Samsung Galaxy Tab Review. Holiday Gift Idea.

Weighing in at 13.58 ounces with a 7″ screen, the Samsung Galaxy Tab features a 1024 x 600 resolution. This make a nice size screen for us bloggers on the go. While not as large as the comparable 9.7″ (diagonal) Apple iPad, the Galaxy Tab is perfect for traveling, school or everyday at home use.  The screen is quite large enough for on-the-go blogging and reading your favorite e-novel with Amazon Kindle e-reader. I viewed my copy of Twilight and had no problems at all reading it. It was comparable to reading a regular paperback.

At first glance, the Samsung Galaxy Tab is just a larger version to the HTC Incredible I reviewed a few weeks ago. It is pre-loaded with several useful apps and many, MANY more can be downloaded in the Android Market™.

The camera takes very nice pictures with a 3.0 MP rear-facing camera. (Incredible phone has an outstanding 8.0 MP camera!) But I also like that the Tab has a 1.3 MP front-facing camera as well. Great for video messaging/conferencing with Skype. And the camcorder is great for filming video for your presentations or for capturing your little ones first steps to share online!

Camera

• 3.0MP rear–facing camera
• Auto–focus
• Flash
• 1.3MP front–facing camera

Video

• 3.0MP rear–facing camcorder
• DivX HD video playback

The music player is awesome and you can create playlists and use your Galaxy Tab as an MP# player. The built-in speakers pack a great sound alone or you can insert speakers in the top jack and be the life of the party.

Music

• Create and Manage playlists
• Music Player For: MP3, WMA, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, MIDI, WAV, & SP–MIDI Formats
• Headset Jack: 3.5mm

I was ab;e to browse any website with the HTML browser and Wi-Fi connection and it was super fast. Because it is powered with Google services, you do need a GMAIL account to set up your device. I happen to love GMAIL anyway and was ab;e to retrieve all emails and check-in in no time flat.

Web

• HTML Browser with Adobe® Flash® 10.1
• Wi–Fi (802.11 b/g/n)
• Thousands of apps & hundreds of widgets available on Android Market™
• Amazon Kindle e–Reader
• Google Services including Gmail, Google Talk, YouTube™, Google Calendar, Google Search, Google Maps, Latitude, Places

Thousands of apps & hundreds of widgets available on Android Market™

The built-in alarm clock is amazing! Set it and forget it and you will never be late again. I set the alarm and totally forgot. At 7 PM the alarm sounded, scaring the living daylights out of me! ha ha ha There are tons of great tones you can choose too. Real songs! And with the 500 stand-by time on the battery, you really can use it as your own personal alarm clock if staying away from home.

Communication

• Bilingual User Interface: English/Espanol
• Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) via AllShare
• Widgets (AccuWeather Clock, Daily Briefing, News and Weather)
• Notification Ringtones
• Tools: Alarm Clock, World Clock, Calendar & Memo
• Text, Picture & Video Messaging with threaded messaging , Consumer Email, and Corporate Email

Bluetooth Technology

• Bluetooth® Profiles: Object Push for vCard & vCalendar, SPP, BPP, A2DP, AVRCP, GAVDP, AVDTP, and AVCTP

This tablet is super duper thin. It is quite slippery with its shiny plastic back so don’t ever set it on the couch or anywhere it could get knocked off easily because it will go sliding. But that makes it absolutely perfect for students (or anyone else) needing to quickly slide it in their backpack or brief case.

Specifications
Dimensions: 7.48″ (H) x 4.74″ (W) x 0..47″ (D)

• Weight: 13.58 ounces

Operating System

• Android 2.2 (Froyo) + Samsung TouchWiz (User Interface)

Display

• 7.0” Touch Screen
• 1024×600 WSVGA TFT LCD display
• Supports up to 16M color
• 6–Axis Motion Sensor and Accelerometer

Just like the HTC Incredible smartphone, this tablet features a Touch Qwerty keyboard. It does take some getting used to because it is uber sensitive to your touch and in the beginning, it is easy to make typos.  But once you get the hang of it, it is extremely easy, and fun, to type on.

Keyboard

• Virtual QWERTY Keyboard with Swype and Samsung keypad options

Battery

• Usage time: up to 780 minutes
• Standby time: up to 500 hours
• SAR: Body 1.01 W/kg

Memory / Processor

• 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Processor
• 2GB internal memory & 16GB microSD™ card pre–installed
• Up to 32GB microSD™ Optional Removable Memory Supported

The Samsung Gaalaxy Tab at Veriaon Wireless makes a great Holiday gift for that hard to by for techy loved one on your list.

Pricing

$599.99 with month to month service (Verizon Wireless)