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They serve different purposes. The Galaxy Tab's biggest strength is that it can be used on one hand rather easily and is much easier to manage outdoors. It really is a big smartphone in that sense and I don't mean it in a derogatory way. If you have a smartphone and love using it on the go but wished the screen was bigger, the Galaxy Tab is for you.

The iPad on the other hand is a more of a sofa lounge device. It doesn't have the same type of portability but instead is to be used in place of a Laptop or Notebook. It's much harder to use it on one hand and a bit too big for outdoor usage. However it compensates that by having apps that are much more customized to fit the larder screen real estate.

So while many like to pit these devices against each other, a quick trial of them will tell you they are similar but different enough that you have to know really what you want out of your tablet.
 
What do you guys think of windows tablets?

I think they show promise for a market sector that the iPad is not reaching. The group of consumers who want a full functioning OS as opposed to an mobile OS. With that said, Microsoft has been trying to make these tablets work for years and consumers have not wanted these.

Using windows (or even OSX) as a tablet OS fails because the operating system's UI is not geared to a touch screen but rather built around the mouse/keyboard paradigm.

Secondly, using the full blown OS requires a more powerful CPU to get any decent performance. All the new window's tablets are running off of an Atom processor. I haven't seen any benchmarks but when I hear atom processors, I think of slow netbooks.

I have the iPad, and while some of what the Galaxy Tab could have satisified me, that is I like the smaller form factor, I'm seeing the genius of apple providing the 10" display. Its really not too big and not too small. I was reading an iBook last night and found the I wasn't straining, I wonder if I had a 7" tablet if that would be the case. Additionally the OS and the CPU of the iPad provides great battery life, and good performance.

The bottom line is which tablet satisfies your needs the best. I personally think apple has a great product, balancing power, size, battery and great looks. Designing is a process of give and take, apple again succeeds in seemingly giving us everything we need without sacrificing anything.

The Galaxy Tab's greatest strength is its weakness - its size. Plus now that honeycomb is coming out, the lack of dual core. Likewise, windows based tablet's greatest strength is its achilles heel - the full blown OS.
 
For the OP, I have both the iPad and the Samsung TAB. As has been mentioned, they are unique devices with their individual strengths and weaknesses. Aside from the Android vs iOS which is better arguments:

TAB: The strength of the Tab over the iPad is it's portability. But, at the same time, it is also one of it's weaknesses. I absolutely love the Tab for reading documents that can reflow, navigation, and as a personal organizer (calendar, to do list, etc). But, for surfing the internet, reading magazines and pdfs that don't reflow, and document production, the Tab is just simply too small when compared to the iPad and not big enough to be much of an advantage when compared to a smartphone. In addition, for me, living outside of the Apple ecosystem is a huge downer. There are a lot of apps for Android, but IMHO, the quality and quantity available for iOS just simply kills Android tablets....for now and for anyone already in the ecosystem. In addition, the inability to SIMPLY and EASILY synchronize with my home computer is frustrating for me. Yes, you can buy and set up software that will do all of this for you, but it's just an added hassle.

iPad: I absolutely love everything about my iPad up to the point of actually trying to use it while on the move and reading while laying down. Sorry Apple, but I'm going to have to agree with Zuckerburg here :eek: it's not a mobile device. It's an ultraportable device.

For me the verdict is simple: I am not going to sell either my iPhone or my iPad and the Tab just doesn't do enough between the two to keep it.
 
I had both the Tab and now the Ipad. I absolutley love the tab. The portability, the fact that it can be easily customized. But I had to get the Ipad . The ipad is much easier and efficient when it comes to taking notes for school and lectures. I could barely write a sentence with the Tab the screen was too small. So in the end its a personal choice. I see the Tab more of a personal ,portable device and orginizer and the Ipad more of a laptop replacement. The only thing I regeret is not getting it with 3g :-(
 
my2cent

I own none but I played with both at the local electronics store.
The feel is really different from one another and its hard to really compare the 2 tablets. I'd say they are made for different markets/customers and each one fill different needs.
Galaxy has cameras, photo, videos, gps, phone, etc.. I'd say very pro use.
Ipad its more consuming medias and entertainment although you can use it as professional companion.
I was really impressed with both tablets. If I had enough money I'd wait anyway to buy one just to see what's coming out.
As a general rules I avoid buying 1st gen of every products. ;)
 
In my experiences, the iPad is much better.

That being said, when honeycomb tablets hit, things will change.
 
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