Samsung’s new Galaxy Note 10.1 is out this week and it has potential to give to Apple’s iPad a run for its money. However, Apple claims that Samsung has been ripping off the designs of their iPhone and iPad models when creating the Galaxy devices. There is a multi-billion dollar lawsuit currently going on between the two regarding Samsung’s methods of making their devices. The major difference between Samsung’s new tablet and Apple’s premier iPad is that the Galaxy Note 10.1 comes with a stylus-like pen. Tablets with styluses these days are not really the direction other giant companies are going with. Microsoft’s upcoming Surface tablet, for example, comes with an attachable keyboard for those who still want to have a desktop-like experience with a tablet. Samsung’s decision of still going with styluses for their tablets might be enough to distinguish themselves from the rest of the pack, but that is not the case according to Apple.

Besides the stylus, The Galaxy Note 10.1 has other differences and better features to Apple’s iPad. Other than having front and back cameras, Samsung’s new tablet has a card slot for expanded storage. In addition, there is an infrared blaster that can control your television system and front-faced stereo speakers that are better than iPad’s mono-only speakers. Another key difference is the ability to have side-by-side apps. One example is having a video on one side of the tablet and writing about it on a word processor at the same time. As of now, e-mails, notepad, internet browser, video player, photo gallery, and Polaris Office are the only apps that can be used side-by-side, but more are expected to be added in the future. The firmware installed in the tablet is Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich, but Samsung added mini-app support on the bottom of the screen. In other words, these mini-apps act more like widgets seen in smartphones and other tablets. There is no word yet if the new “Jelly Bean” firmware will come out for the Galaxy Note 10.1 whenever it is ready to be released on other Android devices.

Other than those features, the new Galaxy Note will be familiar to consumers if they had the last model. It is indeed an impressive tablet that can compete with the iPad, but is putting features in for the sake of having it in enough? Too much consumed in one device can be a bad thing complicating consumers that are used to tablets from other companies. This is why Apple’s iPad still remains as the tablet to beat because how simple it is to use compared to its competitors. The brand alone is also another key factor on how sales are going between Apple and Samsung. There are some flaws, but the $500 wi-fi enabled Galaxy Note 10.1 is still a great tablet if you prefer Android’s operating system to Apple’s iOS. With its feature set and differences, I don’t think it is that much of an iPad ripoff as Apple would say. Along with Microsoft’s upcoming Surface, the tablet market is going to be more competitive than you think this holiday season.