from Samsung, as well. In fact, the company has 7-inch and 8.9-inch tablets for customers, as well. The 7-inch version is by no means an iPad killer, but it might just be a worthwhile option for those consumers who care more about being mobile than being entertained with their tablets.

Samsung surprised everyone on May 25 by announcing that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 would ship with Googles newly updated Android 3.1 operating system version, rather than Android 3.0 Honeycomb. Because of that, consumers who opt for the tablet will find a nicely improved operating system that will trump the version available in the 10.1-inch Motorola Xoom.

Part of the iPads appeal is the Apple brand. Consumers and enterprise customers trust Apple to deliver a solid user experience. They know what to expect from the companys products. Samsung is another such firm. The company has done a fine job of building up its brand to not only be recognized by customers, but trusted, as well. That will play a key role in Samsungs plans to take on Apple in the tablet market.

Although Apple has said that it will not support Adobes Flash platform on iOS-based devices, its important to note that its still quite necessary on tablets. Consumers around the world use tablets to surf the Web and check out important Websites. Many of those sites still require Flash to operate. The Samsung Galaxy Tab supports Flash. Thats an important feature to consider as one compares the iPad to Samsungs option.

According to Samsung, its Galaxy Tab will deliver an HD resolution—1,200 by 800—for consumers to watch movies and other video content. Apples iPad 2, on the other hand, features a display with 1,024 by 768 resolution, giving the Samsung tablet a slight edge. Considering the importance of multimedia content on tablets, delivering a superior resolution could prove to be important to Samsungs market appeal.

One of the key reasons customers opt for the iPad is FaceTime. Apples video-conferencing service is available on its iPhone 4, iPod Touch and iPad, as well as on Macs with Web cams. The feature makes it easier for consumers to engage in video chats with people both on-the-go and at home. To help stymie that important advantage, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 comes with a 3 megapixel rear-facing camera, as well as a 2 megapixel front-facing camera for video chatting. It wont offer FaceTime support, but giving consumers the opportunity to have video chats with friends is a must-have in todays tablet space.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will also ship with access to Samsungs hubs. The companys Music Hub offers 13 million songs for users to play. It also has a Media Hub for video content, and a Readers Hub with access to more than 2.2 million books and thousands of newspapers. Though it might not match iTunes and iBooks on the iPad, it comes close. And coming close is extremely important for a tablet competing against the iPad 2.

Though the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 might not look like the most obvious enterprise option on the market, the company is pushing it to business users. In order to do so, Samsung claims that the offering includes many security solutions. In addition, the company is touting the devices support for Exchange, Cisco WebEx, Cisco Any Connect, and much more. Quick Office also comes preinstalled on the Galaxy Tab. Since the iPad 2 is a decidedly consumer-focused product, and Samsung seems focused on appealing to corporate customers, the company might just find a winner in the enterprise with its tablet.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab has one important feature going for it: its aligned with Google. Thanks to the Android platform, Googles stock in the mobile space has been on the rise. Smartphone seekers have been buying Android-based devices in droves. And now, those same folks are thinking seriously about getting an Android-based tablet. If Samsungs tablets were running a different operating system, its highly unlikely that they would have a strong chance of succeeding. But with Androids help, the Galaxy Tab has a real shot at competing well against Apples iPad 2.