Again, we have a tie. I personally prefer the iPad 2 because its screen dimensions make browser and text windows easier to use, and the greater battery consumption and slow recharge of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 bother me. But the truth is the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is a faster performer, and its other hardware capabilities are essentially equal to those of the iPad 2.

The differences between the iPad 2 and Galaxy Tab 10.1 are real, but as often as not to be based on legitimate differences in design decisions. The Galaxy Tab is a faster device, and it beats the iPad in areas such as browser capability and notifications. The iPad 2 wins slightly on the security front and more decisively on the applications and power-handling fronts. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 and its Android 3.1 OS also show their seams more than the iPad 2 and its iOS do.

If it were not for the flaw in Android 3.1 that prevented me from setting up IMAP and POP email -- which I'm sure is a bug, as the issue did not surface on pre-3.1 Android tablets -- the two tablets would be very close in terms of their business connectivity capabilities.

Ironically, that email issue puts the Galaxy Tab 10.1's InfoWorld Test Center score (7.9) slightly lower than the Motorola Xoom tablet's score (8.0), which also benefits from having more hardware capabilities for those who like their tablet to have PC-style ports. But the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is an overall better tablet than the Xoom, which the score would reflect once that email issue has been addressed (it would rise to 8.1).