
<p> </p>
<p>Unfortunately this sort of discussion becomes very heated very quickly with many Zealots both for and against the following products and very few in the middle. Alas the most balanced opinion that I can give is to point out the diferences between the Mac and Android products and then leave you to come to the same opinion as me: Android devices provide a better way forward and are more user-friendly.</p>
<p>By "way forward", their hardware appears to be bettter spec'd and easier to connect to other devices, and by "user-friendly", I mean that the user is able to do what he or she wants with the device, without offending the creators; infact the whole Android concept challanges you to push the boundary.</p>
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="128" valign="top"> </td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p><strong>IPAD</strong></p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p><span class="SpellE"><strong>Xoom</strong></span></p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p><strong>Galaxy Tab 10.1</strong></p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p><strong>Toshiba Pad</strong></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p><strong>Size &amp; Weight</strong></p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>241.2 x 185.7 x 8.8 mm (613g)</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>249.1 x 167.8 x 12.9 mm (730g)</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>246.2 x 170.4 x 10.9 mm (599)</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>Unknown, b<span class="SpellE">ut</span> larger than the rest</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p><strong>Connectivity</strong></p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p><span class="SpellE">WiFi</span>, 3G, Bluetooth</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p><span class="SpellE">WiFi</span>, 3G, Bluetooth, Micro USB, HDMI</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p><span class="SpellE">WiFi</span>, Bluetooth, USB (proprietary)</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p><span class="SpellE">WiFi</span>,  Bluetooth, USB, Mini USB2,  SD,  HDMI</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p><strong>Display</strong></p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>9.7 inch</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>10.1 inch</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>10.1 inch</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>10.1 inch</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p><strong>Storage</strong></p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>Up to 64Gb</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>Up to 32Gb</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>16Gb</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>8-32Gb</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p><strong>Chip</strong></p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>1GHz dual-core Apple A5</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p><span class="SpellE">Nvidia</span> <span class="SpellE">Tegra</span> 2 Dual Core 1Ghz</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>Dual-core 1GHz</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p><span class="SpellE">Nvidia</span> <span class="SpellE">Tegra</span> 2 dual-core</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p><strong>Camera</strong></p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>Front:  VGA</p>
<p>Rear: HD</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>Front: 2MP</p>
<p>Rear: 5MP (HD)</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>Front: 2MP</p>
<p>Rear: 8MP (HD)</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>Front: 2MP</p>
<p>Rear: 5MP (HD)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p><strong>Battery</strong></p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>9-10 hours</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>9-10 hours</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>Unknown</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>Unknown</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p><strong>Availability in NZ</strong></p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>Available</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>Release in the USA</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>2nd quarter 2011</p>
</td>
<td width="128" valign="top">
<p>Unknown</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Currently the IPAD has the most storage (which is a big deal) but also continues not to support Flash (which is even a bigger deal). As far as my wants go, any of these evices would be made perfect if they also had a network port. This would allow me to use my pad for doing complete network diagnostics, which would be great. The USB ports on the Android systems at least potentally make this possible.</p>
<p>While at the moment there are not as many apps for the Android Pads, this will change very quickly. I suppose the real issue with these Pads is that they are new and may not have all their teething problems sorted out. That said, I survived the glitches of the earth Android phones and am looking forward to the soon realease of the Android Honecomb products in New Zealand later this year.</p>
<p> </p>