Season of tablets

 That did not really happen — the flood of product was reduced to a trickle, as many manufacturers awaited a more tablet-friendly operating system from Google. So, once more, with feeling: 2011 will be the Year of the Tablet. Several new models have either been released, or are in a very advanced state of preview.

Dell Streak

Dell was one of the first computer makers to respond to the iPad, releasing the Streak in August 2010. The Streak has a five-inch screen, smaller than the eight- to 10-inch screens common in tablets. With dimensions like that, the Streak occupies the space between the smartphone and the tablet.

HP Slate

The on-again, off-again Slate was in the works for some time. In October 2010 Hewlett-Packard, the world’s largest PC manufacturer, introduced the Slate, its first tablet. Running a touch-optimized version of Microsoft Windows 7, the Slate is initially being targeted at business users. That would explain its enterprise-level price: $800.

Apple iPad

Apple introduced the second version of its iPad on March 2. The newer version is slimmer, lighter and has both front and rear-facing cameras. Competitors are cropping up with increasing frequency, but the iPad remains the dominant tablet on the market with a price range of $500 to $830.

Toshiba tablet

Toshiba’s tablet, which will run on Google’s Android operating system, resembles an iPad with a grippy rubberized backing. The company has incorporated features it has developed for its laptops, like stereo speakers and a screen that adjusts in contrast and brightness depending on the lighting. Both of those features are intended to make it more comfortable for consumers to watch video. Some of the details, like exact weight and exact price, are still being worked out.

BlackBerry PlayBook

Refusing to cede tablet ground to the likes of Apple, Google and Microsoft, smartphone maker Research In Motion has been developing the PlayBook, part of its BlackBerry line of devices. The PlayBook will be available in 2011, though R.I.M. has shown prototypes already. Expect full Flash support for the Web, compatibility with corporate servers and enhanced security features.

Samsung Galaxy Tab

The Galaxy Tab from Samsung is one of the few real competitors to Apple’s iPad. The Galaxy runs on Google’s Android 2.2 operating system, which means it comes with some features — turn-by-turn navigation, voice dictation, Flash support — that either cost extra on the iPad or are not available at all. Prices vary depending on the carrier, but expect to pay between $400 and $600.

Motorola Xoom

Motorola introduced its tablet, the Xoom, at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The tablet is the first to run the newest version of Google's Android operating system, known as Honeycomb. It was named the best gadget by the show's official awards. Motorola said that the tablet will be available in the first quarter of 2011, but has not given any details about its cost.