The top 5 alternative tablets to the iPad 2

There’s no doubt that the tablet computer is here to stay following the release of the iPad a couple
of years ago. Now there are literally dozens of differed models to choose from, ranging from the cheap
and cheerful through to premium devices that are much along the lines of the Apple gadget itself.

And, what’s more, not all of us can either afford or want an iPad – often because we’ve grown to
love the Android operating system that is featured on our smartphones. If you’re of that persuasion
then there’s a raft of tablet options and they come in at a variety of different price points too.

What to go for?

Well, that all depends on how much you want to spend in a lot of cases, although it’s not just
solely about price. The Asus Eee Pad Transformer, for example, is a perfect rival tablet to the iPad
mainly because it comes with a keyboard dock, which means you can use it pretty much as a standard
laptop. That’s great for people who don’t really get on with the virtual keyboards on most mobile
devices.

If you want a high-end tablet, on the other hand, that can do pretty much everything the iPad does
but via an Android interface, then the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is perhaps the one to go for. It’s not
cheap to buy, but the specification and feature set are right up there with the best of them, and you’ve
also got the versatility and freedom of the Android OS.

HTC makes some great smartphones and their large tablet version of the same concept is the Flyer.

This is another super-cool tablet that looks a treat and, while it’s not exactly cheap either, you do
get the benefit of a fantastic interface. If you love HTC handsets then this is surely the one to
investigate before you work down the line of other tablet options.

Another route to take is that of the Motorola Xoom 2, which is a freshly updated version of this
popular tablet that also runs on Android. It looks pretty cool, has a decent design and build and is
pretty potent in the performance stakes with a 1.2GHz processor that makes it chunter along nicely.

There’s also 16GB of storage and a 5-megapixel camera on-board too.

And, last but not least, is the Sony Tablet S, which is a new release and comes with all of the
usual style and finesse you’d associate with this brand. It’s got a quirky design too, with a really
practical angled screen that’s a generous 9.4-inches. You also get compatibility with PS3 controllers
and, what’s more, the whole thing can be used as a rather large remote control to work everything from
your TV through to your set-top box.

So there we have it, a mixed bag of alternatives to the iPad, with a variety of different
specifications but all with the added bonus of the Android operating system too.

Rob Clymo writes on behalf of Broadband Genie, the online comparison site for broadband, mobile broadband and smartphones. Follow the link for the latest cheap broadband deals.

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