Due to the same reasons, the Microsoft Surface Pro is often compared to a variety of products including tablets, ultrabooks and hybrids. For instance, the device from Microsoft is usually pitted against the Apple iPad and the MacBook Air simultaneously. At alaTest, we will do a comparative analysis of three gadgets – Microsoft Surface Pro, MacBook Air and Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13.

1. Microsoft Surface Pro – Once you examine the specs of Surface Pro, you will be more inclined to slot it among ultrabooks. It ships with a dual core, 1.7GHz Intel i5 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage and 10.6-inch display. Additionally, it also has a few USB 3.0 ports along with a micro-SDXC slot. It weighs close to 2 pounds which is a tad bit heavy for a regular tablet. At the same time, it is lighter than any ultrabook on the market. All in all, the Microsoft Surface Pro makes for a powerful ultrabook(when used with a portable keypad) with a high quality processor. It is ideal for frequent flyers who want to get some business done while travelling. It could also double up as a tablet with a touch screen if you are comfortable with the weight and the size.

2. MacBook Air - The Microsoft Surface Pro is often compared to MacBook Air as both of them have very similar specifications. The Surface Pro can be easily used as an ultrabook by attaching a portable keyboard. Both the Surface Pro and MacBook Air have the same processor specs i.e. dual core Intel i5 1.7GHz and both of them come with 4GB RAM. MacBook has a bigger display and it is also slightly heavier than Surface Pro. The major difference boils down to the operating system – Windows 8 versus iOS. In terms of performance, there isn’t a lot separating the two and the choice comes down to personal preferences.

3. Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 - The Lenovo IdeaPad is a hybrid which promises to give you the best of both the worlds i.e. a tablet and an ultrabook. The Lenovo hybrid boasts of a 360 degree hinge feature, using which, you can convert it from a laptop to a touch-friendly tablet. It ships with an Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB RAM and 128GB storage space. The hybrid promises to give you a high quality experience, both as a tablet as an ultrabook. Just like the Surface Pro, Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 runs on Windows 8 but the former has a stronger processor. However, Lenovo’s battery life is comparatively better than Surface Pro. Clearly then, the differences are minor and you will have to make a choice based on your priorities.

At alaTest, we have put together a list of some of the best Android tablets out there. As a note of caution, some of these tablets are transformables as they can be used as an ultrabook or a notebook by attaching a portable keyboard.

1. Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 – With a 1.6GHz Tegra 3 CPU, the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity is one of the fastest Android tablets as of now. The 10.4-inch wide tablet weighs close to 1.32 pounds and is 0.33 inches thick. In other words, it is lightweight, easy to carry and the design is impressive. It comes pre-loaded with Android 4.0.3 and the display is much better than many other tablets. Finally, this Asus tablet has an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera, both of which perform brilliantly. As the name indicates, it can be transformed into an ultrabook with the help of a keyboard dock which can be bought with the tablet itself.

2. Google Nexus 10 – The Google Nexus 10 runs on 1.7GHz dual-core Exynos 5250 CPU and it ships with 2GB RAM. The tablet which weighs a mere 1.33 pounds was one of the first of its kind to run on Android 4.2. The Google Nexus 10 boasts of a sturdy design, high resolution display and an unbelievably fast processor. All in all, it comes highly recommended if you are looking for an Android tablet.

3. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 – The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 comes with a stylus or an S Pen. It takes a little getting used to, but once you get there, it can expand the range of things you can do with your tablet. Performance wise, the tablet is powered by 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos CPU and 2GB RAM. It comes with Android 4.0.1 with an upgrade available for Jelly Bean. As with the other tablets, the tablet performs well and the design is impressive as well.

Besides these tablets, there are other variants with some differences in hardware and software. Among these, we recommend Asus Transformer TF300, Google Nexus 7 and Asus Transformer Prime.

If you are planning to buy a 7-inch tablet, there are quite a few options to choose from. Here is a list of the best 7-inch tablets available in the market as of now:

1. Google Nexus 7 - Right at the onset, the Google Nexus 7 boasts of some very solid technical features- it is powered by a quad core processor and comes with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, both of which gaurantee a stellar performance. The tablet has a sharp display and the touch screen is pleasantly smooth to use. Being a Google device, it gives you access to all Google apps including Google Maps, Gmail, Chrome and many more. As with all other 7-inch tablets, you can hold it in one hand or you could even squeeze it in a pocket.

2. Amazon Kindle Fire HD - The Amazon Kindle Fire HD ships with a dual core processor and 512 MB RAM. These might seem lacklustre compared to other 7-inch tablets but the Kindle Fire HD was one of the earliest 7-inch tablets to be released in the market. Even though it lacks a camera, 3G and a few other features, it does deliver on the performance front.

3. Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 - In terms of technical specifications, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 boasts of Android 4.0 and Samsung’s TouchWiz UI. It also offers features like a dual camera and expandable memory. Recently, Samsung also released a 7.7 inch tablet, Galaxy Tab 7.7 which has some notably improved features like AMOLED display and super slim body.

4. Blackberry Playbook- While Blackberry OS has been under severe criticism for slow performance, one has to give credit where it is due. The Blackberry Playbook comes with a 1GHz dual core processor and Blacberry Playbook OS 2.0. It makes for a decent tablet with a very few problem areas like lack of apps or a slower OS. Besides these options, you can also check out the Barnes and Noble HD and Amazon Kindle Fire.

The following is a list of all the models of Kindle with a brief description of each.

1. Kindle 4- As the name suggests, this is actually Kindle 4^th generation, but it commonly goes by the simple name, The Kindle. It is the very basic model and is priced accordingly at $79. This model is lighter and smaller than any other Kindle reader even though it comes with a 6-inch screen. As it is the entry model, it does not offer any additional features- you can’t watch movies or play music on it. Also, it only has a virtual touchscreen keyboard and typing can be a real pain. However, it does what it is meant to do i.e. it provides an unparalleled reading experience. So, if you are looking for a simple e-book reader which can be used only for reading and nothing else, this is the Kindle for you.

2. Kindle Touch- Again, the name is self- explanatory. There are no dedicated buttons for turning pages anymore, instead, what you get is a decently responsive touchscreen. You can highlight text and turn pages using the touchscreen. It also comes with a MP3 player, though you still can’t create playlists or shuffle songs. On the plus side, the pop-up keyboard is way more comfortable than Kindle 4. This particular model is also available with 3G and that model is sold under a separate name, the Kindle Touch 3G.

3. Kindle Keyboard- Except for the keyboard, the Kindle Keyboard has nothing strikingly impressive. It is heavier and larger than other Kindle models and it doesn’t look particularly pleasant either. However, if you do a lot of typing while searching within texts, the keyboard will come as a huge relief. As with Kindle Touch, there is another variant called the Kindle Keyboard 3G which quite obviously has 3G. Significantly though, the 3G in this model allows you to browse anything on the web free of cost, as opposed to Kindle Touch 3G where you can only download E-books or surf Amazon.

4. Kindle Fire- The Kindle Fire announced the entry of Kindle into the tablet race. This model is not just an E-book reader, it is a full-fledged tablet. You can play music, watch movies, download Android apps, and of course, read e-books. On the plus side, there is so much more that you can do with the Kindle Fire, and it looks great and it is priced very affordably at $199. Talking about the flip side, the battery life is lower and it lacks e-ink which is otherwise characteristic of Kindle. But again, it is definitely worth its price.

Apple’s New iPad (aka iPad 3)

If you’re an iPhone owner, you’ll know exactly what to expect from an iPad – they’re almost identical except for the larger screen. The new iPad’s greatest strength is its “Retina” display. At 2048×1536, the display really is unrivaled, though 1080p displays of the competition do offer many of the same perks. The new iPad is also one of the faster tablets on the market, though even older tablets, such as the iPad 2 can still keep up.

Another huge perk the new iPad has to offer is its cellular options. It’s one of the few tablets that offers LTE 4G connectivity and has options for both Verizon and AT&T. If you think you might want to have a data plan with your tablet, the new iPad is definitely one of the best choices.

Asus Transformer Pad Infinity

Asus’ entire Transformer line is by far the least compromising tablets on the market, primarily thanks to the optional keyboard dock. While the keyboard dock is a bit pricey, it gives you nearly all of the benefits of a laptop and even improves on battery life.

The Transformer Pad Infinity, in particular, is an excellent alternative to the new iPad. It’s 1920×1200 resolution display, while not quite as luxurious as Apple’s, is well suited for just about any task, and its 1.6GHz Tegra 3 processor is arguably the fastest on the market.

Google’s Nexus 7

Up until recently, any worthwhile tablet started around $500, and although there were more affordable options, they all sacrificed so much in terms of features and performance that they simply weren’t worth it. That all started to change when Amazon launched the Kindle Fire at just $200, and Google took that a step further.

Where the Kindle Fire dropped things like the cameras and GPS to keep costs down, the Nexus 7 has all of that plus NFC, a higher resolution display, and a blazing fast quad-core Tegra 3 processor. It’s also the very first device with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and as part of the Nexus line, it will continue to be among the first devices to receive Android updates. If you’re in the market for a 7-inch tablet (or just something on the more affordable side), the Nexus 7 is absolutely the best choice.

Samsung Galaxy Note

While it’s not actually a tablet, the Galaxy Note is a rather large smartphone that definitely reaches into the tablet realm. Unlike all of the other tablets, the Galaxy Note can be used as your primary cell phone, which means you don’t need a separate data plan. Its 5-inch screen isn’t quite as roomy as the 7-inch Nexus 7, and it does miss out on some of the tablet-specific features. It does offer an excellent middle ground, though, and is available on AT&T and Sprint (soon on T-Mobile as well). It also might be worth your while to keep an eye out for the Galaxy Note 2, expected in a month or two.

#1. Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime

The Eee Pad Transformer Prime was not only the first quad-core tablet to reach the market, it was also the first to be updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The quad-core Tegra 3 processor makes the Transformer Prime one of the highest performing tablets available, and at just $499 for the 32GB version, it is amazingly affordable. The Transformer can also be used as a laptop with exceptional battery life thanks to the optional keyboard dock.

#2. Apple iPad 2

As a surprising twist, the iPad 2 is actually more popular than the New iPad. While the iPad 2 isn’t quite as powerful as the New iPad and has a lower resolution screen, it’s still just as capable as the third generation. For the time being, at least, iPad apps won’t even be targeting the latest version’s improved specs anyway. The most appealing feature of the iPad 2 is now its price; the Wi-Fi only version is just $399.

#3. Apple iPad 3^rd Generation

The third generation iPad is Apple’s latest and greatest. It features an improved dual-core processor and a super high-resolution display. As Apple’s newest product, it’s definitely popular, but it just doesn’t offer quite enough of a performance boost of the iPad 2 to justify the need to upgrade for most users, especially since apps that actually take advantage of the iPad’s new-found power are fairly scarce. The iPad 2’s new low price also makes the 3^rd gen a difficult sell.

#4. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 was Samsung’s first truly successful Android tablet. It has been out for a while now, and does show its age, though only slightly. Much like the iPad 2, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is outclassed in terms of performance by newer products, but its reduced price tag helps to keep it an appealing buy. For those who prefer an Android tablet over iOS, the Galaxy Tab is also one of the few that offers a 4G LTE connectivity option.

#5. Sony Tabet S

Sony’s Tablet S is another Android tablet, though it runs a highly modified version. Sony has gone to great lengths to optimize the Tablet S as a true multimedia device. It carries features such as PlayStation Certification for gaming, an IR Blaster to control Sony’s Bravia TV sets, and a solid dual-core Tegra 2 processor. Though it offers some unique features, it is a bit pricier than its competitors, but still affordable.

The Tablet market is still growing very quickly, with new products coming out monthly. Android has certainly shaken things up a bit, but Microsoft is looking to enter the market very shortly with Windows 8. You’ll definitely want to keep an eye on our blog for the latest news, and take a look at our tablet charts to see how the competition is heating up.

As a matter of fact, Samsung actually circulated an e-mail within the press which contains a grid comparing the features of the two recently released tablets. According to the grid, the Galaxy Note 10.1 comes with some features which are absent in the iPad 3. Is this just a shot at advertising by Samsung or is there any substance to this claim? Let’s find out.

Form:

For the longest time, the form and design of the Apple iPad was its biggest USP. People would buy the iPad only because it was a fashion statement to have one. It must have been a great challenge for Samsung to come up with a design which was different from the iPad and could stand up to it at the same time. The good news is that they delivered quite decently. The Galaxy Note is actually a tad bit lighter and thinner than the iPad 3 and looks just as smooth and suave as its competitor. It’s a close call in this department.

Display:

Samsung has always been known for its state-of-art screen technology but somehow that hasn’t translated onto their tablets. The Galaxy Note 10.1 comes with a PLS TFT display with a 1280×800 pixel resolution. This is very mediocre compared to the iPad 3 which boasts of a 1536×2048 pixel resolution which has been made possible by Apple’s famous Retina technology. We have a clear winner when it comes to display- the iPad 3.

Operating System:

This comparison could take hours and we still won’t reach any conclusion. It is the classic battle between the Android and the iOS. The iPad uses the most recent iOS 5.1 as against the Android 4.0 ICS used by the Galaxy Note 10.1. The choice between the two boils down to your personal preferences. The iOS is definitely smoother and more user-friendly; it’s almost a delight to use this software. The Android on the other hand does not have any restrictions (which the iOS does) and is more flexible according to your needs. As has been said earlier, this one depends entirely on what you prefer.

Hardware:

The basic hardware specifications are similar for the two tablets- both run on a 1GHz processor with 1GB of RAM and come in different storage sizes. But, Apple has gone all out on the A5X chipset which comes with a quad core graphics processing unit which promises greater processing speeds. This might just be the edge that the iPad 3 has over the Galaxy Note.

There are many more factors to consider like connectivity, camera quality, battery life etc. but it can be convincingly said that the Galaxy Note 10.1 is giving some close competition to the iPad 3. It is a tough decision to make in some departments like the choice of OS and the form factor but one gets the feeling that the Apple iPad 3 might just emerge as the winner even if by a not-so-big margin.

On The Surface

Not surprisingly, the New iPad looks nearly identical to the iPad 2, and even the original iPad. Compared to the iPad 2, it features the same screen size, 9.7 inches, and the same width and height as well, 7.31 and 9.5 inches respectively. They even come in the same color choices – white or black.

Where they do differ, though, is the thickness. The New iPad is actually slightly thicker than its predecessor, by a full .8mm. It’s enough to notice when comparing the two side-by-side, but the new model also features more tapering along the edge, giving the illusion of a thinner body. That .8mm may not seem like much, but it may render many cases and skins incompatible. If you’re thinking about upgrading, remember that you may need to invest in a new protective case.

The Display

The greatest incentive to upgrading to the New iPad is the new display. With a pixel density of just 264ppi, it doesn’t quite make the 300ppi cutoff Apple previously set for “Retina” displays, though it still calls it one. Still, it has a resolution of 2048×1536, which is currently unmatched by any other tablet. Compared to the iPad 2’s 1024×768 (a mere 132ppi), this is a major improvement. The New iPad will be able to play 1080p content at its native resolution. Text and images will appear much crisper, and fine details will be perceptible where they weren’t on the iPad 2.

The Processor

The New iPad also comes with the A5X processor, a more powerful variant of the A5, found in the iPad 2. This may seem like a compelling reason to upgrade to the New iPad, but it’s actually not.

First, the A5X’ CPU is a dual-core CPU nearly identical to the A5’s. General processing power had not been significantly increased compared to the iPad 2. Where the A5X has seen major improvements is in its GPU.

The A5 uses an SGX543MP2 GPU, while the A5X has an SGX543MP4 GPU (the same GPU found in the PlayStation Vita). In short, the New iPad’s GPU 2 to 4 times more powerful. Ultimately, this results in nearly the same real world performance since the New iPad has 4-times as many pixels as the iPad 2 which requires about 4-times the GPU processing power to run.

If a performance upgrade is what you’re after, you’re better off waiting until next generation.

4G LTE

Apple finally has a 4G product for us, and with LTE, you can expect data speeds over 25Mbps. This works well in tandem with the HD display since HD content requires a fast connection. If you don’t stream much in HD, you won’t notice much of a difference between 4G and 3G, though. Most people prefer the Wi-Fi only version since it’s significantly cheaper anyway.

The Lack of Siri

Many people were looking forward to getting Siri on their tablet, but it looks like Apple has opted to keep Siri restricted to the iPhone 4S, at least for now. The New iPad is just as Siri-less as the iPad 2.

The Price

In order to stay competitive with other tablets, the New iPad actually has a pretty attractive price tag, starting at $499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi version. What this does, though, is push the iPad 2’s price down to $399 – now that’s a bargain. Anyone in the market for a new tablet, should definitely consider the iPad 2.

What it really all comes down to is whether or not you can live with a 1024×768 resolution display. If you can, stick with your iPad 2.

The Display: iPad goes Retina

The iPad’s most lacking feature has always been its low resolution 1024×768 display. In the original iPad, people didn’t mind, but after seeing the Retina display of the iPhone 4, people were expecting a major screen upgrade for the iPad 2 – they were disappointed.

The whole point to Apple’s Retina display is the idea that the pixels are so densely packed, that you cannot see them at a normal viewing distance with the naked eye. Apple controversially claims that this effect is achieved with pixel densities greater than 300ppi. Researchers of the field insist this number is closer to 477ppi; however, the iPhone 4’s display sports 326ppi, and they’re no denying that it is an amazing display.

And now it’s the iPad’s turn to don the retina cap. So far, there is no solid information as to what resolution the iPad 3 will have, but all signs are pointing to 2048×1536. For the 9.7-inch form factor, this would mean a pixel density of only 263ppi, so it’s uncertain if Apple will actually call it a retina display. Still, that resolution is considerably higher than the closest competitor, the Asus Transformer Prime HD which only has a 1920×1080 resolution.

The Processor: Things get faster

The next big upgrade is the processor. The iPad 3 will feature Apple’s A5x processor. Not much is known about the A5x, but reports are hinting that it will be a dual-core processor, much like the A5 found in the iPad 2. Of course, this doesn’t mean it won’t be faster. We’ve seen how Qualcomm’s dual-core Snapdragon S4 can keep up with quad-core devices already.

The A5x is also expected to have a significantly improved graphics core, necessary for driving the high-resolution display. Newer architecture will also help improve performance as well as battery life. It may also have 1GB of RAM, a trend in mobile computing that Apple has yet to catch up with, preferring to stick with 512MB for its previous processors.

Connectivity: iOS finally sees 4G

Up until now, all of Apple’s cellular data devices have been limited to 3G only (including the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S). The iPad 3 will not only be getting 4G, but full 4G LTE. Rumor has it that an LTE-enabled iPad 3 will be launching on both AT&T and Verizon.

The Software: iOS 5.1 with Siri

Owners of the iPad 2 have felt betrayed by Apple’s refusal to allow Siri voice recognition support. Fortunately, the iPad 3 will be completely Siri enabled. Unfortunately, it’s looking like those with the iPad 2 will have to upgrade if they want Siri at their disposal.

Design and other goodies

According to reports, the iPad 3 will look almost identical to the iPad 2. This comes as little surprise, considering Apple’s usual design trends. What is surprising is the fact that the iPad 3 will be a bit thicker than the iPad 2. This is likely to allow for a larger battery, necessary for powering the higher resolution display.

It’s also expected that the iPad 3 will feature the same 8MP rear camera found in the iPhone 4S. Reports also claim that the front facing camera will be receiving an upgrade to HD status. Whether that means 1080p or 720p is uncertain. Either way, it will allow for Face Time HD video chatting, similar to the new MacBooks.

And that’s the bulk of it. Will you be upgrading to the iPad 3?

However, the choice between a laptop and a tablet still continues be a confusing one. There is no denying the fact that they belong to different niches- a tablet is ideal for you if you need to use basic functions while you are travelling or at best, it is an additional accessory to a laptop. But if you are looking to do hard core work which involves a lot of typing input among other things, a laptop is obviously the better choice. So, you can’t really buy a tablet and expect it to serve as a replacement for a laptop or vice versa.

In the past one year or so, several manufacturers have tried to bridge this divide by producing what are known as laptop-cum-tablets. Lenovo recently released the IdeaPad U1 Hybrid which comes with a removable touchscreen. This touchscreen can double up as a tablet which uses Lenovo’s own version of Android or can function as the screen when you wish to use the gadget as a laptop.

This set-up can potentially solve many problems- One major drawback of the tablet is the lack of a keyboard. People usually find it very hard to type with a virtual keyboard. With the laptop cum tablet, that problem can be solved easily. Whenever you need to type, you can use the device as a laptop. At the same time, it gives you the processing speed and performance of laptop, not a tablet. As the IdeaPad is in its nascent stages, Lenovo is still trying to iron out all problem sectors before the final product is rolled out in the global market.

In another attempt to make the choice between a tablet and a laptop easier, Lenovo also announced the production of the Lenovo Yoga PC. As the name suggests, flexibility is the stand out feature of this laptop-cum-tablet. It is only 17mm thick and weighs 3.1 lbs., so it delivers pretty decently on the portability aspect.

The unique hinge mechanism allows the keyboard to flip over completely so that the Yoga can be used as a tablet as well. The device will be powered by the yet to be released Windows 8 operating system. Another feature to look out for is the Intel Chief River Processor, an 8GB RAM and a promised battery life of eight hours.

Quite evidently, it is an ambitious attempt by Lenovo to combine the best of both the laptop and the tablet into one single device. The specifications promise the performance of a solid laptop while the unique hinge feature means that it can be used as a convenient tablet.

The big question now is- will Lenovo Yoga deliver on its promises or will it be just another fancy experiment gone wrong? We will just have to wait till the end of this year when the Lenovo Yoga officially hits the global markets.