Samsung Galaxy Tab Review and Video Demonstration

There are many tablet computers on the market, and making the decision on which tablet to purchase can be very difficult.

In my case, the iPad was a very appealing option, but the sticker price was too high for our family. Apple has many applications (apps) and the new iCloud storage will allow for unlimited storage of programs and apps. I loved the iPad, but simply couldn't afford a $600 tablet computer.

On the other end of the cost spectrum was the Kindle Fire. I investigated that device, and was lured by the unlimited storage with Amazon's cloud storage system. The instant access to all of my books, videos, and other programs purchased by Amazon was also appealing. The cost was in the range of what we could afford, at approximately $200. The Fire is a small device, however, and lacks the full functionality of a tablet computer. There is no GPS, no camera, and almost no memory on the device.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab appeared on woot.com one day, for a price of $319. A little more than we wanted to spend, but the Galaxy Tab is a fully functional tablet computer. Camera, video, GPS, 10.1" screen size, and 16GB of memory. There is another model available which contains 32GB of memory, for those who desire more capacity. The unit on woot was refurbished, but came with a "rebirth" certificate, guaranteeing the tablet would look and function as if it were new.

I made the decision to purchase the tablet, and it arrived at our house within a week.

The refurbished tablet was as promised - a tablet computer with no defects and perfect functionality. The device came with a "rebirth certificate" as a guarantee against any potential problems. The box contained the Galaxy Tab, instruction booklet, ear buds, USB cable, and charging device.

The Galaxy Tab charged fairly quickly, and an image of a full, green battery appeared once the tablet was completely charged. Once charged, the tablet is turned on by depressing the power key for approximately 20 seconds. Once on, the tablet prompts the user to select a wireless network and to set up a Google account on the device. The set-up process was straightforward, and I was able to use the tablet within a few minutes of turning it on.

I downloaded Amazon's android application app, and downloaded a few free applications like Angry Birds and a finger painting studio for my kids (among others). Angry Birds played beautifully, filling up the screen nicely without any distortion.

Unfortunately, many android apps are sized for mobile phones, and do not fill the screen of the 10" tablet. The finger painting studio I downloaded was too small, as it was sized for a mobile phone screen. I uninstalled that particular app and found another painting studio application that would fit the larger screen size. When downloading applications for the Galaxy Tab, make sure the app has been designed for the tablet computer and not a mobile phone.

The browser on the Galaxy Tab has been described as "sluggish" by those with a highly technical background. I didn't notice any unusual sluggishness - it seemed to load new pages quickly. Video played well, though I did have one error while trying to play a youtube video. I closed out the browser and tried again, and the video loaded perfectly.

The Galaxy Tab features a 3 megapixel camera on the back of the device, and a 2 megapixel camera on the front of the device. The rear camera is meant to take quality photographs and comes equipped with a flash, while the front camera is intended for use with video calls or as a webcam.

While I am not a technical analyst on tablet computers, I am a typical customer. I was looking for a sleek, sophisticated tablet computer that wouldn't break the bank. The refurbished Galaxy Tab fit the bill perfectly - it is lightweight, sleek, and powerful.