The Only Honeycomb Tablet You Should Buy

This year Google debuted Android 3.0 (Honeycomb)—the first version of its mobile operating system designed for large-screen tablets. The OS shows a lot of promise and has some clear advantages over the Apple iPad 2 like better multitasking and a Web browser that supports Adobe Flash. The Motorola Xoom was the first tablet available to feature Honeycomb and now new models from Acer, Asus, and Samsung are imminent. But I think you should skip them. If you want a Honeycomb tablet, I suggest waiting for Google's own Nexus Tablet, which is rumored to be released later this year. Here's why: Just like with Android smartphones, Google's Nexus-branded handsets are the only models that get prompt software updates.

The now-discontinued Google Nexus One and recently released Google Nexus S are the only Android phones running the most-current version of the OS that's designed specifically for smartphones—Android 2.3.3. And that's because Google directly supports these phones. Every other Android phone on the market is running a version of Android that's about a year old. Even Google admits that only 1.7 percent of all Android phones are running Android 2.3.3. You should never buy a phone, a tablet, or a computer that has a history of going a year without getting a software update—that's just a waste of your money.

While iPads and iPhones aren't for everyone, Apple does have a sterling track record when it comes to updating its iOS devices promptly and frequently. Choosing a tablet that will deliver prompt updates should not be a feature you compromise on. It should be a requirement. Updates offer better performance, add functionally, and fix critical bugs. The Android 2.3.3 performance improvements are considerable—they include boosts in speed, responsiveness, and battery life. Featurewise, Android 2.3.3 adds a new multitouch on-screen keyboard, a new way to copy and paste and a redesigned UI to take advantage of high-contrast OLEDs. It also fixes a bug that can occasionally cause your Android smartphone to send a text message to the wrong contact. If there were a bug in Honeycomb that accidentally sends an e-mail message to the wrong contact, and Google issued a fix, you'd be wishing you had the Nexus tablet, because it would come with prompt updates.

I've seen rumors that LG will be making the hardware for the Google Nexus Tablet. (HTC made the Google Nexus One and Samsung made the Google Nexus S.) Perhaps it will debut next month at Google's I/O developer conference.

 Like I mentioned earlier, the first Honeycomb tablet, the Motorola Xoom runs Android 3.0. It's fresh now, but just wait for the next major version of Android for tablets to come out, and see how long it takes for Motorola to issue an update. Based on the company's awful track record of supporting its smartphones, it's unlikely the Motorola Xoom will get quick updates.

Only Google's Nexus-branded line of hardware has an A+ track record of delivering updates, while other vendors simply fail. It doesn't look like anyone is learning any lessons either, just take a look at the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. This tablet blends the Honeycomb OS with Samsung's non-removable TouchWiz interface. Most all of Samsung's Android Smartphones feature TouchWiz— I find that it just gets in the way. Generally, when a manufacturer customizes Android, it's not good for the user. The customizations are typically non-removable, add a layer of confusion, and just end up being bloatware. And Samsung is even worse than Motorola at issuing updates. Its Galaxy S phone for Verizon, the Fascinate, was released last summer with Android 2.1, even after 2.2 was available, and only this week received its 2.2 update.

You shouldn't get serious about buying a Google Android tablet until manufacturers get serious about supporting them, or Google introduces its own Nexus tablet.