Sony S2

we're not entirely convinced the S2 is going to satisfy in any one of these roles. These clamshell touch-screen devices always seem killer in concept, but it takes a lot of wizardry to make the sum of two good screens greater than a single excellent one.

The unique screen also presents a challenge when it comes to apps.During the limited time with the device Sony would allow us to view only its in-house apps, such as its e-book reader, media player, and a demo of Crash Bandicoot that utilized the S2's bottom display as a virtual gamepad. It remains to be seen how Android's current catalog of apps will look. A Sony rep stated that users will have the option to scale third-party apps across both screens or limit them to a single panel to prevent them from being divided by the bezel. 

Another potential roadblock to the S2's broad adoption is the fact that the only version of it coming to the states is a 4G-capable model through AT&T. Though the carrier's data fees seem reasonable, it's one more sign that these tablets aren't going to come cheap.

Still, there's a lot to like about Sony's foldable tablet. It's a head-turner, for sure, and hopefully a signal that equally daring Android tablet designs are possible. Also, at the end of the day, at least it can't be accused of copying the iPad.

Sony's tablets are the sexiest Honeycomb devices we've seen yet. They're also the latest to arrive in an Android tablet market that is quickly showing a focus on price over all other concerns.

But compared with an Asus or a Samsung, or even an Apple, Sony does have a few aces up its sleeve. Its legacy in gaming, digital cameras, and portable audio can't be matched by any competitor on all fronts. There's a sense from what we've seen that Sony intends to leverage these advantages for all they're worth.

Sony will likely stumble on pricing. The company's pride in its premium brand will probably prevent it from chasing Asus and others down past the $400 mark, which is likely to be the norm by the time fall rolls around. As the tablet market inevitably blooms beyond the iPad, there will certainly be room for two premium tablet brands, but we're not there yet.