Kindle Fire, Nook Tablet, Kobo Vox

The devices are all designed for the same task: To separate you from the printed page, and have you read books and magazines -- and watch video and listen to music -- on tablets instead. Not to mention to provide consumers with a less-expensive alternative to full-featured tablets just as the Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab.

The Kindle Fire in spite of mixed reviews

Analysts predict big sales for the Kindle Fire in spite of mixed reviews. It runs a highly customized version of Android 2.3 designed for media consumption -- you won't find Gmail, Google Maps, the Android Market or other familiar Android apps on it. Or rather, you get a so then-designed reading and entertainment device that ships with the Kindle reader and with several streaming media services, including Netflix, Hulu Plus and Pandora.

Either way, don't discount the touch-earlier-you-buy factor -- the Nook Tablet has a place of honor at Barnes & Noble stores. The technically astute looking for a then-made Android tablet with plenty of storage may head straight for the Nook Tablet also, because its older brother, the Nook Color, can be hacked to run straight Android. It's not clear but whether the same will be true for the Nook Tablet, nevertheless I wouldn't be surprised if it did.

The Kobo Vox itself is a competitive device

The Kobo Vox itself is a competitive device, and it offers a social networking aspect that may be attractive to a number of consumers. All that being said, Kobo has a real fight on its hands.