After nearly a year of having the market pretty much to itself, Apple's iPad finally has some serious competition. The first Android-based tablets are starting to ship, and they will soon be followed by a wide variety of portable devices, some of which should give the iPad a run for its money.
To see how the first Android slates stack up against each other, I looked at four tablets: three with 7-in. screens -- the Archos 70 Internet Tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab and the ViewSonic ViewPad 7 -- and the 10-inch Archos 101 Internet Tablet. I also checked out HP's PhotoSmart eStation C510, an inkjet printer with a Zeen wireless Android tablet included.
Over two weeks, I had at least one of them with me for most of the day. I used each to write, read e-books, collect my e-mail and bounce between Web sites. I listened to Internet radio stations, played games and watched videos. I also ran a number of tests on each.
The Androids are coming -- finally
By next year, there could be as many as 15 different Android slates available, according to Anna Hunt, principal analyst at IMS Research. She forecasts sales of 36 million Android tablets by 2015, accounting for roughly 28% of the market. "With a variety of Android slates on the way," she says, "this market will grow and grow. This is just the start."
Hunt points out that the potential weak point of the new Android tablets might be software. At last count, Apple's App Store had 300,000 iPad programs available for download; users had downloaded 35 billion copies as of mid-October.
In contrast, the Android Market for downloading software has just over 100,000 programs available, and 2.3 billion copies were downloaded by the end of October, according to AndroLib, which tracks Android apps.
Once things really start moving, buyers should have more to choose from than just the iPad and Android devices. For example, as this was being written, there were rumors that new Windows-based tablets would be announced at the CES trade show in January, and RIM is touting its upcoming PlayBook, which will run on a Blackberry tablet operating system.
With all of those options to choose from, 2011 might end up being the year of the slate. The hardest part might be picking just one.
Archos 70 Internet Tablet
Archos 101 Internet Tablet
Archos was one of the first companies to offer tablets. I looked at two of the company's latest: the Archos 101 and the Archos 70.
The Archos 101 measures 10.7 by 5.9 by 0.5 inches and weighs 18.4 oz., making it the largest and heaviest tablet reviewed here. Still, it's slightly smaller than the iPad and half a pound lighter, despite having a 10.1-in. screen, compared with the iPad's 9.7-in. display.
The Archos 70 Internet Tablet is 7.9 by 4.5 by 0.5 inches in size and just 11.3 oz. It's about 2 oz. lighter than the other 7-in. models and approximately half the weight of the iPad. Both Archos tablets were easy to hold for long periods of time.
Two of a kind, they have chic black plastic cases with sculpted backs and rubber feet. They also each have a handy pull-out leg for propping them up. The stand folds into the back of the tablet when not needed.
While the characters on the Archos 70's 800 x 480 display are noticeably fuzzier than those on the Galaxy Tab, the Archos 101's 1,024 x 600 screen was pinpoint sharp and easy to read. Unfortunately, it has a visible diagonal grid pattern that's annoying on dark backgrounds. Other than that, the displays are bright, rich and sharp.
Powered by a 1-GHz ARM Cortex A8, both Archos systems come with a scant 256MB of RAM (the other tablets reviewed ship with 512MB). There's 8GB of storage space; you can get an additional 8GB for an extra $50.
Like the other devices I tested, the Archos tablets can use up to a 32GB microSD card, but no card is included. The company says that it will soon come out with a slightly thicker and heavier Archos 70 model equipped with a 250GB hard drive for $350.
Even more minimalist than the iPad, the Archos tablets have no physical navigation buttons on the case. There's only an on-off switch and volume up and down buttons. The usual Android control buttons for home, settings, back and search are on-screen, at the side of the display.
Besides the microSD card slot, these systems have a proprietary flat plug for charging the battery and connecting with a Windows, Mac or Linux computer. They also come with a single USB port and a mini-HDMI jack for plugging in a cable to a TV or projector. I connected both to an InFocus IN3916 projector and an LG 47LH40 TV using the HDMI jack, and they both worked well, but the tablet's screen went blank (you can only watch the TV or the tablet, but not both). The HDMI cable is not included.
Neither the Archos 101 nor the 70 make a provision for connecting with a 3G network. That's a feature that the company says it will introduce in a future model. For now, they both have 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi for getting online.
While the Galaxy Tab and ViewPad 7 have both front-facing and rear-facing cameras, the Archos tablets have single, front-facing 0.3-megapixel cameras.
The on-screen keypads lack the Swype typing gestures and vibration feedback that some of the other tablets include, and which make typing easier.
The home screen of each Archos tablet comes with 18 app icons, a Google search bar and links to settings and the system's manual. The devices come with two dozen apps, including ones for e-mail, Web browsing and playing videos, but nothing for viewing or working on standard Microsoft Office files. (I downloaded the free MobiSystems OfficeSuite 5 app for those purposes).
At a Glance
Archos 70 Internet Tablet
Archos 101Internet Tablet
Archos
Retail price: $250 - $430 (Archos 70); $295 - $340 (Archos 101)
Pros: Inexpensive, lightweight, excellent Wi-Fi range, HDMI video-out, large display (Archos 101)
Cons: Only 256MB RAM, lacks Flash plug-in, no 3G option, no connection to Android Market
Oddly, the Archos tablets don't have a direct link to the Android Market for downloadable software. Instead, you need to get new apps from the Hong Kong-based Appslib site, which offers about 15,000 programs -- a small fraction of what the Android Market contains -- organized into 18 categories.
The system has Flash 10.1 software but not the player plug-in needed to watch videos or play Flash-based games. Archos says that it will have a free download available before year's end.
Performance
Both the Archos 70 and the Archos 101 tested as midrange performers, with Quadrant benchmark scores of 896 and 827, respectively. That's about halfway between the top-scoring Galaxy Tab and the lowest-scoring ViewPad 7.
When continuously playing videos, the Archos 70 had a battery life of 5 hours and 8 minutes, just behind the ViewPad 7's 5 hours, 10 minutes. The Archos 101, however, came out ahead of all the others with 7 hours and 10 minutes of battery life. That's 1 hour, 20 minutes longer than the iPad's 6 hours, 30 minutes.
Both Archos tablets tested with a Wi-Fi range of 115 feet, 20% farther than the View Pad 7 or Galaxy Tab's range, and nearly double the range of the iPad.
Bottom line
At $300 and $275, respectively, the Archos 101 and 70 are priced considerably lower than any of the other Android tablets. Although they disappoint on memory, software and the lack of a 3G connection, they could be appealing to those looking for smaller, lighter and less expensive iPad alternatives.
Samsung Galaxy Tab
Samsung's Galaxy Tab follows close on the heels of the company's successful smart phones by creating the most complete tablet made to date. It combines an elegant functional design with excellent integration and versions for each of the major 3G networks. If it only had a stand, it would be ideal.
At 7.4 by 4.7 by 0.5 inches and 13.5 oz., the Galaxy is half the size and weight of the iPad, which has a 9.7-in. screen whereas the Galaxy Tab has a 7.0-in. display. Compared to the other 7-inch systems, it is 0.2 oz. heavier than the ViewPad 7, and 2 oz. heavier than the Archos 70.
I really liked the gently curved edges of the Galaxy Tab, which make the device easier to hold for extended periods of time. But when I was working on a tabletop, the tablet wobbled annoyingly and I definitely missed the built-in kickstand that Archos devices provide.
Inside is a 1-GHz ARM Cortex 8 processor, 512MB of RAM and 2GB of storage. Like the other Android tablets, the Galaxy Tab can expand its storage with up to a 32GB microSD card. It comes with a 16GB card, but it still can't touch the higher-end iPad's 64GB of built-in storage.
The Galaxy Tab that I looked at came from Sprint and can connect to Sprint's 3G network (though not its faster 4G network). Sprint's monthly data plans range from $30 for 2GB per month to $60 for 5GB per month. Samsung also has versions of the Galaxy Tab for AT&T, US Cellular, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. No other tablet offers that variety of service providers.
The tablet also works with 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi. Meant to be a data-only device, the Galaxy Tab lacks the ViewPad 7's dedicated app for making phone calls, but it comes with the Quik videoconferencing app.
In addition to offering GPS and Bluetooth support, the Galaxy Tab has a pair of cameras: a 1.3-megapixel camera that faces the user for videoconferences and a 3.0-megapixel one in the back for shooting high resolution video and snapshots.
Bright and rich, the 7-in. screen can offer 1,024 x 600 resolution, matching that of the Archos 101. It responds well to subtle finger motions.
It takes some getting used to, but the Swype software makes rapid-fire typing possible by -- you guessed it -- swiping your finger over the soft keys rather than tapping them, and I like the keyboard's vibration feedback when typing.
At a Glance
Samsung Galaxy Tab
Samsung
Retail price: $400 with two-year contract (Sprint); also available from AT&T, US Cellular, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless
Pros: High-resolution display, available through several service providers, dual cameras, good performance, 16GB microSD card
Cons: No Wi-Fi-only version, no stand, lacks dedicated phone app
Navigation is through the Galaxy Tab's four control buttons below the screen: Settings, Home, Back and Search. The system has an on/off button and volume up/down buttons on the edge. There are connections for headphones, a microSD card and a proprietary flat plug for connecting it to a computer and charging the system's battery; it works with Windows PCs or Macs.
The default home screen comes with 11 apps, including e-mail, a Web browser, a Google search bar and a link to the Android Market for downloading new apps. The Applications icon takes you to the system's 40 preloaded apps, which include ThinkFree Office, Daily Briefing for a mix of news, stock prices and local weather, and a bunch of online games.
Performance
The Galaxy Tab scored a 1,072 on Aurora SoftWorks' Quadrant benchmark; that's 40% better than the ViewPad 7's score. Getting data from the Sprint 3G network, the system ran for 5 hours and 11 minutes; while using a Wi-Fi connection, the battery lasted for 14 more minutes. That's nearly 2 hours short of the Archos 101's battery life. It had an adequate Wi-Fi range of 90 feet, but that was 25 feet short of the Archos tablets. It played HD YouTube videos without a problem.
Bottom line
By combining Android's tablet abilities with high performance and 3G capabilities, the Galaxy Tab is the most complete Android tablet available.
ViewSonic ViewPad 7
A maker of TVs, monitors and specialty computers, ViewSonic is branching out with its ViewPad 7. While it has the hardware and software to be used as a phone, the ViewPad 7 hasn't been certified on any 3G networks.
While the others have curved backs, the ViewPad 7's black-and-silver plastic case is squared off all around. At 7.1 by 4.4 by 0.5 inches, it's the smallest of the three 7-in. units and is half the size of an iPad.
At 13.3 oz., it's 2 oz. heavier than the Archos 7 and 0.2 oz. lighter than the Samsung Galaxy Tab. It lacks the Archos kickstand but comes with a padded case.
The ViewPad 7 has an ARM 11 processor that runs at the sedate speed of 600 MHz, much slower than the 800-MHz and 1-GHz CPUs that power the others. It comes with 512MB of RAM and a scant 512MB of storage that can be augmented with up to a 32GB microSD card (but no microSD card is included with the system). A 10-in. model, the ViewPad 10, is in the works.
While the Galaxy Tab is offered by four national 3G service providers, the ViewPad 7 doesn't currently work with any network, although it does come with the hardware for AT&T's network and has an app for making and taking phone calls. It includes 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connectivity and comes equipped with Bluetooth and GPS.
With a bright, clear display that quickly responds to finger motions, the ViewPad 7's 7-in. screen works well, but, like the Archos 70, it is limited to 800 x 480 resolution.
In addition to an on/off switch, the system has the usual Android buttons for Back, Search, Home and Settings. There is a mini-USB connector for charging and connecting with a Windows PC or a Mac. There are also slots for a phone network SIM card and a microSD card. Along the edge of the device there are volume up and down buttons and a headphone jack.
Besides a 0.3-megapixel camera facing the user, the device has a higher-resolution 3-megapixel camera in the back. ViewSonic is adding Swype software for a mid-December launch.
At a Glance
Viewsonic ViewPad 7
ViewSonic Corp.
Retail price: $450 - $700