Business

Galaxy Tab a dim bulb

The Galaxy Tab, Samsung’s answer to the iPad, might better be called the boomerang as one Wall Street firm has found that an eye-popping 15 percent of those sold are being returned.

The Galaxy Tab is a slow-seller, as well, according to analysts.

The 15 percent return rate, which covers sales from its November debut through Jan. 16, compares to a 2 percent return rate for Apple’s iPad.

“Consumers aren’t in love with the device,” said Tony Berkman, a consumer tech analyst with ITG.

The South Korean electronics maker announced yesterday that it shipped 2 million Galaxy Tabs, which run Google Android software.

The problem with the Galaxy has been well-chronicled. Samsung rushed the product to market to compete with Apple and relied on software that was never meant to be used for a tablet device.

Google even cautioned that its software, nicknamed Froyo, was not designed for tablet computing, noting that it was developed for smartphones and their smaller screens.

“If you want to get a device out — if you’re [a manufacturer] — do you have to go with what’s available right now or do you wait for the next generation to come out?

“That’s the issue Samsung and other manufacturers run into,” said Ezra Gottheil, a senior analyst with Technology Business Research.

Rhoda Alexander, an iSuppli analyst, said, “There are a lot of issues with Android tablets, not just Samsung.

“A lot of those products have difficulties with high return rates or with not moving off the shelf.”

The tablet market is about to be flooded by devices running Google’s latest software, called Honeycomb, which was designed for tablets.

On Feb. 17, Motorola is set to lead the pack with its Xoom, with other makers launching their own later this year.

This is the year Android tablets are expected to make a dent in iPad’s dominance, much as Android smartphones challenged the iPhone. gsloane@nypost.com