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Long-awaited tablet computers from Samsung and Toshiba

Will they become good competitors for iPad?

Samsung has finally spilled the details about its long-awaited tablet computer, the Galaxy Tab, during a press conference at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin.

Samsung calls its tablet a “smart media device,” and Galaxy Tab definitely has the specifications to back it up: Android 2.2 support, a Cortex A8 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM and 16/32 GB of internal memory with the possibility of upgrading through microSD memory cards.

Furthermore, there’s a 7-inch TFT-LCD display with 1024×600 pixel resolution, a 3-megapixel camera with autofocus and LED Flash plus an additional front 1.3-megapixel camera for video chats (that’s got to hurt iPad owners at least a little bit) as well as Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity. The dimensions of the device are 190.09 x 120.45 x 11.98mm, with 380 grams of weight, and the battery should last through seven hours of movie playback.

In other words, the iPad got a worthy competitor, not only because of the capable hardware the Tab is sporting, but also because it has the latest and greatest version of Android. Although it’s smaller than the iPad, whose screen measures 9.7 inches, Galaxy Tab does a lot of things the iPad cannot do: It has two cameras, and it supports Flash and a wide variety of multimedia formats, including DivX, XviD, MPEG4, H.263 and H.264.

Samsung has partnered with Vodafone for the launch, and the Galaxy Tab will start selling in October in the majority of Vodafone’s European markets and later this year in the U.S and other markets.

But Samsung isn't the only company announcing Android tablets today.  Toshiba just dropped the Android 2.2-powered Folio 100 on the world.  The specs read like a strong device, with its 1024 x 600 10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen, Tegra 2 processor, and 16GB of built-in memory.  Other features, like the HDMI output, SD card slot, WiFi support, and 1.3 megapixel webcam would have you thinking this will be a force to be reckoned with. Sadly, that's not the vibe we're getting out of the early reports.We're gathering more of a mixed vibe with a lean towards the positive. 

Engadget says the Folio 100 is "less than the sum of its parts" and could redeem itself with a low price point.  At € 399 ($511 US) for the WiFi only tablet will have a hard time competing against the iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab. Meanwhile, Slashgear seemed to enjoy their time with the device today, wishing that it would find its way to the United States.  Gizmodo was disappointed by the battery life, but did point out the three standards of webcam,  mini HDMI port, and USB 2.0 which are noticeably absent from the iPad.