Since the arrival of the Apple iPad, it seems that there is a new tablet computer being released into the market every week. Tablet computers, the practical and happy middle-ground between a smartphone and a laptop, have rocketed into the mainstream leaving many consumers overwhelmed by the amount of choices in the tablet landscape.
iPad
The iPad reigns as the king of tablet computers and with its price tag, it's guaranteed to stay on top. Its most prized attributes include usability and its impressive selection of apps, games and media.
Android tablets
The Android tablet, running Google's Android operating system, is the runner up to the iPad and offers the widest range of alternatives. It comes in all sizes and price points and is availalbe from different manufacturers.
Windows Tablets
Windows-based tablets, also known as PC tablets, are as close to a laptop experience as you can get. Some models known as "convertibles" offer physical keyboards that either flip behind the touch screen or slide out, converting from tablet to laptop when needed.
Other Tablets
The majority of tablet manufacturers are running Android or Windows on the devices, yet some companies are looking to replicate Apple's successful top-down approach by building the hardware and operating system from scratch.
Two examples include the RIM BlackBerry PlayBook and HP's WebOS-based tablet, potential future key players, still in their early stages of development.
E-Book Readers
Examples: Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook Color, Sony Reader
The early e-book readers (Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook Color, Sony Reader) were simple and straightforward. They offered the ability to read e-books, magazines and newspapers and were tied to specific content vendors such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Sony.
There is a growing trend of the lower price-point Android tablets being marketed as e-book readers. These devices offer most of the functions of a traditional e-book reader, but they can also be used for a broader range of purposes, such as Web browsing, e-mail and video playback.
Traditional e-readers, with their free 3G e-book store access and e-ink screens, still have a place in the tablet world, and with their lower price range, are especially appealing for the budget-conscious consumer.