Price: $570 (in Europe)
Motorola has been cutting the price of its exiting Xoom tablet in advance of the launch of its follow-up in Australia, so a bargain could be had if you are happy with the original.
However, it may be worth waiting for the Xoom 2, which is set for an Australian release this year.
Pros: Smaller and lighter than the original, the Xoom 2 has roughly the same dimensions and weight as the iPad2. Motorola touts its “PC-like” support for business users, with a good performance when it comes to video conferencing, scheduling and document creation.
Cons: No 3G connectivity. Only comes, at present, in a 16GB version, with no Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade either.
Price: $579 for Wi-Fi and $729 for a 16GB 3G version
Following a long-running legal back-and-forth between Samsung and Apple, the former’s centrepiece tablet, the Galaxy Tab, was finally introduced to Australian consumers shortly before Christmas.
But is the Galaxy Tab a genuine rival to the iPad?
Pros: Comes in 3G and WiFi versions. Sleek design. Has received praise for its smooth operating system and battery life, as well as including handy business software such as Polaris Office 3.0.
Cons: Lacks a full-size USB port and a micro-USB port. At the pricier end of the Android spectrum.
Price: Unknown
Okay, this one is a little speculative as the Windows 8 platform won’t appear on any Microsoft tablet until much later this year.
However, this could be the dark horse in the tablet race. The Windows 8 interface, called Metro, is more unlike the iPad than any of its other rivals, offering an interesting point of difference.
It is still very early days when it comes to predicting if Microsoft can turn the tables on Apple. Little is known about Windows 8 but if it is offered on a tablet at the rumoured price point of $200, cost-conscious entrepreneurs could be queuing up for a piece of the action.
