In lue of a raise this year, My boss decided that as an IT technician, I should keep abreast of the Android/ Ipad Technologies. She there fore bought me an iPad and a Motorola Zoom. So I have experience using both tablet platforms.
If you just want it to work... Get the iPad. Yes it is a locked OS, No it doesn't have a USB port, NO you cant upgrade the hardware on it. However you have more software selection, and for the most part there is no malicious software. It Just works!
If you are a tinker, you like to play with a unix Kernel, you want a little more flexibility in software usage, you can provide for your own software security, you may want to upgrade hardware or use different tweaks to the OS, then go with an Android device. PS I crashed my Xoom, with OEM provided Software within 15 minutes of owning it!
Some tinges to mention... the Adobe Flash issue is a dead issue. Adobe has announced that it will discontinue Flash on ALL mobile OS's. Flash 11 is the Last flash on mobiles ( it will be available for Android 4 though). Most Websites are well on the way to using HTML5, which is the better more secure standard anyway.
Beware the Cheapies... the Manufactures will not confirm numbers, but there is mounting evidence that many of the the cheapies are being returned due to unsatisfactory performance issues. An Update is forthcoming on the most popular one, it may resolve the issues.
Things are not looking good for Blackberry, personally I hope they recover, but they need to pull it together fast.
Also beware of unknown android clones. Many big time companies are pulling out or reversing plans to produce Tablets, HP was just the most visible. It sure would suck to buy a $600 tablet for christmas only to find out in Jan that the company is abandoning the platform. The reason for this is that most tablets are being sold for LESS than they cost to make. The companies make their profit on the content ( APPS, books, Movies ETC.) so if the hardware maker doesn't have that profit stream they cant compete..ie HP.
Android can now claim to have almost as many Apps in the Market place as Apple. Keep in mind though that an App that works great on your Android phone (2.4.3) may not work on your Tablet Android (3.1 or 4.0) or even on two phones/tablets by different manufactures running the same OS. The Majority of Apps in the Apple App Store will run the same on a phone, ipod, or tablet, the resolutions will just be distorted. You also don't need to purchase multi copies of App Store Apps to use it on different device at the same time. ( This may be the case for Android as well, I haven't tested it).
Lastly.. from my family point of view. I can punish my 3 year son by telling him he cant play with the iPad today. He will cry like he has been physically hurt. He could care less about using the Xoom.
Stan