iPad Competition: Will Attorneys Use Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1?
Looks like Apple's iPad tablet may have some real competition - the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, one of the newest Android-based tablet computers out there.
Will attorneys be flocking to this new tablet computer?
It's a tentative "maybe," and like most Apple v. Android battles, it sometimes comes down to what you want out of your tablet - and what you want to use it for.
For example, if you're looking to use a tablet as a place where you can store some documents and read through papers when you're on some flight, choosing between the two tablets may be difficult. After all, they are priced about the same, with the Galaxy Tab 10.1 coming in at $499 for the 16-gigabyte model and $599 for the 32-gigabyte model. They even weigh about the same. The Galaxy Tab comes in at around 1.25 lbs, and the iPad is a little heftier at 1.33 lbs.
It's the battery life - and the available applications - that seem to really make a difference.
The battery life of the Samsung Galaxy Tab comes in at little over half of the battery life of the iPad 2, according to tests run by the staff at The Wall Street Journal. So, the Galaxy Tab has around 5 hours 38 minutes of battery life when running a video loop nonstop, while the iPad 2 can last for 10 hours 9 minutes in the same conditions.
And, the Apple store simply has way more applications for purchase and download compared to the Android market.
Of course, if you're looking just to store some files and read documents, like many attorneys would want to do, you don't necessarily need the fancy bells and whistles of thousands of different applications at your fingertips. But, if you're looking to use the tablet not only as a document review device but for other purposes, the iPad 2 might be a better investment.
The battery life seems to be the main issue with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. For attorneys who might not have access to power outlets, or who are mobile, it might be a better investment to get a device that can last longer.
Related Resources:
- Galaxy Tab 10.1 Review: The best Android has to offer (The Washington Post)
- The iPad 2: Is it Right for Your Practice? (FindLaw's Technologist)
- Apple to Update iPad Software: Good for Law Practice? (FindLaw's Technologist)