Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

This review is coming a little "behind the times," as I have just learned that Samsung has released the Galaxy Tab 2 and mine is the original version. However this review my still help sway you if you are teetering between iTunes devices or those with Google Play.

 Let me start off by saying that I wanted a tablet for a long, long time. Well, since the appearance of the iPad. I waited though. My hubby, (whose name is Matthew, by the way) is a major researcher when it comes to buying anything, especially technical stuff, so I waited patiently for him to decide which one is best. (For more "technical" information on why he chose this particular tablet, and not the Apple version, visit his blog at Sole Perspectives) Lo, and behold, on Valentine's this year, my hubby surprised me with this tablet. And we have been attached at the hip ever since. (Me and the tablet, that is.)         

                                    

 

Now I don't want this review to sound like I'm gushing, but I absolutely love this thing! (I'm typing on it right now with my handy-dandy bluetooth, silicone keyboard.) Here goes.

Part One: Smart-Phone, Laptop, or Tablet? Oh My!

   

 First and foremost, this thing is soo convenient! Much more so than a laptop or a smart phone (I like to think it is sort of a cross between the two.) I have a smart phone (which is out-dated, slow, and buggy) that I could use for quick internet searches, games, e-mail, etc. but I always pick up the tablet instead. It is super fast, easier to use, and much more versatile than any smart phone. It is less bulky and much quicker on the draw than my laptop. It is also easier to transport than my laptop. One downside to the convenience of this tablet is that my 32G version does not come with a 3G option (or 4G) so I cannot add an internet plan to it, a similar issue with laptops. If I am not home and need to use the internet, I have to be within a wi-fi range in order to use the tablet. That being said, I will still choose the tablet for internet usage over the other two devices whenever possible.

What does it do?

I guess the best way to put this is to say what it doesn't do, which, so far, is just make phone calls and support PC gaming. With the right apps, you can do just about everything else a laptop or desktop computer can do, and certainly everything else a smart phone can do. I type and print documents from my tablet. I e-mail and blog from my tablet. I take pictures with my tablet. I manage my bank account from my tablet. I surf the web and play games with my tablet. I take it to class and type notes with it. I can watch movies or listen to music on it. Yadda yadda, etc. etc.

Part Two: Hardware

I am not going to pretend that I know much with regards to what is inside this thing, what makes it do what it does, and all the technical jargon that goes with that. (Again, I'll refer you to my hubby's blog, Sole Perspectives). But I can give you my "layman's" version of it.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 uses the Android operating system Honeycomb 3.2. I will be honest and say that I was skeptical of the Android hype when it first came out because I was used to Microsoft on my computer and Apple on my phone. Learning a new operating system was a daunting thought and seemed very tedious. The first Android device in our home was my husband's Samsung Infuse 4G Smart Phone. And it has taken me almost a year to figure out how to operate the damn thing. In fact, I still have trouble. 

However, it took me no time at all to learn my way around Honeycomb on my tablet and it is absolutely so user-friendly. It is not as limiting as Apple's operating system. It can be customized in so many ways. It can be organized however is easiest for you. And best of all, it works with Flash! No more images of tiny blue squares with questions marks inside them when I surf the web!

 I was not impressed with the iPad when I played with it at the store. It seemed just like a giant iPhone and did not have some of the features and functions I was seeking in a tablet. (Like being able to type and print papers for school on it.) So my hubby did his research and decided he liked Samsung's version the best.

Then it came down to cosmetics. I wanted the biggest screen with the most memory capacity available. And, Voila! Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 32G storage. It was not the cheapest on the market by any stretch, but it was cheaper than the Apple equivalent at the time.There are certainly a number of other brand tablets out now, so be sure to research and play with them to find the right one for you.

Now, after the features (but just as important) is the market that comes with a tablet. I am experienced with iTunes and I will say that they almost literally have an app for everything. The Android market is a little bit behind, but it is quickly catching up. As of now, the apps on my iPhone and the apps on my tablet are the same. I do not listen to music on my tablet (one inconvenience of its size over a smart phone) but I do watch movies on it and read e-books, and luckily, I can download them from virtually any source. They do not have to come from Google Play (or from iTunes, in the case of Apple devices). Only one item of difference comes to mind: iTunes is offering some new interactive e-books for kids (found here on mom.me) that have not made it onto the Android market yet. But, I am sure that will change soon!

All things considered, I could not be happier with this product!