News: Dutch court - Galaxy Tab is not a copy of the iPad

The latest news in the Apple vs Samsung saga comes from a Dutch ruling this week, against Apple’s injunction to ban the sales of its Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the Netherlands.

The rivalry between the two – which essentially boils down to an assertion by Apple that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 copies its popular iPad 2 tablet – has been ongoing for close to a year.

The saga, which began last April, set in motion a back and forth tug-of-war between the two companies, which included Apple seeking injunctions against sales of the Samsung’s devices in Germany and delays of its launch in Australia.

Samsung in turn countersued the Cupertino company for infringing its patents, and at one point demanded it hand over the source code to its iOS 5 operating system. (Indeed, it became prominent enough of a feature during last year that is earned a spot in our Top 5 news of 2011.)

On both sides, the ten month battle has resulted in wins and losses. One of the more dramatic of these was Samsung being compelled to remove its Galaxy Tab 7.7 tablet from the IFA consumer show.

However, the Dutch ruling is interesting because it directly addresses the heart of the matter. The court ruled that the Korean company’s tablet is not in fact a copy of the iPad 2.

Hands on: our verdict

It also prompted us to spend some hands on time with both devices and compare them very directly to one another. We walked away convinced us that in use, the tablets are far more different than they are alike.

Next to the 10.1” form factor, the 9.7” form of the iPad 2 feels considerably compact, although they are both large tablets. While Samsung’s screen is, at maximum brighter than that found on the iPad, the iPad’s touchscreen is considerably faster and more responsive.

Our tests also indicated that the iPad’s Wi-Fi connectivity appears to be more stable than that found on the Galaxy Tab. And then of course, there is the vast difference between the two operating systems and the general navigation that results, not to mention the difference apps designed for iOS makes versus those designed for Android.

While first glances may bolster may support the Cupertino company’s claims that Samsung copied it, in general usage the two tablets seem to cater to two different segments of the tablet market – most specifically those comfortable and familiar with Android, and those who prefer Apple’s iOS.

That is what makes the latest Dutch ruling so pertinent; one really notices the differences between the two tablets when they are used side by side.

Unfortunately, this does not mean that Apple and Samsung will suddenly cease their hostilities over a matter, that in our opinion, is just not true.

Dutch court - Galaxy Tab is not a copy of the iPad

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