BUILD & DESIGN
The screen aside, Samsung's tablet is completely crafted out of plastic, which makes it light. Its back cover is white in the standard version, with a black front. It looks quite modern, complete with rounded edges (some networks will exclusively offer the device in other colors, as Samsung announced at IFA). The tablet's dimensions ((7.48 x 4.74 x .47 inches) are ideally suited for one hand use, keeping the other hand free for key control and screen manipulation.
Given that the majority of other tablets have to be held with both hands, the Galaxy Tab looks more like a smartphone than other competitors' models. In fact, the only thing (apart from its dimensions) making differentiating it from a smartphone is the fact that users cannot make phone calls by keeping the device next to their ear. They either must use the headphones delivered with it or any other earphone set that uses a standard 3.5mm audio jack, a Bluetooth headset, or through the speaker. In fact, the only way you can't make a call with the Galaxy Tab is the traditional means of holding it up to your ear.
Display
The seven-inch capacitive screen features WSVGA resolution (1024 x 600 pixels). The imaging is exceptionally sharp, thanks to Samsung's excellent resolution choice for this size, which delivers 192-pixel density per inch. Since this is a TFT screen, the images do not have the same quality as a SuperAMOLED screen used by Samsung's Galaxy S smartphones (which this tablet very much resembles), or the images on the iPad. Still, the imaging is above average with vividly interpreted colors, and it is highly unlikely that the users will have any objections.
When exposed to direct sunlight, the screen significantly loses contrast, but the images are still very visible and the Tab retains its pleasant display. This is why deciding on the TFT screen, compared to the SuperAMOLED was a good choice, given that the latter technology loses much of its luster in the sun.
GOOD
Feels dense, and sturdy (if surprisingly thick)—probably the best constructed Samsung mobile device ever. Screen is pretty killer. The pixel density—1024x600 pixels packed into a 7-inch display—makes everything from reading to watching video seriously pleasant. (Put another way: Reading Kindle books feels better than on the iPad.) The viewing angles are vast like the BP oil spill. The colors are nice and saturated—at least when you turn off the "power saving mode," which douses the screen with a sickly yellow hue. Battery life is thoroughly phenomenal: Four hours of constant, heavy usage over 3G—Google Talk, browsing, YouTube—only knocked it down to 40 percent. Building controls for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS into the Android notification shade makes it convenient to turn stuff off to stretch the battery further.
NOT GOOD
This thing is just a mess. It's like a tablet drunkenly hooked up with a phone, and then took the fetus swimming in a Superfund cleanup site. The browser is miserable, at least when Flash is enabled. It goes catatonic, scrolling is laggy, and it can get laughably bad. When better browsing is half the reason to go for a larger screen, that's insanity. It won't charge when you plug it into a laptop. Costing $599 off-contract is embarrassing when the iPad starts at $499.
The bottom line: The Galaxy Tab is a beautiful product with features that will make iPad owners envious, but its in-between size and possible carrier commitments hold it back from broad appeal.
Specifications
· 7-inch TFT touchscreen display (1024 by 600 pixels resolution)
· Weight of 13 ounces, or “about the weight of
unopened can of soda.”
· Thanks to its lithe figure, it fits into the back pocket
of your jeans, or the inside pocket of a blazer.
· It runs on the Google Android 2.2 (Froyo)
operating system.
· Thanks to Android 2.2, it supports Adobe Flash
10.1
· It has two cameras: a 3-megapixel one on the back (with flash, DVD-quality video) and a 1.3-megapixel one on the front for videoconferencing and chat functionality.
· It uses a 1GHz Hummingbird processor
· It has 16 gigabytes of on-board memory. It’s also expandable
· It supports DLNA sharing and streaming among supported devices (TVs, laptops)
· It carries a battery that’s rated for 7 hours of video playback.
· A Wi-Fi-only model is coming “in the near future.”
· Optional accessories include an external keyboard, docking station with HDMI port and a car dock.
· Audio and video content comes via Samsung’s new Media Hub.
· It’s available on all four U.S.
