The tablet market didn't even exist prior to 2010. Sure, Microsoft attempted to launch Windows XP laptop/tablet hybrids back in the early 2000s, but no one used them. The true modern era tablet was launched when Steve Jobs took to the stage in January 2010 and introduced the iPad. To say the competition was unprepared would be an understatement. The originally iPad became one of the most widely used and admired tech products in history. It single handedly created a new segment of the market and paved the way for imitation products from Samsung, Dell, Microsoft etc. Sure, imitation may be the highest form of flattery, but no one took these tablets seriously either. Yet the market has changed. Led by Samsung, newer non-iPad tablets are starting to go toe-to-toe with the iPad.

The current flagship tablet from Apple, the iPad Air, has limited usage for businesses, writers, medical practitioners and media professionals. Of course, Apple will tell you that the iPad Air is the greatest device ever created but, while it offers up amazing mobile experiences, it doesn't let you create an experience. However Apple isn't resting on its laurels. The forthcoming iPad Pro is going to present Apple iPad users, and those customers currently on the fence about whether a tablet can be used for productivity, a whole new way to work on the go. The iPad Pro will unleash so much more power than current Air thanks to its purported 12.9" 2K and 4K display, an included keyboard, and better security features.

Whatever Apple releases it better have power to spare because at CES 2014 this past week, Samsung told the tech world point-blank that it's not playing games. It announced it's new Pro line. Each of the four tablets in the Pro line have laptop beating specs. The Galaxy NotePRO 12.2 2014 edition is the flagship model with a hefty weight of 1.6lbs, a 12.2" super high-resolution 2560 by 1600 display, included Wacom S Pen, 4gb of RAM and a Window's 8.1 metro style interface called Magazine UX. These specs are nice on paper and they actually seem to translate to real world usage. Apple products are derided for their limited multitasking ability, but the NotePRO has that covered. You can have four apps displayed at a single time, each taking up one quadrant of the screen. The NotePRO 12.2 even allows you to resize the windows to fit your needs.

The official pricing information on the iPad Pro and NotePRO aren't known yet. Some European retailers have listed prices for Samsung's four new tablets, but who knows if they are the real deal. The European prices are sky high, but products in Europe always seem to be significantly higher anyways due to valued added tax (VAT). One would assume that the iPad Pro would cost significantly more than the current Air (which starts at $499) due to the larger size and enhanced feature-set.

Which tablet will you be buying? Do you hate Apple and love Samsung or vice-versa? Let us know in the comments section below.