So many tablet choices which one to pick?

Many of these devices offer similar features – namely, a seven- to 10-inch  touch screen, one or two cameras, and the ability to download inexpensive apps  wirelessly from an online store. But they don’t all offer the same performance,  intuitive interface, software selection and battery life.

More than 100 tablets are expected to debut in 2011 alone, so you might be  wondering which one is for you. The following is a quick look at five of the  most popular picks, and our choice for best all-around tablet.

BlackBerry PlayBook (from $499)

Get work done, and then have some fun. The all-black seven-inch BlackBerry  PlayBook from Canada’s own Research in Motion is a fast and powerful tablet with  beefy security to protect your company data, a stunning screen to create a  spreadsheet or play a game, and dual HD cameras: one for taking pictures and  shooting video, and the other for video conference calls. While not everyone  likes this feature, an optional “BlackBerry Bridge” connection wirelessly  tethers to a nearby BlackBerry (via Bluetooth) so you can read your email and  BlackBerry Messenger discussions on the tablet; RIM says this doesn’t expose  potentially confidential messages if the PlayBook is lost or stolen. This tablet  is available with 16 gigabytes, 32 GB or 64 GB of memory.

Motorola Xoom ($599.99)

With a boatload of horsepower thanks to a dual-core processor and a gigabyte  of system memory (RAM), the 10.1-inch Motorola Xoom (pronounced “zoom”) runs all  your apps speedily and smoothly. Powered by the Android 3.0 (“Honeycomb”)  platform, you can use your fingertip to swipe through integrated Google tools  such as 3-D maps, download e-books or play a handful of games when you’ve got  some downtime. Like the BlackBerry PlayBook, the Xoom has dual cameras and a web  browser that supports Flash sites. Memory isn’t expandable, but you’ve got 32 GB  of integrated storage for all your media and other files. Optional accessories  include a multimedia dock to connect to a HDTV or monitor, Bluetooth keyboard or  wireless mouse.

iPad 2 (from $519)

The company that started the consumer tablet craze has done it again with the  iPad 2, a refined version of last year’s iPad. Apple didn’t mess with what made  the original an undeniable hit – a stunning 9.7-inch screen, incredible  intuitive user-interface and most importantly, a direct link to the amazing App  Store and its more than 400,000 downloads. But it added dual cameras (one for  FaceTime video chats), twice the performance, a slimmer and lighter design,  gyroscope sensor, and more. Also, only the iPad and iPad 2 – available in 16 GB,  32 GB and 64 GB capacities (Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + 3G) – smoothly syncs with your PC  or Mac’s iTunes library. Available in 10 colours, SmartCovers magnetically  attach to the iPad 2’s edge to protect the screen, wake up the tablet and serve  as two different stands. This is without a doubt the best available tablet.

Samsung Galaxy Tab ($399.95)

While the Galaxy Tab 2 might be out by the time you read this, Samsung is  still enjoying success from last year’s seven-inch touch screen tablet. This  Android 2.2 (“Froyo”)-powered device has a number of compelling features such as  a portable size and mere 13-ounce weight (to fit in a purse or suit pocket),  expandable memory (via microSD cards), two cameras and full access to the  Android Market and its more than 250,000 software downloads. Camera quality and  battery life aren’t quite up to par, but this might serve as a less expensive  alternative to newer Android tablets like the Motorola Xoom and LG Optimus  Pad.

LG Optimus Pad (from $449.99 on three-year Rogers plan)

For the entertainment enthusiast, LG’s 8.9-inch Optimus Pad is the world’s  first touch screen tablet that can snap pictures or shoot video in 3-D, which  can then be played back on a compatible 3-D TV via HDMI cable. Running on  Android 3.0 (“Honeycomb”), this Rogers exclusive delivers Wi-Fi and 3G, with  download speeds up to 14.4 Mbps, and the ability to create a personal hot spot  for other nearby devices. Other features include a dual-core 1GHz processor,  multiple cameras (including support for video calling) and a web browser with  both Flash 10.2 and HTML 5 support. Like the Motorola Xoom, capacity is capped  at 32 GB.