iPad 2 Alternatives: 7 Tablets To Try Instead Of Apple's Latest (PHOTOS)

Critics are gushing about the iPad 2. It's being called "even better than the original" and "the best tablet on the market." But not all consumers want to commit to Apple's new tablet.

Apple's "closed" ecosystem is often cited as one of the platform's biggest drawbacks. Furthermore, the iPad 2 doesn't run Adobe Flash player, while many of its competitors do; it also lacks a 4G offering, which some big-name alternatives now tout.

For those of you who won't be picking up an iPad 2 after March 11, we've got a list of non-Apple tablets that may strike your fancy.

Look through our slideshow of the iPad alternatives--from the small to the beefy, the feature-rich to the bare-bones--and vote for your favorites. Seen any great slates that didn't make our list? Leave your suggestions in the comments (below), or email us at technology[at]huffingtonpost.com. You can also check out our iPad 2 review roundup to see what critics have to say about Apple's new tablet.

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Motorola Xoom

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Running Google's tablet-optimized Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) OS, sporting dual cameras and designed with a 4G upgrade in mind, the Motorola Xoom is a top choice among the iPad's competitors. Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal called this 10.1-inch device "the first truly comparable competitor to Apple's hit iPad." However, the Xoom's price tag ($599 for a base 3G unit with a two-year Verizon contract) may prove to be as daunting for customers as it was for reviewers.

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Running Google's tablet-optimized Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) OS, sporting dual cameras and designed with a 4G upgrade in mind, the Motorola Xoom is a top choice among the iPad's competitors. Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal called this 10.1-inch device "the first truly comparable competitor to Apple's hit iPad." However, the Xoom's price tag ($599 for a base 3G unit with a two-year Verizon contract) may prove to be as daunting for customers as it was for reviewers.

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we-r-stardust said on 12 Saturday 2011 pm31 3:42 pm: Buy two tablets and call me in the morning......

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Comments

[forleigh]

01:51 PM on 03/18/2011

Not sure how this article can recommend tabs that have not yet hit the market.

[Andrew Wojtkowski]

05:16 PM on 03/14/2011

The only thing more brainwashed than an Apple fanboy is a Microsoft or Google fanboy. Apple prides itself on being the toughest kid on the short bus, while Google and Microsoft prides themselves on being the smartest kid on the short bus. I swear both companies are intentionally having these wars to legitimize each others' products and prevent people from actually taking the time to wonder if it's all really worth $600.

The same thing happened to the mobile world. Android and iPhones have horrible antennas, battery life, dropped calls, and call quality. With the impercise nature of the touch screen you are limited to gimmicky apps or have 1/2 of your screen covered up by your fingers on some sort of mock keyboard. So somehow, they've convinced consumers that you should pay hundreds of dollars for a horrible phone with horrible software.

So much so that even RIM felt the need to make their newest phone have a weak antenna, battery life, drop calls frequently, and reduce the call quality.


People think that we're moving forward technologically, but we keep moving backwards in favor of quirks, gimmicks, and shiny objects. So long as we only look at the other kids on the short bus, Apple does look tough, and Google and Microsoft do look smart.

What bugs me is that at one time Google, Microsoft, and RIM made superior products. Now they only legitimize Apple by being equally as pathetic.

[Atomkinder]

10:21 PM on 03/15/2011

Funny, my phone is now several devices in one. It's my only portable MP3 player, it's my GPS, it's my graphing calculator (with three well-working versions), it's my phone (duh), it's my portable gaming device for when I'm bored, and even a portable flashlight (those dual LED "flash" lights are quite bright).

And yeah, the battery lasts all day, and the whole thing fits in my pocket easily! It's exactly the sort of device I was waiting for, considering I don't want to carry five things around, and usually ride my bike to where I'm going.

Oh and that touch screen with a keyboard on it is far better than using a 12-key phone pad to text people, even if I don't do it all that often.

[Atomkinder]

10:22 PM on 03/15/2011

Forgot to add: I don't care for a tablet, however. I don't even have a laptop, and that's fine by me.

[DrKND]

02:11 PM on 03/14/2011

Sorry, and don't mean to be rude, but about this article, OMG, LOL, ROTF! Alternatives to iPad for what real reason? None. Typical anti-Apple wishful thinking paid for press. In this case, alternative clearly means 'alternative to what works.'

[Dan Cogliano]

01:03 PM on 03/14/2011

I can't believe you mention alternatives that have not yet even shipped while there is no mention of the Nook Color, which has been out for several months and is getting rave reviews. Nearly the same resolution as the iPad and iPad2, you can buy two Nook Color's for the price of one iPad2.

[Lisa Willis]

07:14 PM on 03/16/2011

Thank you - I will check that out! My comment on this slideshow was going to be that they are ALL too expensive. These new things always go down in price, so I'll wait for that. I don't even have a smart phone yet - but am planning to go with Cricket since they are by far the most affordable. To me, these pads are more like a luxury or a toy - they don't seem to be that practical unless they're good enough to replace a laptop. And that, I do not know!

[Chuck Dick]

03:02 PM on 03/13/2011

Do most people even know what "closed ecosystem" mean? Do they care? Unless you're a Linux master interested in digging deep within the bowels of your tablet's operating system, this lack of an open ecosystem is a smoke screen laid down by pundits shorting Apple stock.

[Andrew Wojtkowski]

05:48 PM on 03/14/2011

That's exactly what Apple wants you to think. If Apple were king since the 80's, we would not be anywhere near the level that we are at now as far as technological advancements go.

It's not Microsoft that got us here, or Linux per say. But rather their ability to adapt. Apple releases static products. When that static product runs its course, another static product then replaces it.

Think of it like an iPod. 8GB. Then when they feel sales are slipping 16GB. Then 32GB. Then 64GB. Then 128GB. Then a Camera. 8GB. 16GB. 32GB. 64GB. Now smaller. 8GB. 16GB. 32GB.

Why not just have one that accepts some sort of SD card? Why have a version that doesn't have a camera even though it has the capability to?

How is arbitrarily limiting what your device can do through a software brick wall a GOOD thing? The only possible explination is to then tear down that brick wall one brick at a time, to make it look like you are doing them a favor.

[JohnTheMac]

09:57 PM on 03/14/2011

"Think of it like an iPod. 8GB. Then when they feel sales are slipping 16GB. Then 32GB. Then 64GB. Then 128GB."

So, then why, when they came out with the 8 GB iPod, didn't someone else come out with a 128GB player with a camera?

[AMERIKA]

02:57 PM on 03/13/2011

Can anyone suggest a wireless tablet that only needs to connect in house on just one website? Best value for money?

[tonyjim]

11:55 AM on 03/13/2011

Google's Android has never been about the technology, it was just a vehicle to generate ad revenue for Google. To that end, they are successful. Only wish there was a way around all those annoying pop up ads. And on an android tablet, that ads will just be, well, bigger.

[666dorado]

12:07 PM on 03/13/2011

they should rename it ADroid

[Krek]

12:24 PM on 03/13/2011

The only ads on Android are on free apps and the web. No different from Apple. Of course ads on Android are just ads - they're not 'magical' or ' revolutionary' ads - so clearly they've a lot to learn.

[tonewheel]

11:53 AM on 03/13/2011

Benchmark Tests: iPad 2 Trounces Xoom.

http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/03/12/ipad.2.benched.against.xoom/

[Gulliver Foyle Jr]

10:38 AM on 03/13/2011

The public would really like to try alternatives to iPad 2, but most of what you have in your story are not yet available, which means the are, at best, one year behind, which is forever in tech time.

[Andrew Wojtkowski]

05:38 PM on 03/14/2011

This is actually quite a bit behind the times as far as tech goes, but it's a very common misconception.

There was once a time where a computer became obsolete within a year. A computer purchased in 1998 could not run a video game released in 1999, or an operating system released in 2000. However, we are nearing the point of stagnation of technology.

The needs of the majority of people are being met. Innovation is driven by the pockets of the few. Video games are being held back by pathetically weak consoles, and operating systems are erring on the side of ease over power.

After all, once you can stream HD content instantly, your web pages load instantly, and systems take almost no time to boot up, where IS up?

It is possible for a manufacturer to make a product that can sufficiently feed every need of a vast majority of consumers tomorrow. But once that happens, where do they go? Smaller? Larger?

Unless you fool them into thinking that they're buying the latest and greatest tech, when even some of the hottest gadgets (Kinect, 3DS) are using 9+ year old technology.

[Toddynho]

09:40 AM on 03/13/2011

Not interested in a tablet, I thought I was until a friend lent me his Ipad for a week telling me "it would change me world". It didn't. It was fun for a day, but in the end it couldn't really do anything that the current technology around me already does.Ya, cute APP time-wasters, but that's that. I'll not right them off completely, but for now, meh...

[kooosh]

05:43 AM on 03/13/2011

I'm rooting for Android to be a serious competitor in this market, but they are nowhere near there yet. These tablets will never compete with Apple until they get their prices down UNDER where the iPad 2 is AND offer somewhere near a comparable number of apps.

An SD slot and flash isn't going to convince anyone. Sorry haters, but you'll have to do better than that.

Not buying either right now, but these Android tabs aren't serious competitors at this point.

[ReichWingKaput]

04:41 AM on 03/13/2011

Seven things to waste your money on only to wish you had bought an iPad.

[Toddynho]

09:36 AM on 03/13/2011

Actually, ipad was the first to create a whole new line of uselessness for people to waste their money on, only to look hip in coffee shops.

[666dorado]

02:12 PM on 03/13/2011

people trying to look hip exist everywhere and are not exclusive to ipad owners.

i myself and seriously considering one because my laptop is too cumbersome for travel for just business communications through the cell networks, plus i don't want to lose all my important work related stuff if it ever got stolen.

i'm on the road in foreign countries quite a bit where i live and travel for work (by bus or plane or car). i can't get a local contract for the iphone here since i'm not a resident in any of these countries, which means i can't get a smartphone data plan. but they offer pre paid data plans for the ipad for some reason (like phone cards for the ipad). ipad isn't tied to any network or carrier, so i'd be free to use it, as opposed to iphone international data roaming tied to ATT contract, which i do NOT want.

so you see, it's quite presumptious to think that ipads are just for time wasting wannabees. there are multiple potential uses for it.

[stupid humans]

09:26 PM on 03/13/2011

you've obviously lost your towel.....

[SadButWiser]

12:17 AM on 03/13/2011

This is an excellent comparison between the iPad2 and Xoom side by side. (Video)

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2381812,00.asp

[situationcritical]

03:09 AM on 03/13/2011

The iPad 2 is 3.7 times faster than the Xoom.

[SadButWiser]

12:06 AM on 03/13/2011

Not buying yet. Waiting for iPad 4. I need a keyboard. Typing using touch screens is like picking your nose with your thumb. No pleasure.

[nando858]

09:45 AM on 03/13/2011

buy a laptop

[KarateKid]

11:52 PM on 03/12/2011

None of them make me want to go out and buy a tablet. Let's see how they hold up. They can't match Apple's stylish design.