Best in Tech Awards 2011

Tablet: Apple iPad

Slates got their start nearly 10 years ago, but high prices and user-unfriendliness relegated them to the role of industrial applications. Now they’re back, reinvented as an item for the masses. Numerous challengers have tried to take on the iPad, but none have succeeded so far. Confi gure it with 3G or without; either way, you’ll have a classy device for reading books, playing with iPhone apps or browsing the web.

Why we love it: If we could pry it away from our kids for one minute, we’d tell you. $499 and up, apple.com

Also consider:
Fusion Garage JooJoo
$499, thejoojoo.com
Dell Streak
$550, dell.com