Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus: Five Ways $200 BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet is Better

Even though BlackBerry PlayBook cannot access the Android Market for apps, it's still better than the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus. That might be PlayBook's biggest drawback because it's got the same size screen as the Galaxy Tab, better front and rear-facing cameras, better battery and even has a mini HDMI port so yo can plug it into your HDTV and watch in 16:9 format. Yes, Galaxy Tab has a slightly faster processor, is lighter and has a perhaps more appealing rounded corner look to the PlayBook's squareness, but PlayBook also has a rubberized back that is easy to hold.

That is an important feature in the seven-inch tablet world because people often read on the devices and hold them in one hand for an hour at a time. The rubber backing on the PlayBook helps make up for the fact it's nearly 100 grams more than the Galaxy Tab. The next way PlayBook is better is in its intuitive multitasking. It's easy to go back and forth from YouTube to chat to Web browsing by flicking the app widgets across the screen. It's a feature seen on webOS devices and is a fun, easy and oddly satisfying way to move between apps. The system is called QNX, and it's custom built for the PlayBook, so any apps you might be looking for would come from the BlackBerry App World. That means no Android Ice Cream Sandwich update for the PlayBook, while the Galaxy Tab should get it in a few weeks.

The last way BlackBerry PlayBook is better is the price. Best Buy sells the 16 gigabyte version for $200, while the Galaxy Tab goes for twice that amount. Galaxy Tab does have a 3G radio, however, so if you want to have a dedicated Internet connection (and the data plan to go with it) then it can do the job. As we often do, we recommend getting your hands on the devices to inspect before you buy them. You might instantly fall in love with how one or the other looks for feels. Tell us in the comments if you are still zeroing in on the right tablet for you.