Apple has ruled the tablet world with iPad for some time. As tablets become more popular amongst consumers, various manufacturers are creating their own tablets. The main purpose of most tablets not made by Apple is to compete, or beat, the iPad. While a few tablets come close to this goal, Apple’s iPad still remains the cream of the tablet crop.

Toshiba Folio 100 -- $500

The Toshiba Folio 100 sports a 10.1-inch screen, which is comparable to the Apple iPad’s 10-inch screen. Aside from screen size, the Folio comes with a Nividia Tegra 2 chipset, which makes the Folio a speed force to be reckoned with. The Folio operates via Android 2.2, and it has all the Flash capabilities that you could ever want. Shutterbugs will also be happy to know that the Folio comes with a front-facing camera.

Samsung Galaxy Tab -- $499+

Even though the Samsung Galaxy Tab has a smaller screen than the iPad and Folio, it provides one of the clearest screens on the tablet market. The Galaxy has a Cortex A8 1.0GHz processor, 16GB of storage, and an Android 2.2 OS. Tab also includes a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera. Aside from the fact that the Tab is one of the first tablets to run on Android, this tablet is also easy to carry. Unlike the iPad, users won’t have any problems slipping a Samsung Galaxy Tab into a coat pocket.

Apple iPad -- $499+

No tablet list can be completed without the ever-popular Apple iPad. The iPad was the first tablet to hit the market, and, as such, it remains at the top of the bunch. The iPad has a 9.7-inch LED backlit screen, an Apple A4 1GHz processor, and operates on iOS. The iPad is loaded with apps, since it is created by Apple. This is the number one advantage of the iPad, since many other tablets do not have a large number of apps. The iPad does not have a USB connector, Flash, or camera, but it remains a tablet to be reckoned with. People who enjoy working within the Apple world will be hard pressed to find a better tablet than the Apple iPad.

ViewSonic ViewPad 100 -- $700+

ViewSonic enters the tablet market with the ViewSonic ViewPad. This tablet has a 10-inch LED backlit screen, 16GB of storage, an Intel Atom 1.66GHz processor, and operates on Windows 7 Home Premium or Android 1.6. The ViewPad is the only tablet (to date) that has Windows 7 and Android booting abilities. This alone makes the ViewPad a top tablet contender. The ViewPad 100 is also extremely lightweight, which makes it the perfect tablet for traveling and regular toting.

Archos 7 Home Tablet -- $199

The Archos 7 Home Tablet is the least expensive tablet on the market. However, this tablet does offer some things that many will find appealing. The Home Tablet comes with a 7-inch screen, an Android operating system, an ARM 600 MHz processor, and wireless connectivity. Archos has also equipped the Home Tablet with a set of apps, though not all Android apps are compatible with this tablet. Affordable, functional, and pocket-sized, the Archos 7 Home Tablet is an affordable tablet choice.