Apple undoubtedly rules the electronic era. Just when you think you have the latest Apple gadget, they come out with another one of those must-have electronic gizmos. After the much-awaited Verizon iPhone comes the iPad 2. This revised version exploded the market and sold 400,000 to 500,000 in the first weekend of its release. However, competition is inevitable, and iPad 2 is pitted against some major competition. But Apple’s product still remains on the top. The top rivals include Motorola Xoom and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab. Though iPad 2 sticks out, these tablets are not far behind.



iPad 2: Keeping the price the same as the older generation, the features of iPad 2 are slightly tweaked to make it more sleek, if that is possible. The older model of iPad was berated for its name and also called a larger format of iPhone. It took a while for Apple to establish its new tablet. Soon, after basking in praise for its sheer sleekness, this gadget became a style statement like other Apple products. The hype surrounding iPad 2 helped in boosting the sales and breaking the record set by the previous model. This sleek gizmo has front and back cameras. However, the best part of this electronic piece is its size. The new iPad is 33 perecent thinner with an 8.4 mm frame (even sleeker than the iPhone 4) and weighs 1.3 pounds, which is around 15 percent lighter than the first version. This is the lightest it can get. Steve Jobs, during the launch of his prized product, said, “With all this new technology onboard, surely something’s gotta give. But we have managed to maintain our legendary iPad battery life, giving 10 hours of battery.” So it’s true; not only is the price the same as before, but the battery life is also maintained. Kudos to Mr. Jobs!

Of course iPad 2 is not perfect. Shocking, isn’t it? Yes, the photo quality is still the same (very low) and there is still no Adobe Flash support. Also, ports for HDMI, USB and SD all require adapters. But considering the stylish and user-friendly look, these drawbacks can be overlooked.

Fun Fact: The iPad 2 is about the same weight as a juicy red apple.



Motorola Xoom: Xoom is zooming its way up. For all those geeks out there, this tablet has 3-D games and images in addition to a HDMI output, a dual-core processor and Google’s tablet-optimized version of Android. Yes, all these on a 10.1-inch screen with back and rear cameras. Weighing 730 grams, this tablet feels like a tank in comparison to the ultra-thin iPad 2. Priced at $800 off-contract and $600 with a two-year contract with Verizon, Xoom falls on the expensive side. Xoom is definitely in the lead, closing in on iPad because it has two things that are missing in the new version of iPad 2 – Adobe Flash and a 5MP camera. This heavyweight tablet definitely is a strong contender to Apple’s new gem.

Fun Fact: Xoom has a barometer, so you can stick your dandy tablet out of your window when you think it might rain and check the barometric pressure.



Samsung Galaxy Tab: Good things come in small packages. This saying holds true for Samsung’s tablet. This seven-inch Android tablet boasts two cameras, flash compatibility and a more convenient size. The price is reasonable at $400 with a two-year contract and $600-$650 without a contract. Galaxy Tab is in between iPad 2 and Motorola Xoom. Both Xoom and Galaxy Tab run on Android OS; however, the latter is smaller and more comfortable to handle. The Android apps are still not designed for larger screens. This device behaves more like a supersized Android phone than a Netbook alternative. This cute little tablet may be good, but definitely nowhere near Apple’s iPad.

Fun Fact: Galaxy Tab comes with Swype, like the Android phones. It allows a user to enter a word by sliding a finger from letter to letter, lifting only between words. It’s fun and cool!



When all is said and done, iPad 2 still remains the king of tablets, and Apple continues to dominate the electronic market. What’s your pick?