Apple's iPad 2 Tops Consumer Reports' Tablet Ratings

In the news release, Apple's iPad 2 Tops Consumer Reports' Tablet Ratings, issued

05-Apr-2011 by Consumer Reports over PR Newswire, we are advised by the organization

that the fifth paragraph, second sentence, should read "The top-scoring iPad 2

lasted 12.2 hours, but one of the lowest rated, the Dell Streak 7, $450, lasted just

3.8 hours" rather than "The top-scoring iPad 2 lasted 12.2 hours, but the lowest-

rated tablet, the Archos 70 Internet Tablet, $270, lasted just 3.8 hours" as

originally issued inadvertently. The complete, corrected release follows:


Top-rated tablet faces stiff competition from Motorola Xoom in lab tests

YONKERS, N.Y., April 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After almost a year in which

the Apple iPad has been virtually the only game in town in tablet computers, some

serious competitors are finally hitting the market. Yet in Consumer Reports latest

tests of the 10 most-promising tablet computers, the Apple iPad 2 with Wi-Fi and 3G

topped the Ratings. 

In Consumer Reports lab tests, the Motorola Xoom revealed itself as the iPad 2's

chief rival.  Like the iPad 2, the Xoom boasts a 10-inch screen but adds

conveniences that the iPad lacks, including a built-in memory card reader and

support for the Flash videos and animations found on many Web sites.

"So far, Apple is leading the tablet market in both quality and price, which is

unusual for a company whose products are usually premium priced," said Paul

Reynolds, Electronics Editor at Consumer Reports. "However, it's likely we'll see

more competitive pricing in tablets as other models begin to hit the market."

Consumer Reports tested tablets from Archos, Dell, Motorola, Samsung, and ViewSonic,

as well as several models from Apple. Each tablet was evaluated on 17 criteria,

including touch-screen responsiveness, versatility, portability, screen glare, and

ease of use, and testers found several models that outperformed the rest. The Apple

iPad 2 with Wi-Fi plus 3G (32G), $730, topped the Ratings, scoring Excellent in

nearly every category.  The first-generation iPad, $580, also outscored many of the

other models tested but tied with the Motorola Xoom, $800.

The largest gap in performance among the 10 tested tablets was evident in Consumer

Reports' battery-life test, measured by playing the same video clip continually on

each tablet and timing how long it played until the battery ran down.  The top-

scoring iPad 2 lasted 12.2 hours, but one of the lowest rated, the Dell Streak 7,

$450, lasted just 3.8 hours.

Before choosing a tablet, Consumer Reports recommends that consumers consider the

following:

Many features are almost universal.  Easy-to-use touch screens based on capacitive

technology are now widely available.  All the models Consumer Reports tested feature

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, a front-facing webcam, and GPS capability. 

Android-based models can be expanded using built-in USB ports or slots for SD flash

-memory cards, but the iPad 2 lacks both. 

You get what you pay for. With prices for the best tablets still too high for many

budgets, consumers may be tempted by lower-priced competitors. Don't be, says

Consumer Reports, whose tests have found the performance of models costing $300 and

under to be at best mediocre.  Buying a tablet with a data plan may lower the

initial cost of the device, but cancelling early may result in a stiff penalty. 

Otherwise, it might be cheaper to buy a 3G-capable model without a contract.