This is the biggest ground shaker to hit the tablet scene for 2010 AD, super light, low cost, lots of configurability and loads of pre-existing software to choose from via the built-in online Google Market. The Orphan aPad is the most popular alternative to the Apple iPad so far this year.

The Orphan aPad M001 runs Google Android OS 1.5.2 which comes pre-installed. Also included is a selection of Android applications.

The best aspect of adding software to the aPad is you can instantly pick software from Google's Android Market. The thing I love most is how after you've unboxed it, you can start customizing it and installing different useful applications, giving the unit an instant unique personalised feel.

This aPad has many more features than the iPad but in a slim, compact 190.5 x 118.5, 14.7 (HWD), 332 gram casing.

Auto-screen rotation sensor, rotates the screen depending how you are holding the device. The iRobot also includes the Google chrome-lite web browser.

The M001 has a high definition clear touch screen with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels to provide a fantastic multimedia and Internet experience. The aPad is powered by a 300 MHz Via 8505 processor with 1GB of Memory and it also comes with a micro-SD slot supporting card sizes of 2GB to 16GB.

WiFi 802.11b/g connectivity is included and so is support for Google Maps. Battery capacity is around the 3000 mAh mark for most editions.