When the first iPad was released in 2010, it came with many skeptics. Little did they know that tablets would become the ultimate tool to watch movies, read books and even take notes for class, all in one device.

Two years later, they are on the top of many Christmas wish lists, and they’re not just made by Apple. Below are five tablets on the market this holiday season.

Amazon Kindle Fire HD

At $199, the Kindle Fire is one of the most cost-effective tablets on the market this holiday season. Though the Kindle was originally meant as just an e-book reader, it has come a long way since then. It can now be used for social networking, watching movies and other basic Internet functions.

Students can also upload their textbooks onto their Kindle, which is where its roots as an e-book reader pay off. The Kindle allows readers to look up words and highlight certain sections; its screen also makes it easy to read the text.

However, Ben Kraatz, freshman in Engineering, believes the Kindle Fire HD is weaker than other tablets on the market, and noted it doesn’t have a camera.

“The Kindle Fire is for the low price and the Amazon services,” Kraatz added.

Google Nexus 10

The Nexus 10’s $399 price tag puts it at just about average for a 10-inch tablet of its quality. Despite its alleged weak battery life, the tablet received rave reviews. The Nexus 10 received 4 stars on CNET, which described it as “one of the best designed tablets around.”

The Nexus 10 also runs on the Android 4.2 operating system. Brad Smith, freshman in LAS, prefers the Android OS. “It’s slightly more difficult to learn than the iPad, but it is much more customizable,” he said.

He recommended some apps, such as Chameleon Launcher and GO Launcher, that allow customers to get the most out of customization. Unlike iPad apps, most Android apps are free. One of Android 4.2’s most anticipated features is the new Photo Sphere, which allows users to take pictures spanning 360 degrees.

ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity

This tablet also runs on Android OS, but its price runs significantly higher than the Nexus 10 at $499. What makes it a “transformer” is that the tablet can attach to a keyboard to change it into a netbook.

The keyboard doesn’t come with the tablet, however, and costs about $150 extra. The Transformer Pad Infinity, as a tablet, has been commended for its HD screen and its 2-megapixel front-facing camera.

iPad Mini

The $329 7.9-inch iPad Mini is significantly less expensive than the full 10-inch iPad, but Kraatz believes it’s just as powerful.

“Although it doesn’t fall into the same price range of … other similar tablets, it’s better than those cheaper tablets,” he said.

The iPad mini has the same features as the iPad, and also has an extra inch of screen compared with other tablets of similar size. Unlike other tablets, it also has access to iBooks, making it “just as good as a bigger tablet,” said Kraatz.

Microsoft Surface

With the Surface being Microsoft’s first attempt at a tablet, pricing it at $499 (and $899 for the Pro version) is a bold decision.

Microsoft’s new tablet also runs on Windows 8, which is meant to further enhance the true netbook experience. Though Windows is the most popular operating system in the world, Kraatz believes that may not be a smart choice.

“Windows 8 has received a lot of criticism because it is made for both tablets and desktops and is thus compromised in both ways … the user interface is the main problem,” he said.

The Windows App Store has a somewhat limited selection; however, the Surface links well with a keyboard and has a USB port, making it one of the highest rated tablet/netbook hybrids.

Zefan can be reached at [email protected].