In 2010, sales of Apple’s iPad skyrocketed accounting for 93% of tablet sales. But is the iPad really worth its popularity? Are other tablet brands just as powerful or effective for getting the job done? In this article, we break down the iPad 2 against four other competing brands so that you can make an informed choice before heading out to Best Buy or the Apple Store.

iPad2, $499-$829

The iPad2 measures 9.31” by 7.31” by .34” and weighs in at 1.3 pounds. It has storage capacity of 16, 32, and 64 GB and 256 mb of RAM. It’s powered by the 1Ghz Apple A5 and has a dual core. Its operating system is iOS 4 and it is not flash-drive compatible. It can multitask and offers two cameras as well as GPS technology. The battery life, on average, is about 10 hours.

Dell Streak 7, $199-$450

The Dell Streak 7 measures 7.87” by 5” by .49” and weighs in at 1 pound. It has storage capacity of 16 GB using micro-SD. The RAM is 512 mb. The processor is Nvidia Tegra 2 and has a dual core. The operating system is Android 2.1 and it is flash compatible. It can multitask and has two cameras: the front camera is 1.3mp and the rear camera is 5mp. It offers GPS technology. Battery life for this tablet clocks in at seven and a half hours.

Samsung Galaxy, $399-$599

The Samsung Galaxy measures 7.48” by 4.74” by .47” and weighs .8 pound. It has storage capacity of 16 GB or 32 GB using micro-SD. The RAM is 512 mb. The processor is 1Ghz CortexA8 and it does not have a dual core. The operating system is Android 2.1 and it is flash compatible. It can multitask and has two cameras: the front camera is 1.3mp and the rear camera is 3mp. The Galaxy offers GPS technology with an average battery life at about seven hours.

Blackberry Playbook, price varies

The Blackberry Playbook measures 7.6” by 5” by .4” and weighs in at .9 pound. It has storage capacity of 16, 32 and 64GB and the RAM is 1GB. The processor is 1 Ghz ARM Cortex A9 and has a dual core. The operating system is Blackberry Tablet OS and it is flash compatible. It can multitask and has two cameras: the front camera is 3mp and the rear camera is 5mp. It does not offer GPS technology and the battery life is undetermined.

HP Slate, $799

The HP Slate measures 9.21” by 5.91” by .58” and is the heaviest at 1.5 pounds. It has storage capacity of 64GB. The RAM is 2 GB. The processor is 1.86 GHz Intel Atom Z540 and does not have a dual core. The operating system is Windows 7 Pro and it is flash compatible. It can multitask and has two cameras: the front camera is 1.3mp and the rear camera is 3mp. The Slate does not offer GPS technology. The battery life of this tablet is weakest at five hours.

So far things have gone quite well for the iPad, and the numbers are there to prove it.  For instance, take the following iPad Sales Statistics Timeline so far:

• By April 3^rd, Apple had sold 300,000 units.
• By April 8^th, only 5 days after the release of the iPad, Apple had sold 450,000 units.
• By April 10^th, which was still within the first week of the iPad’s release, Apple had sold 500,000 units.
• On May 3^rd, which was 28 days after iPad launched, Apple had sold 1,000,000 units.

It is interesting to compare the iPad to other Apple products in their pioneering days.  For instance, while the iPad took only 28 days to sell 1 million units, the iPhone took 74 days, and the iPod 702 days to sell 1 million.

Also interesting, is the comparison between iPad users and those who use the Web on notebook or desktop computers.  For instance, iPad users consume three times as many videos as Web users.  Similarly, iPad users spend four times as long watching those videos as Web users.  This is somewhat of a testament to the quality of the iPad itself, as there must be something that keeps users glued to the screen.

The iPad already has a list of “official” accessories.  The following list encompasses most of what Apple has given its official stamp to in regards to iPad accessories:

• The Official iPad Dock, which can be viewed as a main hub, as it charges, displays and protects the iPad.
• The Official Keyboard Dock, which does everything that the dock does, but throws in a keyboard as well.  And the keyboard dock is quite a bargain because it essentially converts the iPad into a notebook computer, for only $69.
• The Official iPad Case accomplishes quite a bit.  It comes in the color black, and not only protects the iPad from scratches and dings, but also doubles as a stand.
• The Official iPad Camera Connection Kit not only allows iPad users to connect their camera directly to their iPad, but also comes with an SD card reader.  The iPad camera connection kit is available for $29.
• The Official iPad 10W USB Power Adapter comes in quite handy for saving battery power, not to mention that it eliminates the need for users to boot up their computer to power up.  The power adapter is available for $29.
• The Official TV and Video Connectors are available to those with the need or desire to connect their iPad to a larger screen for viewing.  The VGA Adapter is available for $29, and the Apple Component AV Cable and Composite AC Cable are both priced at $49.

In addition to official Apple accessories, a host of third party accessories are also already available for the iPad.  The following list is illustrative:

• The modulR case has yet to be released, but it will surely be a hit.  This accessory allows the iPad to hook to a number of attachments, including a carrying strap, kickstand, car mount and wall mount.
• The Quirky Cloak Case and Stand serves as a cover and a stand, and it is available for $42.
• There is even a TrendyDigital Waterproof Cover, which actually waterproofs the iPad.  This handy little accessory retails for only $20.

There is also the Vers handcrafted wood case, which, as the name implies, is handcrafted from bamboo and reinforced with steel.  So not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but it also serves as a protectant.