A lot of ink dried on our Samsung Galaxy Tab articles and now it’s time to take a look at the actual product, just released by Samsung at IFA Berlin 2010. Almost all of the specs we’ve thought off a while ago come true plus a lot of things we’ve never really suspected, making this new slate tablet one of the best tablets around and certainly the best Android tablet to date. It’s hard not to compare it with the iPad, but they’re two different products, and it all comes down from the size difference, 7 vs 9.7 inches, making the iPad something you put in your laptop bag and take out only when really needed.

    At the opposite corner is the Samsung Galaxy Tab, codenamed GT-P1000, one tablet which you can imagine taking with you everywhere in a pouch or man purse (women have the upper hand here, of course, because they carry around purses everyday). The size is still enough to make for an impossible to use smartphone (that’s why Samsung didn’t include an earpiece, just a speakerphone), but adding a Bluetooth headset or corded headphones can help you during your voice calls, as the Galaxy Tab comes with full phone functionality.

    Different views of Samsung Galaxy TAB

    Different views of Samsung Galaxy TAB

    Before we head over to a hands on and a few pics let’s take a look at the general specs of Samsung Galaxy TAB P1000:

    • Display: 7 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel capacitive touchscreen
    • OS: Google Android 2.2
    • CPU: 1GHz Samsung Cortex A8 Hummingbird
    • GPU: PowerVR SGX540
    • RAM: 512MB
    • Storage: 16GB or 32GB of flash storage, plus a microSD card slot for expansion
    • Connectivity: 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetoth 3.0, A-GPS
    • GSM Network: 2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE) : 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz; 3G (HSUPA 5.76Mbps, HSDPA 7.2Mbps) : 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
    • Camera: 1.3MP front-facing camera, 3MP camera on back, 720p HD video recording
    • Video support: DivX, Xvid, MPEG4, H.263, H.264
    • Sensors: Accelerometer, Geo-magnetic sensor, Gyroscope, light sensor
    • Battery: 4,000mAh for up to 1000 minutes of talk time
    • Dimensions: 7.5″  4.7″  0.5″
    • Weight: 0.84 pounds
    • Optional Accessories: Keyboard, stylus, TV-out cable, car dock, covers

    Samsung’s own customizations

    As expected from someone like Samsung, they’ve done a lot of customization on the Galaxy TAB Android tablet. It still uses Android, feels like Android, but doesn’t look like it. The same Touch Wiz UI can be found also on this Samsung product. A lot of the apps were redesigned by Samsung, or even replaced. There’s still support for Google Android Marketplace, but you can also download stuff from the Samsung App store, which will feature application specially designed for the Galaxy TAB. A special mention must be made about the special folders, Readers Hub, Media Hub, Music Hub and Social Hub where things are ordered according to the four areas of interest mentioned in their names. I don’t know yet if this is good, but certainly is different.

    Looks like the iPad but it's so different

    Looks like the iPad but it's so different

    That’s not only something that will make people stick with Samsung (if they get used with some of the features of a certain Samsung only app) but will also help you make the most of the tablet. Why? Because this special built of Android 2.2 Froyo was customized to support the 1024 x 600 pixels resolution of the 7 inch screen. Native Android apps will scale of break (according to people who’ve already previewed it). Don’t worry too much about this, as Samsung says they’re gonna upgrade to Android 3.0 once it becomes available, so we will have native support for the bigger resolution.

    Also on the customizations front, but this time with a negative impact, is the 30 pin custom Samsung connectors, so here’s another type of cable you have to carry around with you at all times. Bad Samsung!

    How if feels like

    As expected, the 1 GHz chip makes this tablet move really fast, just like the Dell Streak we’ve previewed last week. The custom Samsung Touch Wiz interface doesn’t seem to slow down things at all, but considering the hardware used it was hard to imagine the tablet would be sluggish. As of dimensions and weight I have to admit that Samsung has a winner here: it’s just right.

    Samsung's tablet feels just right in hand

    Samsung's tablet feels just right in hand

    When, where and how much?

    Those questions I’m not able to fully answer, as Samsung didn’t answered them completely, but we know it will show up in mid-September in Europe, with dates for the US market to be announced at a later time. Price is also another unknown, with speculated 800 EUR retail price (probably the 32 GB version will be even more expensive), but this 1000$ barrier seems a little bit too high set by Samsung, if it comes up true. I don’t see why I would pay that much for something that won’t replace my ultra-portable laptop or my smartphone.

    You'll be able to get some accessories for the Galaxy TAB

    You'll be able to get some accessories for the Galaxy TAB

    The Hands on and my impressions

    Engadget was at IFA Berlin and got the chance to play with the Samsung Galaxy TAB P1000 Android slate. They liked it, but reserve comments for the time when they’ll get to test the final product. I’m inclined to do the same, but have to admit to myself finding this gadget particularly sexy. Price is the only thing stopping me from deciding on whether to get it or not (and the fact it’s not available yet). How about you, how do you feel about the Samsung Galaxy TAB?

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