Somebody’s gotta pay for it and it ends up being the consumer. I don’t like it any more than you do, but that’s how it is. In this article we’re going to take a look at two leading tablet PC’s, breaking down their price points and what they offer.

While the exact definition of a tablet PC remains up in the air, a simple definition runs along the lines of this: a personal computer between the sizes of a PDA and laptop and oftentimes sporting touch-screen capabilities, with or without a stylist, and/or a keyboard.

For the purposes of this article, we will take a look at two leading tablets on the market, the Android tablet and Apple iPad. Will Apple’s star power run the show or, will the up and coming Android steal Apple’s thunder?

Screen Size: Though the Android’s screen is 7″, the screen size of the iPad measures in almost 3″ larger at 9.7″. While 3″ may not seem like much, every little bit counts.

Multitasking: At first, this didn’t seem like a really big deal until I thought about the multitasking with my PDA over my 19″ computer screen. It’s nice to be able to run multiple programs at the same time and not have the device freeze up.

Storage: Android touts a minimum storage of 8 GB while the iPad ranges from 16 to 64 GB of storage, depending upon your price point. At first glance Apple wins this, hands down, until you look at the issue of external storage, at which point the Android tablet is the clear winner with a USB port where Apple decided no USB port was needed.

Applications: With Android being so new on the market there is an obvious disparity with regards to the number of apps available to Android users. But, as Android grows in popularity, as is happening perhaps faster than anyone anticipated, the great disparity is quickly shrinking.

Price: Hands down Android’s price tag of $240 is much more affordable than Apple’s hefty price of $500 to $830. For Apple’s prices you can go out and get a netbook or even a laptop while you’re at it.

While we all want to rush out and get the newest gadgets on the market, when it comes right down to it, the price tags really carry a lot of weight. Let’s face it, money is tight right now. Are you really getting all the bang for your buck? What features are more important to you and how much does their cost factor into your decision?

P.A. Jacobo is an entrepreneur blogger, freelance writer and virtual assistant. View her blog at http://AdventuresInTheVirtualWorld.wordpress.com.