The advantage of having a netbook, instead of a tablet such as the iPad, is that it is essentially a computer – just a really small one. you can do practically anything that you can do on your laptop on the netbook. When compared against the tablet, it comes with more storage space; netbooks are normally equipped with a hard disc that is more than 160GB, so even if Windows and other programs eat up around 20GB, there is still a lot of storage space for you to use.

Netbooks are also cheaper than tablets. Especially, new brands like gateway, degee appear. Comparing with famous brand, new brand netbook is cheaper since we do not need to pay much for the brand value. The thing with netbooks, though, is that they can be unbelievably heavy despite their small size – at least when you weigh it against the tablet.

While the initial cash outlay for the tablet is higher than the netbook, the tablet can be filled with apps that cost between $1 to $20 – or those that can be had for free. Software for the netbook, on the other hand, can cost as much as several hundred dollars.

Let me lend my personal experience with both...

I have a Sony Netbook, HP Tablet (True laptop tablet screen swivles and closes screen up and is touch screen), and an iPad (well just sold it but had...)

As far as a COMPUTER my NB was the one I used most, at home and out and about, that said I discovered I REALLY just DONT end up doing much when out and about and need to kill time, or need to do something real quick, and the iPad took its place 99% of the time.

Almost everything you want to do can be done in some form on the iPad, and there are plenty of "Office" suites out there to do the average users work. I wouldnt suggest the iPad for creating or doing large edits to complex spreadsheets or DBs, nor would I type a term paper on an iPad, but must of us really do FAR LESS than we think with our computers. Heck Im an IT guy, and other than experimenting w stuff, its 99% internet use. There are plenty of cloud apps for doing complex tasks, sharing and storing files, etc, etc on iPad.

If I was a business user, or didnt HAVE to carry a laptop in the car anyways, I would buy something like the Zagg aluminum case w builtin bluetooth keyboard. My son (9) has his own iPad, and we have a simple $20 stand and an Apple bluetooth keyboard in the office where he does homework. His mom breaks her laptop alot, and she gets by just fine doing almost any task with the stand+keyboard setup...only complaint I really heard was over no flash support on some sites she uses that havent created nonflash or mobile sites.

My Tablet PC, BWAHAHAHAHA man am I a freaking SUCKER, and everyone I have ever known that has bought one feels the same. Plain and simple, they are to heavy and bulky, Windows Tablet Ed (or Tablet Addon Pack depend on ver) just isnt built to be driven by touch and having a stylus at ALL times is a MUST... I just found that it was just too easy to open, swivle, and have a full laptop. The only tablet I ever saw I think I MIGHT use, had a detatchable screen, so you had the option of basically a full laptop or tablet, but I havent seen another one. When it comes to the newer, lighter Win based tablets that have no keyboard and a similar form as an iPad, the PITA of driving windows via touchscreen, basically makes them netbooks with wireless keyboard and mouse and touchscreen, because youre going to be forced to carry those in your bag.

As for Android Tabs, I have not owned one, but ran an android phone for 3 months, and to me, it was the worst, most unstable POS EVER. Yes there are more free apps, you dont have to jailbreak to access some things, but the tradeoff is that the apps are less refined, less reliable, and untested...The app you want for an iDevice may not exist, but if it doesnt (not even jailbroken) its a good bet that its not viable to use on such a device vs finding that app and it not working right...

My verdict is this:

iPad - If you want a light, quick, convenient piece of hardware that will do 99% of your needs

Tablet (Win based, similar form as iPad) - If you need the above, but you 10000% REQUIRE windows (and you DONT, my

iPad was my first ever Apple device, and Im a MS IT person so im not just fanboying apple)
Full Tablet PC - If you need the power of a true laptop (NOT a netbook) and your use is going to be 50/50 between sitting down to work (ie using it laptop style) and your job requiring you to carry that device on your person and need the touchscreen (ie an ER nurse, a outside salesperson)

Android Tablet - If you want the convienence of the iPad, but youre too cheap or anti apple -OR- you NEED to be able to openly develop and distribute software for the device (say outfitting a mobile workforce, but with custom bus apps that either wouldnt get past itunes, or the process of approval would hinder your workforce). Personally the only thought Ive had about an droidTab would be to build a custom mediacenter tablet build and do a custom in-dash car stereo install. Thats a pretty umique use, and the droidTab fits.


It comes to use, and the problem is we all THINK we use more than we do so we overbuy and underuse. Honestly the ONLY scenarios I can think of to NOT go with an iPad is the req of WinOS, full laptop power with tablet function, or custom build needs....and in fact I think I would investigate the custom build abilities of a jailbroken device before id jump, unless it was a business deployment situation where thats not viable.

You cant beat the instant power on and easy to use interface of the iPad, and at the same time sometimes you just cant avoid Windows, or need full power. It really comes to that.