Tablet takedown iPad 2 vs ViewSonic ViewPad 10s

  iPad 2

RRP-from $579 www.apple.com/au/ipad

ROUND 1 - In the hand

TheViewPad 10s is hefty. Despite its display only being 0.4in larger it weighs about 130g more and is almost 6mm thicker. The numbers sound small but they make a real difference. The lack of tapered edges on theViewPad 10s only exaggerates its size.

The iPad has a button on the face, power button, volume control and mute switch. The ViewPad 1Os lacks the front button but adds HD'MI, a microSD slot and USB port hidden Pehind a door that was difficult to open. We also kept bumping the volume control when holding the ViewTab 1 Os

Round one goes to the iPad 2.


 ROUND 2 - Ease of use

TheViewPad 10s is running an OS that was designed for smaller devices. Android 2.2 ] 'Froyo'. While it's a competent srnartphone OS, it's not made : for tablets. When the newer

■ Android 3 'Honeycomb' makes it to market, it'll give iOS a run

\ for its money but there won't be an upgrade for the 1 Os

iOS is easier to use but the ViewPad 10s supports Flash. Getting content onto the : ViewPad 1 Os is easier than the

■ iPad, which requires iTunes

] or a third-party app to grab ' content using cloud services TheViewPad 10s connects with

■ a USB cable, or you can simply : insert a microSD card.

Round two goes to the iPad2but it's a closer match this time.


 ROUND 3 - Performance

The thing about a tablet is that it needs to be an instant-on, lag free device. Unlike any computing device before, the. expectation is that tablets are like telephones - you pick them up and they work.

When starting the Prowser on each device, the iPad was cleorly faster. When we rotated the screen, the iPad 2 was faster than the ViewPad. Also the ViewPad didn't process the orientation changes smoothly. Whereas the iPad 2 flipped smoothly, the ViewPad 10s was jerky.

Applications performed similarly. When we looked at the Kindle app on each device using the same library of books, neither stood out n this test as a clear winner.

Round three was close but the iPad is faster and smoother.

 ROUND 4 - Apps_

This is perhaps the most controversial round. Apple revolutionised the sales and distribution of mobile applications with the the App Store, which makes it easy to browse, purchase and install apps directly to a device But the curated shop leaves developers at Apple's mercy. That was meant to limit the number of junky apps but | seems that there are plenty of 'tart apps' in the store anyway Android's approach, on the other hand, is more open and there are several avenues for purchasing apps

While Apple's App Store was first to market, the Android Market Place is just as easy to use and the choice of multiple stores gives theViewPad 10s the edge.

 So, the final round goes to the ViewSonic ViewPad 10s.

► ViewSonic ViewPad 10s

RRP - $599 www.viewsonic.com.au