Top 5 iPad Alternatives – reloaded

It’s been a while since the previous list of iPad Alternatives back in June. Now, six months later, the list is due for an update!

Here’s my current take on the best Apple iPad alternatives:

Contents

1. Samsung Galaxy Tab
Specifications:
Price: $599
2. Blackberry Playbook
Price: to be announced (release early 2011)
3. HP Slate 500
Specifications:
Price: $799
4. Hannspree GSH1164
Specifications:
Price: unknown (release 2011)
5. Malata SMB-A1002 (ZPad)
Specifications:
Price: $500

1. Samsung Galaxy Tab

Samsung has created one of the best known tablets. It actually is a bigger version of the Samsung Galaxy S smartphone, with the same operating system overall design.

Specifications:

OS: Google Android Froyo (2.2)
Processor: Cortex A8 1.2GHz
Screen size: 7 inches
Display: PowerVR SGX540, 1024×600
Storage: 16GB
Memory: 512MB
Other notable features: 1x USB port

Price: $599

2. Blackberry Playbook

I’m not much of a Blackberry fan. Their phones really haven’t attracted me at all looking just like an American version of Nokia to me =). The Blackberry tablet that’s due for release early 2011, however, seems like a whole new start for RIM, the company behind Blackberry. Have a look at the specs.

Specifications:

OS: Blackberry Tablet OS
Processor: Cortex A9 1.0GHz dual-core
Screen size: 7 inches
Display: 1024×600
Storage: 16GB and 32GB
Memory: 1GB
Other notable features: HDMI, USB, full HD video support

Price: to be announced (release early 2011)

3. HP Slate 500

This HP machine is supposed to be a good tablet for business use, with the fully featured Windows 7 installation and all. Word is though, it appears to pretend to be a notebook replacement, but lacks the speed and responsiveness to actually throw away your Windows laptop.

Quite a contender though.

Specifications:

OS: Windows 7
Processor: Intel Atom Z540 1.86GHz
Screen size: 8.9 inches
Display: 1024×600
Storage: 64GB
Memory: 2GB
Other notable features: HDMI, 2x USB

Price: $799

4. Hannspree GSH1164

Speaking of contenders, if Hannspree really delivers what it promises with their tablet, the GSH1164 will be one to beat.

Although it is certain this will be a 10.1 inch device running on Android 2.2 (Froyo), there’s still some speculation on a release date. Probably somewhere in 2011, I guess.