DIGITAL DRUGS....TABLETS

This year is going to be the year of the touchscreen tablet, of that there can be no doubt.

While tablet PCs have been around for yonks, only now are they becoming the desirable, usable and functional devices that we've always wanted them to be – and it's about time too.

The iPad is currently the most obvious example of how tablets are going mainstream, but that's not to say that all tablets released from now on are guaranteed to be super awesome

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1V

Specs: Android 3.0, 1GHz dual core CPU, 1GB RAM, 16GB/32GB storage, 10.1-inch capacitive screen at 1280x800 (WXGA), 3MP rear-facing camera, 2MP front-facing camera, 3G, 599g.

Word from the Geeks: The new Galaxy Tab 10.1V is a real corker. It's a good size, it's powerful, responsive, lightweight and has an excellent 8MP camera. Not to be confused with Samsung's forthcoming similarly-named Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Motorola Xoom

Specs: Android 3.0, Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core CPU, 1GB RAM, 32GB Flash storage, 10.1-inch capacitive LCD at 1280x800, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, barometer, gyroscope, 5MP rear-facing camera, 2MP front-facing camera, 3G, 730g.

Word from the Geeks: The Motorola Xoom is one of the second-generation Android tablets that the tech world is getting very excited about. Packing Nvidia's super-powerful Tegra 2 chip and running the tablet-friendly Android 3.0 OS, the Xoom is going to be big.

BlackBerry Playbook

Specs: BlackBerry Tablet OS (QNX), 1GHz Cortex A9 dual core CPU, 1GB RAM, 7-inch capacitive LCD at 1024x600, 3MP front-facing camera, 5MP rear-facing camera, 400g.

Word from the Geeks: The BlackBerry PlayBook is designed to be mobile and business-friendly. That means, at 130x194mm, the device is small enough to hold with one hand, slip in a laptop bag side pouch, and even carry around all day to meetings. The problem's start, though, with the lack of an email app, the dependence on owning a BlackBerry smartphone and a terminal lack of apps. The Playbook is powerful and has brilliant multitasking capabilities, but for now it's one to watch rather than one to buy.

LG Optimus Pad

Specs: Android 3.0, 1GHz Tegra 2 CPU, 1GB RAM, 32GB storage, 8.9-inch capacitive screen at 1024x768, 2x 5MP rear-facing cameras for 3D capture, 2MP front-facing camera, phone-friendly 3G, 630g.

Word from the Geeks: The Optimus Pad is a super-looking tablet and has the USP of having dual 5MP rear-firing cameras for 3D image capture. Add to that dual-core Tegra 2 CPU, a decent screen and Android 3.0 and you've got an exciting tablet on your hands. But pricing could be this tablet's Achilles heel – it's going to be pricey.

Acer Iconia Tab A500

Specs: Android 3.0, Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core CPU, 1GB RAM, 10.1 capacitive screen, 5MP rear-facing camera, 3G.

Word from the Geeks: As Acer's flagship tablet we were expecting big things from the A500 but from what we saw at MWC it doesn't look like the A500 is as high-end as we were expecting it to be. It's still a powerful Tegra 2-powered Honeycomb tablet though, so if it has an attractive price, this could be one to watch.