The product that might compete head to head with Apple's iPad is Neofonie's WePad, which has a comparable cost of at least $499. In terms of features, the WePad has a much larger display at 11.6" and 1366 x 768 Pixel, whereas the iPad has only 9.7" display and 1024 x 768 Pixel. With regards to the type of processor, WePad has 1.66 Ghz Intel Atom N450 Pineview-M, while iPad has 1.0 Ghz Apple A4 chip.

Furthermore, Wepad supports Flash or Adobe Air while the iPad does not. In terms or applications, the WePad users can source it either at the WePad Appstore and Google Android Marketplace, whereas the iPad apps are only available at iTunes App Store. As far as eBook format is concerned, WePad supports all open additional premium compared to iPad that only supports proprietary Apple format.

But at the end of the day, in terms of head start iPad has already covered a lot of ground, and consumers are looking forward for iPad 2.0 this coming January 2011.

It's my understanding that there are some knockoffs of the iPad, but all actual iPads are made by Apple. Similar to the iPad is HP Slate, Android Tablet and the Samsung Galaxy Tab. So those could be considered competition for the iPad. There is also a knockoff called iPed that is said to be close.

There are also different varieties of the iPad -- 16GB, 32GB, WiFior 3G. Of course, depending on your needs would be the difference in the size and type of connection you need.

I haven't looked to much into the other tablets and slates. I know some other people have asked about the Galaxy and the Slate. I think most people go for the Apple products because of all the iPhone apps and iPad apps. Of course a lot of people are die hard Mac fans as well.

From a cost perceptive, the iPad seems to be the best deal for what you pay verses what you get. The Galaxy starts at about 685, the Slate is over 500 and the Android is the cheapest, but it doesn't quite stack up against the iPads functions and features. It is smaller for starters.