iPad 2
Apple’s iPad is still “the clear standout” among tablets, with its vast app catalog helping to protect against imminent challenges. Apple’s updated edition now has two cameras. But it still doesn’t support Flash.
$500, apple.com
Source: PCMag.com
T-Mobile G-Slate
This tablet is “currently the best option” for anyone who insists on a machine that uses Google’s Android operating system. It supports 4G data service and also features “out-of-the-box” streaming TV.
$750, t-mobile.com
Source: CNet.com
Iconia Tab a500
Price makes Acer’s tablet a major player. Android is not yet as good as the iPad’s operating system, but because the Iconia Tab has a USB port and microSD Card slot, it’s very close to making laptops obsolete.
$450, bestbuy.com
Source: PC World
BlackBerry Playbook
This “handsome” device for now is best suited to “dedicated BlackBerry owners” only. Until software patches are provided this summer, it needs to be attached to a BlackBerry phone even to run an e-mail app.
$500, us.blackberry.com
Source: Wall Street Journal
Motorola Xoom
The first tablet to run Android 3.0, or Honeycomb, “was pushed out of the nest too soon”: 4G service is still a pledge, not a reality. When the price drops, Xoom will be easier to appreciate for its overall speed.
$800, motorola.com
Source: ZDNet.com
