Tablet Thursday: Top 5 Contenders You Should Know About

Avid technology market watchers are increasingly paying attention to the developing tablet computer market, as overall unit sales have increased more than 100% year-over-year. Here on tablet Thursday, we're going to point out 5 of the leading tablets on the market today. Keep in mind that many of the following companies are expected to release new iterations of the products this fall. 1. Apple AAPL iPad. While this product almost goes without saying, it's notable that Apple has again struck a competitive pricing point. Like the iPod and iPhone before it, the unit is user-oriented, aesthetically pleasing, and reasonably priced, depending on options. The iPad 2 is known for its dual cameras, seamless software-hardware integration, and popular App Store. 2. Samsung Galaxy Tab. Coming in 7" and 10" variations, the Galaxy Tab utilizes Google's GOOG innovative Android software. The open-source software is already a hit on smartphones, and Google has made a number of software updates to improve Android for tablet use. The Galaxy Tab matches many of the iPads features, and offers some of the same pricing points. 3. Asus EEE Pad Transformer. Asus is among the surprise contenters in the tablet space, as its brand name doesn't carry as much weight as some of the other tech behemoths. Regardless, the Asus EEE Pad has been a strong success story, with the best-selling tablet on Amazon.com right now. This tablet also features Google's Android software, and is hoping to differentiate itself by using a slightly lower price. The tablet even features a HDMI output, so it can be connected to HD TVs. 4. Motorola MOT Xoom. Motorola's version of the tablet is one of the more powerful production models on the market. Featuring a 1 GHz dual-core processor and integrated NVIDIA NVDA graphics, the Xoom tablet is more reminiscent of a computer than a tablet. Nevertheless, this tablet also features Android software that is well-integrated with the hardware. Notably, the device can record in 720p HD, which is no doubt a big draw for the more gadget-minded consumers. 5. HP HPQ TouchPad. Finally, the dark horse contender in the tablet competition. The TouchPad is one of the first creations out of the marriage of HP and Palm. The tablet uses the company's proprietary software WebOS, which has a loyal and tech-savvy customer base. The LED backlit multitouch display is the highlight of the device, which can showcase a wide variety of content. Multi-tasking is a breeze on the tablet, and many reviews have found the TouchPad to be a refreshing alternative to Android manufacturers and the iPad. The TouchPad just received a $100 price break, further heating up the rivalry with tablet makers.