This preview covers Samsung's new announcement that the Galaxy Tab would be coming to all major US carriers - AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile - marking a important moment in the early tablet wars. Patrick Bisch captures both the excitement and frustration surrounding Samsung's tablet strategy, specificly their vague communication about crucial details like pricing and release dates.
The post provides complete technical coverage of what made the Galaxy Tab compelling: a 7.5-inch form factor designed for one-handed use, positioning it between smartphones and larger tablets like the iPad. Key specs included a 1GHz Cortex A8 processor, 512MB RAM, Android 2.2 Froyo, and Samsung's custom "hubs" for different content types. The device featured dual cameras (1.3MP front-facing, 3MP rear with LED flash) and notably supported Flash content - something that was a major differentiator from Apple's iPad at the time.
However, the author's frustration shows through regarding Samsung's marketing strategy. Despite the excitement, crucial details remained unclear: no confirmed pricing (though Samsung called it a "premium device"), no specific release date beyond "holiday shopping," and disappointingly, Sprint's 4G network wouldn't be supported. Even more frustrating for US customers was learning that the phone features would only be available in European models, though it could be used via Bluetooth headset or speakerphone.
Looking back 15 years later, this post captures the very beginning of the Android tablet era and Samsung's first serious challenge to Apple's iPad dominance. The Galaxy Tab represented Samsung's attempt to differentiate through size, Flash support, and carrier partnerships - strategies that would evolve importantly over the following years. While 7-inch tablets did find their niche, the market eventually settled around larger screen sizes, and Flash support became irrelevant as web standards evolved. This review documents an important moment when the tablet market was still finding its identity and companies were experimenting with different approaches to challenge Apple's early lead.
This summary was created by Dave Rogers. The original post was written by Patrick Bisch and published on September 1, 2010.
If you'd like to view the original post, you can find it here.