Samsung Galaxy Tab - The AnandTech Review
by Vivek Gowri on December 23, 2010 9:48 AM ESTSamsung Galaxy Tab - Oh, That Screen
Really, I have to commend Samsung here. There’s no AMOLED, no IPS, and no S-LCD, but they managed to put a very high quality LED-backlit LCD panel into the Galaxy Tab. The contrast ratio is a devilish 666:1, neatly splitting the difference between the EVO 4G and the Dell Streak, but well short of the iPad’s stellar 934:1 number. But the best thing about the screen is that even without any of the more advanced display technologies, viewing angles are still excellent. As we’ve mentioned before, viewing angles are significantly more important for tablets than netbooks or notebooks, so it’s reassuring to see that Samsung recognizes this.
The 7” display packs the same WSVGA resolution as most 10” widescreen tablets, so the pixel density is relatively high at 170ppi (versus 138 for the iPad and 116 for most 10” WSVGA tablets). Current rumors put some of the upcoming 10” tablets at 1366x768 or 1280x800, so we’ll see pixel density rise for the industry as a whole, but overall the Galaxy Tab has a pleasantly crisp screen.
The end user experience of any tablet really begins with the screen, and it’s probably one of the most overlooked components in any given device. The display can really make or break any tablet, so it’s important to note that the Galaxy Tab has a very good one.
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VivekGowri - Thursday, December 23, 2010 - link
That market folded in on itself right as the tablets launched, sadly. I think people were just getting sick of the netbook form factor. The thing with MeeGo is that it will end up being paired with Intel processors a vast majority of the time.synaesthetic - Thursday, December 23, 2010 - link
Yeah, I knew that would happen once Intel got a hold of it. Though if Intel can deliver with Moorestown and its descendants, perhaps we will see a netbook like device with true instant on capability and very long battery life.The Atoms already can get battery life in the range of extreme to ridiculous, but the instant on is sadly not in the cards right now... maybe with a shift away from Windows 7 Starter and more toward lightweight Linux distros with things like EFI and Boot Booster (my old eeePC booted into WinXP pretty quick from a cold shutdown...)
appliance5000 - Tuesday, January 4, 2011 - link
"What I'd rather see are smartbooks... netbooks with actual keyboards, touchpads, ARM processors, real netbook Linuxdistros like MeeGo or Aurora (NOT Android, mind you) with big batteries and 15+ hour runtime. Not just smartphones made bigger."That's pretty much the macbook air; particularly the 11".
What the iPad is, is a conduit for media distribution. That's where the big money is and that's what Apple is trying to control. Seen in that light it's extremely successful.
Hemi345 - Thursday, December 23, 2010 - link
Baba264, I agree with you. These devices are nothing more than a gadget that has limited use. I see them only being useful for web browsing. All the apps you can download is gimmicky. How often are you going to play games, dyno test your car, or use a tablet with a grocery store app?! Unless you have a specific use in mind, the high price tag puts these devices in a very niche market.But I believe Barnes and Noble has a hot seller on their hands with their new Nook Color for $249. It's an Android-powered eReader that makes more sense in my opinion. The interface is fully customized so it doesn't seem like you're using a smart phone and it's built specifically for people who like to read a lot. 7" low glare screen, 8hrs of battery life, the ability to browse the web and a build quality that makes the Samsung Galaxy Tab look pretty pathetic. It doesn't have as much performance under the hood as the Samsung, but when I demo'd one in the store, it seemed fast enough for what it would mostly be used for. The price is much more reasonable for such a device.
Chris Peredun - Thursday, December 23, 2010 - link
"Outdoor shot taken at 1:45pm in an Audi dealership parking lot. Note the brand new A8."Hard not to notice it with that snout. Are they looking to challenge the Ford-slash-Gilette Fusion for "Most Bladed Front End"?
VivekGowri - Thursday, December 23, 2010 - link
Audi has been doing some funky stuff with their grilles since the 2004 A6 debuted, but this new A8 definitely takes the cake, no lie. I really don't know what their deal with that chrome schnoz is.tipoo - Thursday, December 23, 2010 - link
Pretty sure it has 256MB, not 512, according to the iFixit teardown.VivekGowri - Thursday, December 23, 2010 - link
Riiiiight, I'm a retard. Fixed, thanks for catching that!fabiolo - Thursday, December 23, 2010 - link
Vivek, you are such a tard (f--k). You've been wrong so many time that your credibilty is gone. Please have your self a merry christmas!Sent from a GALAXY TAB
VivekGowri - Thursday, December 23, 2010 - link
Chill, my friend. You have yourself a happy holiday season too. I promise, my new year's resolution is to not forget to update tables.