"It looks good, is extremely portable and easy to use, sports a shockingly clear screen and is a pleasure to use."
Rosie Khdir
The Samsung Galaxy Tab is the latest tablet device to hit the market and everyone is waiting with baited breath to give it their own review – so here is ours.
It is inevitable that most people will compare it to the iPads newest and, it has to be said, it is an impressive competitor.
What we like best
Firstly the tablet is considerably smaller than the iPad with a 7 inch touchscreen and a width of just 12 mm; it also weighs just 380g making it easy to hold in one hand.
It runs on the Android 2.2 operating system and supports Flash 10.1, a big flaw that was raised about the iPad. It comes with a Reader Hub – basically an e-Reader – as well as a comprehensive Social Hub that integrates your email, IM and SNS.
For those of you looking to use the Tab for business, it has two cameras which make video-conferencing a cinch, an integrated calendar, fast connectivity as well as support for office documents.
If you want to use it as a multimedia plaything – which most people will – you will not be let down here either. The full HD TFT screen with 1024 x 600 pixel resolution provides excellent video and image viewing. The 1 GHz ARM processor and PowerVR SGX540 graphics chip also means that using apps and games is a real delight with this model.
Now we’ve reeled off the impressive specs, let’s get down to the usability of the Galaxy Tab. The screen is sharp and responsive and a really beauty to look at, even without the AMOLED that everyone was expecting it to have, as on the Samsung Galaxy S phone.
Being able to wrap your hand around the device is such a huge bonus, it makes you fell like you can really use it on the go, which is what tablets are all about, right?
What we like least
There are things about this tablet that people might not like, for instance the 1.3 MP camera isn’t the best on the market and the lack of HD video recording is surprising.
One of the biggest disappointments with the Galaxy Tab is that you cannot charge it via a USB connection – so via a laptop/desktop. When the Tab is plugged in it will maintain the same amount of power, but won’t charge up any more than that.
Some users may not like that the Galaxy Tab is made entirely of plastic, but we found no problem with it – it felt very sturdy.
To sum it up, the Samsung Galaxy Tab is fantastic addition to the tablet market. It looks good, is extremely portable and easy to use, sports a shockingly clear screen and is a pleasure to use. The iPad surely has a strong rival here.
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Processor Speed
1 GHz
Processor
nVidia Tegra
RAM
TBC
Screen Size
8.9 inch
Graphics
TBC
Hard Drive Storage
16 Gb
Battery
Li-pol 4000 mAh
Up to 150 hours standby
Multimedia
3 MP rear facing camera
2 MP front facing webcam
Ports
Dock connector port
3.5mm ear jack and speaker
Microphone
MicroSD card slot
3MP AF camera with LED flash
Weight & Size
190.1mm (H) x 120.45mm (W) x 11.98 mm (D)
470 g
Connectivity
Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)
Bluetooth 3.0
Operating System
Android 3.1 OS (Honeycomb)
Samsung Galaxy Tab will inevitably be held up to that shining paragon the iPad, and for those of you who are brand loyal we recommend you give the Samsung Galaxy Tab a fair viewing before making your decision – in fact that goes for the rest of you too, not just those who worship at the altar of Apple.
Samsung Galaxy Tab
Samsung Galaxy Tab runs an Android 2.2 OS, Android is a great system developed specifically for tablets and can keep you better connected then some of the mutated software that was initially migrated to this new platform. Samsung Galaxy Tab’s shining feature is the Social Hub which combines all your social needs on to a single programme ready for you to access on the 7 inch screen.
Samsung Galaxy Tab has a full HD screen and two cameras as well as a broad enough array of ports and connective options to make a netbook blush. Samsung Galaxy Tab has one other great asset it is easy to hold, some tablets are pretty much slates too large to hold and handle, the Samsung Galaxy Tab however is well moulded so that you can scan through whatever your heart’s desire comfortably.
If you want to find out more about its features, read the PC Site Samsung Galaxy Tab review.
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