Samsung Galaxy Tab: 10 Reasons It Won’t Catch Apple’s iPad

by Don Reisinger

It will simply take far too long for the Galaxy Tab to catch up to the iPad in order to gain more market share than Apples tablet. Apple has sold millions of iPads, while Samsung has sold less than 1 million as of this writing. Granted, the Galaxy Tab hasnt been out for nearly as long, but it has some serious work to do if it even wants to come close to matching Apples numbers.

The Galaxy Tab is enjoying more attention than any other tablet not named iPad, but it still doesnt have the kind of hype that will help it take serious market share away from Apple. Simply put, the Samsung Galaxy Tab is known in early adopter circles and its starting to become known to the mainstream, but getting that mainstream to choose the Galaxy Tab over the iPad can be a tall order.

Apple released iOS 4.2 Nov. 22, and with that update, the company has made the iPad far more viable to both consumers and enterprise customers. It delivers multitasking, folder support, AirPrint capabilities and much more. Its a top-notch operating system that will undoubtedly attract more buyers this holiday shopping season.

Apps are extremely important in the tablet space, and this is one area where Apple is executing well. As anyone who owns an iPad knows, there are a slew of programs that work extremely well with Apples iPad, and they do a fine job of delivering more functionality than what Apple initially offers. The Samsung Galaxy Tab cant compare to the added value the iPad enjoys due to those apps.

Googles Android 2.2 is a fine operating system, and it works extremely well on smartphones. But as Google itself pointed out earlier this year, the companys platform isnt designed with tablets in mind, and it wont be until the release of its next OS that consumers will enjoy the full benefit of Android on a tablet. That alone is helping to hold the Galaxy Tab back.

The Galaxy Tab features a 7-inch display, and those who have used the device say that such a screen size works quite well for them. But when its compared to the iPads 9.7-inch display, the average consumer looking to be entertained and who is used to massive displays will probably like more of what they see from Apples option rather than Samsungs. The iPads big display means a lot, and it cant be overlooked as a real differentiating factor in the tablet market.

With iOS 4.2, Apple added AirPrint and AirPlay functionality to its iPad. With those options, users can either stream entertainment content to an AirPlay-compatible product or print documents wirelessly to an AirPrint-compatible printer. As more peripheral makers support those technologies-and they will-the iPads value to consumers and enterprise customers will only improve, leaving the Galaxy Tab far behind.

The enterprise is a key area for both Apple and Samsung. Although those companies products dont target corporate customers the way, say, RIMs does, its clear that Apples option trumps Samsungs in the enterprise, thanks to the helpful administrative control and a level of appeal that the Galaxy Tab cant quite muster. The Galaxy Tab might eventually be a suitable enterprise option, but for now, the iPad is the better choice for companies.

Although its often overlooked, iTunes is central to the success of the iPad. With iPods in the hands of so many consumers, iTunes is a key aspect of their lives. Buying other mobile products that have access to iTunes makes them even more viable. Samsungs Galaxy Tab, which runs Android 2.2, doesnt have iTunes integration, and for many consumers, thats a deal-breaker that sends them toward the iPad and away from the Galaxy Tab.

The Galaxy Tab gets so much attention today because its the top Android-based tablet on the market. But with so many Android products in the works, it wont be long before its overlooked, making it even more difficult for it to beat the iPad. The way that Android will beat iOS in market share is through several devices, just as it does now in the smartphone space. A single product wont do it.