Which Tablet Computer Is Best

Tablets are taking the world by storm. Just a few years ago they were an unknown for many people, but nowadays you've got more choice than you can shake a mildly agitated badger at. And with choice comes decisions - difficult decisions. Do you eschew Apple's high prices, join the Android brigade and find the best iPad alternative?

Here's a collection of the tablets rated highest by CNET editors. Visit our tablet page for all the latest news, and be sure to see our list of the Best Android tablets, highlighting only Android OS devices. For general tablet-shopping advice, visit our Tablet Buying Guide.

It's tough to believe the tablet market has exploded as quickly as it has since the first iPad debuted three years ago. After all, smartphones, tablets, and laptops all fulfill similar needs, and the feature sets of these devices don't vary wildly.

New tablets from Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google, and now Microsoft are making it harder than ever to narrow down your selection. With the exception of Microsoft, all offer both large and small tablets. Battery life has gotten better, especially for small tablets. More displays, large and small, offer high-definition screens.