28 September 2011 Last updated at 11:22 ET

Tablet computers: Amazon's competition

As Amazon launches its Kindle Fire tablet computer, BBC News looks at some of the other big players in the handheld computing market.

	Tablet	Analysis
	Kindle Fire Amazon	Amazon's first fully fledged tablet has a number of factors in its favour - the popular Kindle brand, the company's array of downloadable content and its relatively low price. But its technical specs may fall against more expensive rivals.
	iPad 2 Apple	Current market leader, by a long way. Research firm IDC estimated its share at 68% in September 2011. Its stylish looks and sophisticated ecosystem of apps and content continues to draw customers.
	Galaxy Tab 10.1 Samsung	The most recent version of Samsung's Android powered tablet has been widely hailed by reviewers, but legal problems in the form of patent lawsuits brought by Apple mean that its sale is currently restricted in several countries.
	PlayBook Blackberry	Blackberry has a lot riding on the success of the PlayBook, as it struggles to maintain a significant position in the smartphone market. The company was widely pilloried for shipping the first version without an e-mail application.
	Nook Color Barnes & Noble	Only available in America, but an early indicator of things to come. Bookseller Barnes & Noble created much more than just an e-reader when they released this Android-powered tablet.
	Touchpad HP	The first casualty of the tablet wars. HP's decision to move away for consumer hardware led to the Touchpad being sold off at bargain bin prices just two months after it launched.
	Flyer HTC	HTC's tablet uses a slightly tweaked version of Google's Android operating system. The device also features a stylus. Most manufacturers ditched pen input after the first generation of handheld tablets in the early 2000s.
	Grid 10 Fusion Garage	Niche player Fusion Garage has done something radical with Android - tearing-up the familiar interface and building their own ecosystem. It's also gunning for the competition with a £259 price tag.
	Windows 8 Microsoft	Although a few tablets running Windows 7 exist, Microsoft's big push isn't expected until it releases Windows 8, probably in 2013. The Metro interface is designed around touchscreen devices.