I always enjoy learning about any new tech device or advancement, but I sometimes feel I’ve become immune to surprises. However, I did recently have to change my attitude a bit when I sampled a demo unit of the Verizon version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet device running the Android operating system.
First, let’s put this device in the context of the market as it exists now:
It’s well known that Apple caught almost everyone completely by surprise when the company introduced the iPad earlier this year. Microsoft had talked about tablet devices for years, but Apple was the first to actually produce one that seemed complete and ready for a mass audience.
Reviewers applauded the iPad for its beautiful design and ability out of the gate to run a large number of programs, or apps. Apple obviously put a lot of thought and research into this device, and many who use it are almost fanatical in their praise.
Detractors of the device point out that it is a bit heavy when used for long periods of time and also that it has the usual “locked down” design of many Apple products. The strongest complaint is that it will not natively run Flash applications, making much of the Web content unavailable to users. There are apps appearing that seem to solve this problem, but the original complaint still appears often in reviews.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab is considered by many to be the first viable tablet device to follow the Apple iPad. Reviews are varied as you might expect, and I anticipated that the device would be “OK, but nothing special.”
I was wrong.
I quickly realized that any comparisons to the Apple iPad would be useless. This device is not an “iPad killer.” It is in a completely different category.
The Galaxy Tab’s size is somewhere between the iPad and a cell phone. While you would think this would be an impediment, I found the size was almost perfect. I was able to clearly see all content on the device and to easily resize anything that appeared too small.
The Tab is light and easy to hold, and I love the fact that it will fit in a large shirt pocket and certainly in a coat or briefcase easily. The version I used from Verizon was reasonably quick online and would probably compare in speed to a low-end DSL or cable modem connection.
The device includes the excellent Swype app, which simplifies texting and e-mail use, and it can of course take advantage of the Android apps available.
Price is probably its biggest downside (reportedly $599 as a standalone purchase, $399 with a Sprint contract), as the device seems a bit too expensive to me. Actually this is normal in the early life cycle of many products. This will resolve over time if the device gains enough market share.
Keep in mind also that next week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas will probably reveal dozens of other tablet offerings, perhaps even new versions of the Samsung Galaxy Tab.
I put the Galaxy Tab to what I call the curmudgeon test. I showed it to fellow columnist and musical partner Dalton Roberts. Dalton is a hard sell on anything that is not useful or takes too much time to learn to use if it does not perform its work well. He also enjoyed the device as I did and expressed an interest in learning more about it and similar devices as they appear.
E-mail Donnie Jenkins at donniejenkins@yahoo.com