IMHO:

1) Content Consumption (Movies, Gaming)
Nothing beats the Ipad. And if Apple boosts the screen res in the IP3 and keeps the graphics snappy, nothing will beat it anytime soon.

2) Productivity:
Props to the poster who mentioned the Fujitsu 550. It is woefully underclocked but for SINGLETASKING productivity it is hard to beat a machine that runs Windows. All your apps work, all your files work. Fujistu has been making tablets FOREVER and they get most things right, just wish this unit had a little bit more HP. But it is running Windows 7 which isn't tablet optimized.

Have to mention Windows convertable tablets and the Samsung Series 7 tablet. Way more expensive, but fully capable Windows machines. The Samsung runs the preview of Windows 8 pretty well too, but sadly, while improved, the Win8 beta still drops you into touch unfriendly Win7 desktop territory too often.


3) Android
Not the best of class for either, but consider the Thinkpad Tablet. You can purchase a keyboard folio that works very nicely, AND the screen is one of the few that works well with a pen. Hardware is excellent AND Lenovo has promised an ICS update. It is too expensive if you pay retail, but Lenovo has some REALLY great sales periodically. $399 for a 32GB machine and a $120 add on for the keyboard folio and pen. Plus Lenovo actually services these machines. Tablets get beat up, it is the nature of the form factor. Had a couple of Transformer users jump ship when the they had hardware issues that required the units to be sent in. When they saw a Lenovo tech deliver a replacement tablet SAME DAY we called for service, it made an impression.

4) Readers
If it fits your usage pattern, nothing wrong with a reader. Kindle Fire seems to have a pretty good browser. Realize the limitations of the walled garden, but if that works, the price can't be beaten.

Cheers.