In the lead up to release, it’s natural to draw comparisons between Samsung’s Android tablet and Apple’s best selling iPad. At the same time, it may be a bit premature. Specifically, PC World has put together a pair of posts, one each for and against the iPad over the Galaxy Tab. And “Five Reasons to Ignore the Galaxy Tab and Get the iPad” rubs me the wrong way. Primarily because it’s not clear if the author has used or seen a Tab and given the current vacuum of concrete US sales information.
First up, he states:
The iPad display also has a sharper 1024 x 768 resolution compared with the 1024 x 600 resolution of the Samsung tablet.
While it’s true that the iPad has a higher resolution, due to the Tab’s smaller screen (7″ vs 10″), the Samsung tablet has a higher pixel density (169ppi vs 132ppi). Which seems to suggest the Tab actually has the sharper display. Of course, there’s more to display quality than the number of pixels… and why we need to know if the author has actually spent any time with the Tab, or if he’s merely made an assumption based upon a faulty calculation.
Next, the author brings up a carrier contract and Tab pricing as a deterrent… but at the same time acknowledges, “Details are not yet available.” His assumptions could be spot on. But they’re just that, assumptions. Additionally, a carrier subsidy could also have the opposite effect of making the Tab more appealing by coming in lower than the iPad. At least in regards to upfront pricing.
At the end of the day, the most important comparison between the iPad and Tab will be made based on the user experience. And I do suspect that iOS will continue to provide a more polished experience over the more flexible Android. I’m all for a head-to-head tablet shootout, but let’s exercise a little editorial restraint until we have all the details… and the hardware.