Life in tablet form - the 'iPad killers' hoping to be next must-have gadget

For commuters, the tablet really could change your life. Reading books on an electronic screen is now a real alternative and, thanks to firms such as Amazon, you can buy pretty much any bestseller to read on your tablet.

Films and TV can also become part of your daily commute, with almost all the gadgets boasting high-definition screens, and access to services such as the BBC's iPlayer, as well as film download services.

There's also the bonus of some amazing games that will while away the inevitable Tube delays — on a tablet's bigger screen, they are even more fun than on a mobile phone. And of course email and internet access is key, with built-in 3G on lots of tablets, meaning you can stay in touch and work wherever you are.

While the tablet revolution was kickstarted by Apple's introduction just under a year ago of the iPad, in Las Vegas this week dozens of other firms revealed what they hope will become the iPad killer. Giants such as Google, Microsoft and BlackBerry maker RIM all showed off the gadgets they hope will be coming to a commuter train near you this year.

Shawn DuBravak, chief economist at the American Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), expects more than 100 new tablet computers to be launched at the event, called CES. He added that 2011 would be "the year of the tablet".

However, experts say Apple's rivals will have a tough fight ahead.

With Apple expected to announce the iPad 2 within weeks, the war for the tablet market is set to be a long and bitter one.

We prescribe the best tablet for you:

THE HEAVY READER
Samsung Galaxy Tab
Price: £399
Pros: great size for commuting.
Cons: apps can be hit-and-miss.
Size: 7in screen.
The first competitor to the iPad, Samsung's Galaxy Tab recently had its price cut to just under £400. It's simple to use, and while the apps available lack the slickness of Apple's, this is still one of the best tablets out there, particularly for readers. The included eBook software is excellent, and the small- form factor means you can hold it in one hand on a packed Tube.

THE JETSETTER
Blackberry Playbook
Price: TBA, available by summer.
Pros: small enough to take everywhere, great video playback.
Cons: menus are a little overly complicated.
Size: 7in screen.
The Playbook could be the commuter's best friend, as it can fit into a jacket pocket yet is also the perfect second device for BlackBerry owners. In fact it's surprisingly small but feels
solidly built and well put together. Very much an entertainment device, the superb video playback along with good games and a decent web browser make it a good all-rounder for commuters. For BlackBerry addicts, it also puts your email and BlackBerry messenger conversations onto its larger screen, while for commuters it can also mean reading and replying to emails without
ever having to take your phone out of your pocket. It's powerful enough to play back high-definition films on your PC, and a perfect commuter device.

THE ARTIST
Lenovo Slate
Price: around £400, available in May.
Pros: superb screen and long battery life.
Cons: can be a little fiddly without the stylus.
Size: 10in screen.
Another tablet running Microsoft's Windows software, the Lenovo feels solid and looks lovely. However, using Windows on a tablet definitely isn't ideal, so much so that Lenovo even includes a stylus for when a finger just isn't accurate enough. But using the digital pen means this is the perfect gadget for budding David Hockneys, letting you draw and paint with amazing accuracy. However, while it feels fast and smooth, navigating around menus can be frustrating without the stylus.

THE GOOGLER
Motorola Xoom
Price: TBA, available later this year.
Pros: great, easy-to-use software.
Cons: not as many apps as Apple.
Size: 10in screen.
The Xoom is arguably the best of the latest breed of iPad killers, and is fast, easy to use and crucially also has a big number of apps available. It's the first tablet to run Honeycomb, a new version of Google's mobile phone software. The screen makes reading books easy, and two video cameras allow you to make video calls as well — meaning you can keep in touch from anywhere.

THE WRITER AND THE EMAIL ADDICT
Samsung TX100
Price: TBA, available by March.
Pros: unique design.
Cons: rather chunky.
Size: 10in screen.
Samsung has an interesting take on the tablet with this tablet/PC hybrid. It looks like a normal, although somewhat chubby tablet, but slide the screen and a full keyboard appears, turning it into a fully featured laptop. Running Microsoft's Windows 7 software, it's fast, and perfect for heavy email users, and also great for students. It's also perfect for those who aren't quite prepared to relinquish their laptop
yet, giving you the best of both worlds.

THE BOOKWORM
Amazon Kindle
Price: £129
Pros: superb screen and long battery life.
Cons: only really good for one thing.
Size: 6in screen.
Amazon's Kindle was one of the must-have gadgets at Christmas, and is set to continue to be the bookworm's favourite. Downloading books is simple, and you can also access your electronic library from a mobile phone or computer — it will even remember what page you're on so that you can swap devices easily. It's becoming an increasingly common sight on the Tube, and is still highly desirable, despite not having the bells and whistles of some of its competitors.

THE TV ADDICT
Panasonic Viera tablet
Price: £129
Pros: great integration with your TV (as long as it's a Panasonic).
Cons: hugely expensive for what is a TV remote.
Size: 4in, 7in and 10in versions will be available.
Based on Google's Android software, the Viera is the ultimate TV remote, letting you watch shows, control your TV and also access a variety of online TV and film services easily. It's really one for the living room rather than the bus to work but for TV addicts this could be the ultimate tablet.

THE PARENT AND THE HOXTONITE
Apple iPad
Price: £429
Pros: far and away the best tablet on the market.
Cons: too big to use on the Tube without attracting a lot of attention.
Size: 9.7in screen.
The iPad still rules the roost in
the tablet market, and with a
recent software update giving it the ability to run more than one programme at once, it's still ahead of the competition. It has gained a cult following, and parents in particular have taken to it, finding it makes the perfect (if expensive) educational tool for teaching through games. However, be warned — even though it has been out for less than a year, rumours point to a new version coming out within the next few months.