Estimated price: Around £200
The most likely rival to the iPad at the moment the 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab is powered by Google's Android operating system.
Unlike the iPad, the Galaxy Tab does feature a camera on each side of the device, as well as a slot for expandable memory.
The Galaxy will allow people to make video calls. Significantly, unlike the iPad, the Galaxy Tab also has the capability to make mobile phone calls.
The Galaxy Tab has the latest version of the Adobe Flash software, which means it is capable of showing more of the video images found on the internet.
It is expected to cost significantly less than the iPad - around £200.
HP Slate / PalmPad
Estimated price: Around £350
Still to be officially announced the HP Slate from Hewlett Packard is expected to either run Windows 7 or Palm's WebOS mobile OS.
According to details leaked on line the device includes an 8.9-inch touchscreen and runs on Windows 7 Premium.
It also has two cameras - one video and one still -- for so users can carry out web conferencing. Another clue to the device is that HP has already patented the term 'Palmpad'.
Details found on HP's website boasted of a touchscreen on which someone 'could use the pen to write or draw as if on a piece of paper.'
The HP Slate was first announced in January but there has been no news since then.
Notion Ink Adam
Estimated price: Around £260
The Notion Ink Adam is unlikely to dominate the mass market but is making waves in technology circles.
Developed by little-known Indian firm Notion Ink it is expected to be launched in the US later this year or early next year at the CES consumer electronics show.
One of its main selling points is its 10.1-inch Pixel Qi transflective display, a touchscreen that will be capable of recognising six simultaneous points of contact. It is also specially designed so that it easily readable in sunlight.
As well as touch control the tablet will respond to accelerometer movement in all directions and it has a new 3-megapixel camera with a patented 'swivel' action.
Toshiba Folio
Price: £329
Launched at the IFA last week the Toshiba Folio did not manage to cause the stir that the Galaxy Tab did.
The Folio 100 features a 10.1 inch display which supports a resolution of 1024 x 600 and comes with a SIM card slot for 3G network access.
It's equipped with a rather meagre-sounding 1.3 megapixel front facing camera.
It runs a customised version of Android 2.2 as standard but there is no access to the hundreds of thousands of apps available on the Android Market.
The device also offers full compatibility with Adobe Flash - unlike the iPad.
