Test-driving the Galaxy Tab

The last time I navigated something with "Galaxy" in its name I was just 19. It was a used 1967 Ford Galaxy 500 and the very first car with my name on the title. I loved that car and it carried me through most of my college days.

I'm taking a different kind of Galaxy for a test-drive now — the Samsung Galaxy Tab. It's the much-touted competitor to the Apple iPad and available from a bevy of wireless carriers, including Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint. AT&T wireless will start selling the tablet Sunday. Because it’s available on four major U.S. wireless carriers at or near its release, the Galaxy will appeal to customers who don’t want to switch carriers. The iPad, by contrast, is still limited to AT&T and Verizon (using the Verizon Mi-Fi portable hot spot) for Internet connectivity.

Apple customers have the option of buying a Wi-Fi-only iPad. Samsung said the Wi-Fi-only version of the Galaxy Tab will be released early next year.

My early impressions of the Galaxy Tab:

— I really like the size (4.75-by-7.5 inches). It's very easy to hold with either one or both hands. The device has a solid feel and at 0.84 pounds, it's just about half the size and weight of the iPad.

— Using the virtual keyboard in portrait mode has me using my thumbs to type, just as I do on my iPhone. In landscape mode, I type as I do on a normal keyboard, but sometimes find myself using just my index fingers. The keyboard is very responsive, and I really like the slight vibration the device makes with each keystroke.

— The screen is very bright and easy to read.

— Using Verizon's 3G network, the device is very fast. Web pages load quickly. Downloading applications is also fast, with tens of thousands of apps available through the Google Android Market.

— The device is screaming fast using a Wi-Fi connection. I connect this way while using the Galaxy Tab at home and feel almost no delay when jumping between websites or moving from application to application. Watching video is a glitch-free pleasure.

— Battery life is excellent. I used the device nearly nonstop for four hours and a about eight hours total the other day, watching video and listening to music at the same time. The battery level was still above 50 percent at the end of the day.

— The device needs a kickstand. I don't like having to hold the tablet when watching a video, or especially when watching a movie. Some of the newest smart phones come with stands and I think Samsung should add one to the next-generation Galaxy Tab. I strongly recommend that buyers look for a case that includes a way to prop the device at a 45-degree angle, maybe steeper.

— I really, really like the Google Android 2.2 operating system. Adding and deleting e-mail and social networking accounts is intuitive and easy. The notification bar atop the screen is a favorite feature, as icons show the arrival of new e-mail, alerts and other items you're interested in keeping on top
of. I also like the four main navigation buttons on the bottom, front of the device, “info,” “home,” “back” and “search.” They all get a workout as I navigate through applications and across the Web. I like this form of navigation more than the lone "home" button on the face of my iPhone and the iPad.

— Flash video plays just fine. Unlike the Apple iPad, sites still using Flash to display video are just fine. On the iPad all I see is a black box. This is a huge plus and a great feature of the Android system.

— Not all Android apps are compatible with the Galaxy Tab. Yet. I tried two different Twitter apps with no luck. I was able to use Twitter just fine through the Twitter website. I also was disappointed to see the Verizon NFL Mobile app doesn't yet work with the Galaxy Tab.

— The front- and rear-facing cameras are a great feature. The picture quality of the 1.3 megapixel front-facing and 3.0 megapixel rear-facing cameras is just average, but this alone would swing me towards the Galaxy Tab instead of the iPad. I'm not sure what Apple is waiting for, but it's missing the boat if the next-generation iPad doesn't include cameras. I downloaded the Skype app and was able to make a voice call, but the videoconferencing feature isn't ready yet.

— The price. Verizon sells the Galaxy Tab for $599.99. This is month-to-month with no service contract. Data plans are additional. I suspect Wi-Fi-only version will cost less. I think this price is a bit steep, considering the cost of smart phones that do pretty much the same thing (although those come with a subsidized price and a two-year contract.) The price for the tricked-out iPad is $829, which to me is still too much for a device that's not exactly a computer and doesn't really replace or do anything better than the full-fledged Macbook in our living room. Sprint is selling the Galaxy Tab for $399.99, plus activation fee, with a two-year service contract. T-mobile is selling the Galaxy Tab for $399.99 with a two-year service contract.

The Galaxy Tab is really cool device that I would love to have. It's very portable and does most things Web very well. It won't replace a laptop with a full keyboard and loaded with programs that let me do my job with ease. Now, if someone decides to drop the price to $200, or even $250, I might be interested.

Heck, I'd even pay $250 to get my old Galaxy 500 back.