Samsung Galaxy Tab: too expensive?

Samsung has launched its iPad challenger, the Galaxy Tab – the first tablet said to be capable of taking on Apple’s successful product. But there is always a but. The Galaxy Tab, presented last week at a trade show in Germany, seems to be expensive, more expensive than the iPad.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab – as far as initial reports say – is going to be as expensive as Apple’s most expensive iPad, the 64 Gb version with 3G and WiFi. The tablet, that is going to be launched in Europe first, is going to cost about $1250 in Sweden, and nearly $1000 in Germany.

The situation will be the same in the United States – the Galaxy Tab will be subsidized by wireless carriers the same way as smartphones currently are – its price will be between $200 and $300 bit it will be tied to a wireless contract. Samsung will probably offer the Galaxy Tab through more than one carrier.

The tablet will be offered for a smaller price, but it will carry additional costs: the wireless contract, just like in the case of the iPhone 4. The contract will probably be a two-year agreement, as usual.

This is the only huge advantage of the iPad: although it does not support Flash, it does not have a front-facing camera and it’s not extensible by MicroSD, but it’s also not tied to any wireless carriers.