When I met the Samsung representatives at last month’s BlogHer convention in San Diego and they told me the Galaxy Tab is a great tablet for travelers, I tried to keep an open mind as a self-professed lover of all devices of a lower-case ‘i’ variety.
I agreed to review one anyway, and I have to say…wow. Right out of the box, the Tab is lightweight, sleek, and easy to use, and (though I won’t list them all here), comes with all the main features you’d expect in a tablet: camera, video, eReader, media center and storage, web browser, etc. Easily add a keyboard if needed. In addition, those reps weren’t kidding: there are more than a few key features on the Galaxy Tab that make it a dream travel companion. You’ll find them highlighted below, compared when applicable to the iPad 2 (the base model of which sells for the same $499 price tag).
Widgets as well as apps. Welcome to multi-tasking on a tablet! I love that the Tab utilizes widgets as well as apps, which can be opened and closed while engaged in other tasks. A great example: pull up a map while watching a movie! (Note: if you have an Android, the Tab’s Honeycomb operating system will feel familiar, but if you’re used to iOS, you’ll need to take a few minutes to get used to it. Once you do, you’ll love it.)
GPS even on WiFi models. This got my attention right away: I hate to say it, but my iPad 2 is pretty useless in the map department when it’s not connected to WiFi. With the Tab, that isn’t a problem. It’s map widget is even voice-activated. On a local car ride, I simply said “Dairy Queen”, and the Tab immediately responded with audio directions, as well as visual. I know this will come in handy when I’m in other families’ cars while on soccer trips and don’t have access to my Garmin.
Flash, superior video, and stereo speakers. We use our tablet for in-car and plane entertainment, and loved how great the Tab looks and sounds while playing movies, TV shows, and music. The kids say the gaming is great too (though I can’t speak to that myself). What I can speak to: how easy it is to download movies from the Tab’s Media Center.
Polaris Office for a mobile workstation. I loved that the Tab came with Office, Powerpoint, and Excel installed. I still don’t plan to type long documents on a tablet while on the road (I prefer a notebook computer for that), but it’s nice to know that I could edit, amend, and finalize projects on vacation and easily transfer them to my computer or dropbox later.
Plenty of apps, plenty of games. Apparently, the ‘app gap’ is closing more rapidly every day, so there’s little fear of missing out on great apps by opting for a non-Apple tablet. To get the most of the Tab, users need a Google account (to download apps, eBooks, music, etc), but that’s free, of course, and most people have a gmail account already.
All in all, the Galaxy Tab and the iPad 2 are very similar when it comes to both specs and functions. On either device, your family’s gaming, social media, reading, and movie entertainment needs will be met while on the road. As a working traveler, the Tab won’t yet replace my computer in my bag, but neither will the iPad 2. Both are similar in price, weight, and size (though I will say I dislike the plastic backing on the Tab). The Tab’s home page and interface is more customizable than the iPad 2 (you can move widgets and apps around to maximize your productivity), but this feature could be viewed as a pro or a con: Apple’s more rigid organizational structure is very dependable.
As an average tablet user, I think the decision between the Galaxy Tab and the iPad 2 comes down to one thing: do you want your tablet experience to be governed by Apple or Google? Do you already own many Apple apps and have multiple users installed on iTunes? It may be a pain to switch. (Though not impossible to transfer music and media.) Or do you already own an Android and use a Google account to download movies and apps, in which case a Tab just makes sense? It’s really up to you. One thing’s for certain: once on the road, the Tab won’t let you down.
Note: I’m no techie! For more technical review of the Tab’s features in comparison to that of the iPad 2, I found this article very useful. I’m also discussing the Tab and other travel technology at the KOACampfire community this week!
As I disclose whenever applicable, I received one Samsung Galaxy Tab at no cost, for the purpose of review.
