Top 10: Is iPad 2 that great or do Android Honeycomb tablets just suck that much?

I'm fairly certain I was the first pundit to tell everyone that there was *no* reason to choose a tablet that was not iPad 2. In the months since iPad 2 was launched, others have parroted this line.

More importantly, customers have wholeheartedly agreed with it.

IPads are currently selling better than Android tablets to Android smartphone users. So claims Canaccord Genuity analyst Mike Walkley, who expects Apple to dominate the tablet market for some time to come.

Developers as well. Per Computerworld, there are (still) extremely few apps designed for Android tablets:

But instead of an explosion of Honeycomb apps, the fuse burned down to the powder keg...and then nothing happened. Four months later, we're still waiting: The number of Honeycomb-optimized apps remains in the low hundreds. By comparison, there are over 100,000 apps optimized for the iPad.

So, what gives? Is there something especially hard about optimizing an Android 2.x (Froyo, Gingerbread) app for Android 3.x (Honeycomb)? Are developers waiting for Ice Cream Sandwich (presumably, to be called Android 4.0), which will merge the tablet OS and phone OS into one? Is there just not enough demand? Are there problems with tablet app discovery in the Android Market? Is it just because Honeycomb is so new?

With over twenty-five million devices sold, the Apple iPad has already created a huge app market, and that means the chances of seeing that ROI are high. Exact figures for the number of Honeycomb devices sold are unknown, but it's almost certain that less than 1 million total have sold so far.

 The Asus Eee Pad Transformer, which is by far the best-selling Honeycomb tablet, has sold only an estimated 400,000 to date. "We're just waiting for someone to create that must-have [Android tablet] product that everyone wants for Christmas."

Why is iPad such a more popular, superior device to any and all Android tablets?

Here are the top 10 reasons why:

1. iOS is a more robust, powerful, intuitive operating system for tablets.
2. Tablets are designed for anytime, anywhere functionality for a complete range of users from toddlers to seniors and Apple's full control over hardware, software and platform ecosystem ensures a much greater, much better experience for all.
3. Apple's costs are lower for equivalent hardware, and for manufacturing and sourcing. It is quite obvious to the consumer when comparing tablets within the iPad's price range that the iPad is a superior device in both build quality and design.
4. The iPad is *strategic* to Apple. Google does not sell hardware, nor software, but your data -- to advertisers. Currently, the vast majority of tablets users are engaged in either consuming or creating, not searching. There is little reason for Google to improve upon the tablet fork of Android.
5. iPad is strategic to Apple and therefore Apple has provided appropriate focus, marketing, access, support and promotion of iPad apps. Tablets are not strategic to Google and that is why tablet-optimized apps are buried within the Android Market.
6. Tablets are a new form factor for most people. The Apple Store offers a supportive environment to play and text and inquire about the iPad. For other tablets, they are typically set amongst other gadgets and/or placed alongside competitors and the sales staff may not be terribly helpful. Similarly, since almost no one needs a tablet with 3G, there's little reason for customers to go to a carrier to sign a 3G contract in exchange for a subsidized tablet.
7. A single screen size, a singular set of specs; this makes building apps for iPad significantly easier than for (the myriad) Android tablets.
8. App monetization. Apple has sold over 25 million iPads. I'm estimating that for each iPad sold, it is actively used by an average of 2 persons, likely both have iTunes accounts. Of that 50 million, nearly all have shown a ready willingness and the ability to pay for iPad apps. Google users demand free.
9. Ecosystem, ecosystem, ecosystem. iOS, iTunes, App Store, Apple Store, iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, service, support, accessories. It all works better with Apple. It may cost more money, though this is doubtful. Apple marketing may suggest we are all metrosexuals. Steve Jobs very well may be a dick. Apple users may be sheep. But the ecosystem is hands-down a minimum two standard deviations better than anything Google Android can offer. Why wouldn't you choose that?
10. First-mover advantage.