T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Tab may cost $399 with contract

About a month ago Samsung announced that the Tab was coming to all four major US carriers. We have been waiting for some pricing and availability info and it looks like TmoNews found more details on the T-Mobile Galaxy Tab, particularly the $399 subsidized price. The $649.99 no-contract price (probably still locked to T-Mobile USA) seems a bit high for a tablet form factor half the size of a $629 3G iPad. While $399 also sounds reasonable, we don't yet know what the monthly wireless cost will be and if it is like the typical carrier netbooks we will see something like $50+ per month just for the data.

I am happy with my WiFi Apple iPad and just don't find the need to have a 3G data connection with a tablet form factor device. If I am out and about then I have a powerful smartphone with me and don't see the need to such a large form factor device. Then again, the Samsung Galaxy Tab does look like a pretty compelling tablet with the following specs:

• T-Mobile HSPA wireless data access
• Android 2.2 operating system
• 7 inch mult-touch 1024x600 display
• Qik video chat with 1.3 megapixel front facing webcam
• Rear facing 5 megapixel camera
• microSD card reader
• 802.11 b/g/n WiFi
• Bluetooth
• HDMI out (via Dock)
• Weight of 1 lb
• Social Hub support with movies and TV episodes

As you can see on the TmoNews page there is a comparison with the iPad 16GB with the key differences being the removable memory, flash in browser support, weight (that is because it is much smaller), cameras, and operating system. The only major missing feature in the iPad for me is the camera for video chatting.