Galaxy Tab - iPad killer?

Hardly. That's the answer I can absolutely use when I think of the Galaxy Tab versus the iPad and if asked the question if the Galaxy Tab would beat the iPad in both sales and capabilities/technological prowess. The Galaxy Tab has several issues that I believe will hinder it in the long run.

See, Apple does market research. Extensively. And they offer products to the mass markets that they know will sell based on ideas and their extensive research. How is this proven? Just look at Mac sales, iPod, iPhone, etc. and try to dispute the point. Whether you love or hate Apple (or you're an in-betweener), Apple makes products that are built to sell and capture your attention, lovingly. Google has also captured some of this magic and assisted in development of a comparable mobile operating platform in Android. The mass public has basically spoken and have made their choice when it comes to the battling OSes: iOS vs. Android. However, Apple has a point when it comes to their technology and it was made recently in an earnings report call, which Steve Jobs sat in on. Mr. Jobs compared Android to iOS and noted the key difference is in the fragmentation: Android revisions and iterations will not always be available to all mobile devices utilizing Android, whereas iOS will always be available for any iPhone that the OS is made for (e.g. if the OS is designed to work with iPhone 3G, 3Gs, 4, etc. then it will work on any of those phones worldwide). The same concept applies for the iPad. The Galaxy Tab will not always receive the latest version of Android, though by the time future versions are no longer compatible, a newer, better piece of equipment and hardware will be made available, so this is really not too big of a deal. However, the second point is where things get really interesting and it is one that can only be taken head-on over time and with extensive developer support. iOS has a vast (emphasis on VAST) App Store market with a wealth of apps of all types that are both available for the iPad and the iPhone/iPod Touch. What this means is that the iPad has a multitude of options at its disposal when it comes to users installing and discovering new software to help them tackle certain daily tasks, projects, etc. Android does not have as extensive of a market available currently and, therefore, cannot directly compete with iOS in this regard. Users can always install third-party apps, but that isn't much of a plus, since the iPad can be "jailbroken", allowing users to install third-party apps at their convenience. Users will also have a tough time with their finger movements, as the Galaxy Tab is only 7" in diagonal measure, whereas the iPad is 10" - which makes the iPad an easier device to type on and handle more complex tasks without the need for squeezing your fingers together. You know a device isn't ready, finally, when even the company that designs and publishes the final revisions of the base operating system, Google, advises all companies working on tablets that would like to utilize Android to hold out until version 3.0 "Gingerbread", to ensure compatibility and full capabilities.

Will the Galaxy Tab make a splash and find a niche market to thrive and get people seeing how Android performs on a tablet device? Absolutely. Is it the iPad killer? Well, considering we're still waiting for that "iPhone killer", the answer is a definite "no". However, devices like this will keep Apple on their toes and promote innovation, which is beneficial for all consumers, no matter how you slice it.