Samsung’s Galaxy Note tablet available today

Samsung rolled out a tablet-computer version of its Galaxy Note smartphone. The Galaxy Note 10.1, which arrived in stores today, is the first tablet that has a split-screen option.

The Galaxy Note 10.1’s split-screen feature means that you can activate two applications and use them simultaneously. It also has an S-pen stylus and specific apps that can be used to sketch and take notes, just as the Galaxy Note smartphone does.

The Galaxy Note 10.1 features a 1.4-gigahertz quad-core processor, an Android 4.0 operating system, a 5-megapixel main camera and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera that can be used for video chatting.

The Galaxy Note 10.1 16GB tablet costs $500, and the 32GB version costs $550. The devices are available at Amazon, Best Buy, BrandSmart, CDW, Conn’s, Fry’s, HH Gregg and Tiger Direct.

The Galaxy Note smartphone, which has a 5.3-inch touch screen, has the largest display screen among smartphones. A 5.5-inch version of the smartphone likely will arrive later in 2012.