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Look Out iPad, Here Come Your Competitors

The Australian iPad launch on May 28 caused a frenzy of consumerism as Apple fans lined up to be the first to get their hands on the new gadget. While the US and UK has had the iPad available for a few weeks now, it would seem that no other tablet-style machines exist in the market. While iPad soaks up the media glory, Apple’s competitors are revving up to release some rival tablets that they hope will knock the iPad off its high horse.

DELL STREAK

known as the Mini 5, Dell's tablet will feature a small, five-inch touch screen, running Google's Android operating system.

Free and pay-for apps for Android devices can be downloaded from an online store similar to Apple's App Store. Unlike the iPad, The Streak will have open access wi-fi, be able to make phone calls and has a five-megapixel camera. Dell just released pricing for the UK market at similar to the 16GB iPad. It ships in Britain in July. Local phone and data plans are not yet released.

EEE PAD

Asustek, who produced the famous netbook pc, announced plans to launch a 10-inch screen, Android-based tablet by July. It will have many of the devices that are missing from the iPad, such as a webcam, USB ports and the ability to run Adobe's Flash Web.

HP SLATE

HP's next tablet PC was at first meant to use a version of Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system but the Slate has moved away from this commitment. It will be replaced by a different device using webOS, an operating system developed by smartphone maker Palm, which HP has acquired. Release date is unknown at this point.

KOGAN TECHNOLOGIES

Details are slim but Melbourne-based cheap gadget man Ruslan Kogan has stated that he will bring a Chinese-built, Android-based tablet to market later this year. The Kogan device will include a 7-inch touch screen, an HDMI connector for connecting to a television and a low price of around $200.

E-READERS

If you just want to read ebooks, there are e-readers such as Amazon's $259 Kindle 2 and the $199 Kobo e-readers. Both have six-inch, mono e-ink screens and online access to hundreds of thousands of books.

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