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Close, but no cigar

We’ve been predicting for some time that Apple’s competitors would eventually catch up with its iPad and… well, this isn’t it. But the Acer Iconia Tab is the best alternative I’ve tested so far. And this 32GB WiFi tablet does offer some things the iPad doesn’t. The A500 has a 10,1” screen, weighs a little more than the iPad, and Acer claims it will match the iPad for battery life – around 10 hours with simple use.

It runs the first version of Google’s Android operating system designed for tablets, which is very good indeed. It isn’t yet available with 3G, although we’re told that will come later. For now it’s WiFi only.

Android 3 – or “Honeycomb” – powers the device and has an elegant interface. It allows you to place active widgets and icons on up to five home screens, although you’ll have to apply an additional tap to get into its full pallet of application icons. Applications are the big limiting factor for Android tablets. There are almost 100 000 iPad applications but fewer than 100 for Android. Of course, you can also run all of the smartphone Android apps and some of them work very well; but applications remain a challenge for now. I’ve no doubt that as its market share expands, Android will catch up to – and probably overtake – iOS on that front.

One advantage for South Africans is the full Android Market for applications is available here – in rand. Apple’s store lists app prices in US dollars and South Africans can’t buy games.

By downloading a Flash player from the Android Market, the A500 also allows full access to websites supporting the standard – something the iPad can’t do. The A500 has a USB port for access to storage devices – another thing the iPad falls short on. And it has very impressive speakers: great for watching movies. Under its hood is a powerful Nvidia Tegra processor that lends itself well to games and multimedia.

With a decent range of accessories and a price not too far above the iPad this is one of the better tablet competitors on the market and it’s certainly the next best thing to an iPad. However, despite sporting a few features the iPad doesn’t have, the A500 just falls short of being the killer Android has been promising. Price is the biggest challenge for the Acers of the world and at R600 more than an equivalent iPad it’s hard to pick the A500 instead.

Review

VERDICT: The best iPad competitor so far.

COMPLEXITY: Android isn’t quite as intuitive as iOS.

PRICE: R6 000.

ALSO CONSIDER: Apple iPad 2.

VALUE RATING: 7/10.
 
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