The Tab uses the latest version of Android, and it generally worked very smoothly, even though Google has warned that Android isn't yet ready for tablets. I was especially impressed with Samsung's attractive and usable rewrites of the calendar, email and contacts apps, which, like their iPad cousins, use multiple panels to make them more computer-like, while still remaining touch-friendly.

I found the Web browser to be a bit jerky in zooming into text and scrolling through long pages. I tested several Adobe Flash videos and websites written in Flash. Sometimes they played and sometimes they didn't. In all cases, they slowed the browser down. On one site written in Flash, I got a warningsaying I might want to 'abort' lest the computer become 'unresponsive.' In another case, the Tab crashed. So I conclude that while the Tab does play Flash, it needs work on that score.

I downloaded a few third-party apps. I couldn't find any that were rewritten with extra features for tablets, nor any way to discover these in the Android Market. Some of my downloaded apps scaled fine to tablet size. Others were surrounded by large black bars.

On an iPad, if you opt for cellular-data service, there is no contract and only two monthly prices -- $14.99 for 250 megabytes and $25 for 2 gigabytes. On the Tab, it's much more complicated. Verizon, which is selling only the $600 no-contract model, says its pricing will start at $20 a month for 1 gigabyte of data. Sprint charges $29.99 monthly for 2 gigabytes and $59.99 for 5 gigabytes. T-Mobile has different prices for no-contract and contract models, and different rates for new and existing customers. Just two examples: a new customer under contract on a Tab can pay $30 monthly for 200 megabytes or $50 for 5 gigabytes.

So, I urge Tab buyers to do the math carefully on the overall cost of the device under various carriers and plans.

The Tab is attractive, versatile and competitively priced, though monthly cell fees can add up. It's different enough from the iPad, yet good enough, to give consumers a real choice.

Walter S. Mossberg

• expensive [ik´spensiv] a.费钱的，昂贵的 (初中英语单词)


• system [´sistəm] n.系统，体系，制度 (初中英语单词)


• screen [skri:n] n.银幕 vt.遮蔽 (初中英语单词)


• variety [və´raiəti] n.变化；多样(性)；种类 (初中英语单词)


• actual [´æktʃuəl] a.现实的；实际的 (初中英语单词)


• estate [i´steit] n.财产；庄园；等级 (初中英语单词)


• holiday [´hɔlidi] n.假日，假期，节日 (初中英语单词)


• missing [´misiŋ] a.缺掉的；失踪的 (初中英语单词)


• ability [ə´biliti] n.(办事)能力；才干 (初中英语单词)


• capacity [kə´pæsiti] n.容量；智能；能力 (初中英语单词)


• promising [´prɔmisiŋ] a.有希望的；有为的 (初中英语单词)


• attractive [ə´træktiv] a.有吸引力；诱人的 (初中英语单词)


• resolution [,rezə´lu:ʃən] n.决心；坚决；果断 (初中英语单词)


• standing [´stændiŋ] n.持续 a.直立的 (初中英语单词)


• charge [tʃɑ:dʒ] v.收费；冲锋 n.费用 (初中英语单词)


• review [ri´vju:] v.&n.复习；回顾；检查 (初中英语单词)


• useless [´ju:sləs] a.无用的，无价值的 (初中英语单词)


• mainly [´meinli] ad.主要地；大体上 (初中英语单词)


• executive [ig´zekjutiv] a.行政的 n.行政官 (初中英语单词)


• awhile [ə´wail] ad.少顷；片刻 (初中英语单词)


• altogether [,ɔ:ltə´geðə] ad.完全；总而言之 (初中英语单词)


• computer [kəm´pju:tə] n.计算机；电子计算器 (初中英语单词)


• complicated [´kɔmplikeitid] a.结构复杂的；难懂的 (初中英语单词)


• customer [´kʌstəmə] n.顾客，买主，主顾 (初中英语单词)


• device [di´vais] n.装置；器具；策略 (初中英语单词)


• competitor [kəm´petitə] n.竞争者；比赛者 (高中英语单词)


• consumer [kən´sju:mə] n.消费者；用户 (高中英语单词)


• tablet [´tæblit] n.碑；牌；匾额 (高中英语单词)


• disadvantage [,disəd´vɑ:ntidʒ] n.不利(条件)；损失 (高中英语单词)


• calendar [´kælində] n.日历；月历；历法 (高中英语单词)


• handful [hændful] n.一把，少数，一小撮 (高中英语单词)


• battery [´bætəri] n.炮兵连；炮台；电池 (高中英语单词)


• maximum [´mæksiməm] n.极点 a.最大的 (高中英语单词)


• storage [´stɔ:ridʒ] n.贮存；存储器 (高中英语单词)


• rugged [´rʌgid] a.不平的；粗犷的 (高中英语单词)


• compact [´kɔmpækt] n.契约 a.挤满的 (高中英语单词)


• internal [in´tə:nl] a.内部的；国内的 (高中英语单词)


• brightness [´braitnis] n.光明；快乐 (高中英语单词)


• smoothly [´smu:ðli] ad.光滑地；顺利地 (高中英语单词)


• saying [´seiŋ, ´sei-iŋ] n.言语；言论；格言 (高中英语单词)


• monthly [´mʌnθli] a.每月(的) n.月刊 (高中英语单词)


• alternative [ɔ:l´tə:nətiv] a.二中选一的 n.选择 (英语四级单词)


• vastly [´vɑ:stli, ´væstli] ad.巨大地；广阔地 (英语四级单词)


• aluminum [,ælju´miniəm, ,ælə´miniəm] n.铝 (英语四级单词)


• version [´və:ʃən, ´və:rʒən] n.翻译；说明；译本 (英语四级单词)


• warning [´wɔ:niŋ] n.警告；前兆 a.预告的 (英语四级单词)


• good-looking [] a.漂亮的，美貌的 (英语六级单词)


• notably [´nəutəbli] ad.显著地；著名地 (英语六级单词)


• triple [´tripəl] a.三倍的v.增加到三倍 (英语六级单词)


• rectangular [rek´tæŋgjulə] a.矩形的；成直角的 (英语六级单词)


• calling [´kɔ:liŋ] n.点名；职业；欲望 (英语六级单词)