Best Tablets of 2011

The introduction of the Apple iPad has revolutionized the erstwhile boring tablet computer market. This year, we see an explosion of iPad rivals who want to grab a slice of the sales pie, but only a few of them deserve to be called at par with the iconic tablet.

Apple iPad 2 – What the iPad has exceled, the iPad 2 has virtually perfected. It is thinner than its predecessor and features front and back cameras, FaceTime video chat, a faster processor, and 3G options for AT&T and Verizon subscribers. It has an easy-to-use interface, a very vast app catalog, and a long battery life. On the other hand, its downfall remains the same as the original iPad: a less-than-impressive screen resolution, mediocre photo quality, the lack of Adobe Flash, and the need to install adapters to a lot of ports.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime – If Android is your thing, the Asus Transformer Prime (pictured) is the best in the bunch. Compared to the iPad 2, this tablet is thinner and lighter, while still including microSD and micro-HDMI support. It features a clear 1080p screen resolution, an 8-megapixel camera with close-to-accurate color capture capability, and the ability to play games on HDTV and throttle CPU speeds to save battery life. Just be careful when attaching the keyboard dock.

Sony Tablet S – The much-anticipated tablet from Sony is well worth the wait. It advances the typical Honeycomb experience with exclusive apps, an ergonomic design, PlayStation certification for mobile gaming, DLNA video and music streaming, and an integrated IR universal remote control. For a Honeycomb-based tablet, however, the Sony Tablet S is kinda pricey.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 – This Android-based tablet is the closest you can get for a worthy iPad 2 rival. The Honeycomb-powered tablet is as thin and as light as the latest Apple tablet. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 comes with a 3-megapixel back camera, a 2-megapixel front shooter, and a pair of powerful speakers. However, it lacks some ports and its plastic back gives off a weak impression.

Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet – Among the emerging batch of e-book/ tablet hybrids, the Nook from Barnes & Noble is the most worthy to be included in the list. Apart from a vast library of books and magazine, it comes with over 1,000 apps and is optimized for Netflix and Hulu Plus. And did we mention it has Flash support? The downside is that is that it does not provide full access to Android Market, as well as lack significant features such as Bluetooth, GPS, camera, and even video rental support.

Source: CNET

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