Tech Talk

While the launch of the Apple iPad created a stir in the gadget market, it is not alone in the tablet computer category and actually have stiff competition from other companies who also have their own brand.

The Apple iPad was popular because of its high profile release and due to the many loyal followers of Apple.

But before you buy yourself that iPad that you want to get your hands on even before it was actually released, you might want to see these.

Here are just some of the known biggest rival of iPad when it comes to the table computer category.

The JooJoo
Originally known as “Crunchpad,” Joojoo was released in December 2009. It is a Linux-based tablet featuring only one physical button and a 12.1″ touch screen. JooJoo boasts of the “fastest” startup in the world, as it took only 9 seconds to connect to the internet.

It offers full HD video, a virtual keyboard designed for one-hand typing and a web browsing experience that uses touch navigation instead of traditional window browsing. The JooJoo features a 4GB solid state hard drive and can run for up to 5 hours on a full battery charge.

ExpoPC Slate
A windows-based tablet computer, ExpoPC allows for web browsing, streaming television and movies, and also apps and e-books. This tablet is also dubbed as a “finger driven PC.” It’s screen measures 8.9″ and is capable of HD resolution. It has a 32 GB hard drive and a webcam, which was a major lacking feature in iPad.

The ExpoPC Slate is expected to sell for $599.

ICD Vega
Announced in November 2009 and is expected to be released in the market in the first half of this year, the ICD Vega is another tablet computer that will give Apple iPad competition.

The Vega would be running the Android 2.0 operating system and it has a large 15.6″ touch screen, although there would be two smaller sizes to be released too. It will have a 32-GB internal SD storage, a removable charging dock/stand and ability to play on-demand Web TV, according to Innovative Converged Devices which produced the tablet.

Plastic Logic QUE proReader
Presented mostly as an eReader, the QUE proReader caters to business and professional. Developed by Plastic Logic, QUE comes in two models and priced from $649 to $799. It features full color on its 8 1/2″ x 11″ display and WiFi connectivity. QUE is 1/3″ thick and is operated using touch screen interface.

The QUE is expected to launch in April 2010 and plans to use the Barnes & Noble bookstore for its eBook sales.

Notion Ink Adam
The Ink Adam is expected to be released mid-summer of 2010 at a price of $327, with more robust models priced up to $800.This tablet can support 1080p high definition video on its 10″ screen and also features a 3 megapixel camera.

The device 3G connectivity, as well as a multitasking interface that utilizes the Android operating system, which allows the user to run applications concurrently.

Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t
The Lenovo IdeaPad thus far features the most powerful hardward of all the iPad rivals.

It has a 10″ touch screen, up to 250GB hard drive space a traditional keyboard that allows 180 degree screen rotation. The device is a middle-ground product between full tablets and netbooks.

The IdeaPad price starts around $600.

So, do you still want an Apple iPad? Or would like to have any one of these iPad competitors instead?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have at least two for comparison?

These are just six of the of the new tablet computers, there were actually 12 iPad competitors. To see all of them, check out the report from the Yahoo! Shopping page: Tablet Wars: The 12 Biggest iPad Competitors.

Not that I want you to get more confused.