Review: Samsung tablet good, but not good enough

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — When Apple released the iPad in April, it set a high bar for tablet computers. The first real competitor has arrived in Samsung's Galaxy Tab.

With a touch screen that measures 7 inches diagonally, nearly three shorter than the iPad, the Tab is good — but not good enough.

The Tab is nearly the same size as Amazon's Kindle e-reader but slightly thicker. It's a bit more portable than the iPad, but has a smaller screen to play with.

For the AP reviewer, at least, this in-between size — bigger and heavier than a smart phone, smaller and lighter than an iPad — made for an in-between experience. It was more engaging than playing around with a phone but less immersive than what I've felt with the iPad.

The Tab, currently available from T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon Wireless and coming soon from AT&T, costs $400 to $650, depending on whom you buy it from and whether or not you agree to a two-year contract. It runs Google's Android operating system, which is mostly used for smart phones.