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With a price just $50 above that of the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet, most reviews compare the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 to those devices. And as an alternative to those models, it acquits itself well, especially when compared with the Fire, which doesn't offer any options for expanded storage, and limits which apps can be installed. That said, Amazon makes a wide variety of apps available in its app store, and includes its own video-on-demand app, which isn't officially available for other Android devices.

The Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 also offers a handful of interesting features that you won't find on the Fire or Nook, including its universal remote function, which lets it control TVs, cable boxes and other peripherals. It's not perfect, but I found it handy. It also has front and rear-facing cameras, though neither is especially good, along with Bluetooth and GPS. And, of course, it runs the latest version of Android, 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich).

All of these features add up to a fairly compelling device for anyone who wants a good, full-featured Android tablet at a price that's well below that of most similar models. However, with the market for low-priced Android tablets about to heat up, the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is about to face some stiff competition from companies like Asus, Google, and possibly even Apple. With the possibility of some more choice, and even a price war, around the corner, the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is slightly less compelling. However, if I were in the market for a small Android tablet right now, I'd buy one, and worry about that later. Right now, this is the best deal when it comes to a 7-inch, full-featured tablet.