Tablets forum: Is the Apple iPad or Netbook right for me?

If you are looking for something that is very user friendly and no viruses; go with the new iPad

GM Ford or Chrysler car.....excuse the typo and dont jump all over that !

I agree with the previous poster, Apple is for people who are "forced" to buy it... There are many mini-laptops, palmtops and other arrays of choices - other than Apple, actually; for example: laptops.toshiba.com/laptops/mini-notebook/NB200

I vote yes, unless you play online poker or other Flash Games.

If you notice when you come up to a flash site on your full computer you will hear your system work harder and the cooling fans kick in. Its very processor intensive language.

That's why no cell phones and such allow flash to work on their products.

E-Mail 100%
Web surfing for the average person 80%,
size 100%
Price good
fun factor priceless in a hotel bed to flip through a e-book in color.

many cell phones and portable devices do support flash...even my old PSP 1000 supports flash.....

The answer here really depends on what you want to do.

A netbook is basically a PC laptop (running XP or Windows 7) without an optical drive (CD/DVD) and scaled down in size. The iPad is a different platform, with a different OS and set of applications. So this is really going to depend on what you want to do with the device. Presumably (since I do not have detailed familiarity with the iPad), if you want to surf the web and check E-Mail, both classes of device will work, and the iPad will probably have less overhead (e.g. need to boot Windows when you turn it on, etc.). But the iPad, while it will run it's own set of "apps" (which may be extensive) won't run Windows or Windows software (which is a deal breaker for some users, but which others would view as a positive characteristic). Bottom line, again, it comes down to what you want to do with the device. Considerations like size, weight and batter life all matter also, but there is a wide range of netbooks, so those can only be discussed in the context of a particular device.

everything I do. I would be more organized, efficient, sleeker, always looking good, and cutting edge. They can control my house, finances, wardrobe, social life - anything they want. Steve - takeover/makeover my life. I am so ready for Apple to control everything I do. Start with the desktop on my Mac and clean it up. Thanks.

Just go down to your nearest Apple store and have a nice big helping of the Kool-ade... Once the reality distortion field kicks in, you'll be getting your marching orders.

Flash would be a down side but that's 12 year old tech anyway. The iPad has no 'proper' USB: it's on a separate, little, corded dongle and that's no biggy. Ignore the multitasking issue that you may have heard about; that's a non-issue. Real-world: you'll have difficulty zooming in on a netbook and you'll be limited in physical space. There is no instant 'on' for netbooks. You'll be board silly sitting on the couch or in bed with a netbook perched on your chest while you peck away and whizz around using the touchpad and double clicking on icons. So in general, netbooks are just laptops in miniature. I believe you'll be carrying a briefcase or under-the-arm satchel with paperwork. Just slip out the iPad, push the main button, tap an icon (app) and you're there in less that 15 seconds in either portrait or landscape mode: how cool is that? But with a netbook: pull it out, flip it open, if not in stand-by or hibernate mode -turn it on, wait, look closely at the tiny pointer while you whizz around on the touch pad (or plug in a mouse), double-click an icon, wait, and you're there in about 2-3 minutes ...maybe.

...if the current tech has to struggle to make it work. You're not running DOS on your mobil are you? Flash hasn't kept up with current trends so it's time to move on from that 12 year old legacy crap. Some of those internet Flash games and a few of those internet Flash programs are being turned into 'Apps' so they can be used and cash in on new mediums like iPhones, iPads and Androids.

what difference does it make how old the tech is? there are thousands of people who want flash access due to work or due to old farts playing video poker etc..

that argument was indeed lame. and it came off a lil fan boi -ish

at least to me

I really want to know the answer to that one

If you buy an office suite and you use it to make a living and it serves you well, then it's likely to have returned the original investment by several factors.

Secondly, just because you bought a copy doesn't mean you HAVE to rush out and buy a new copy every few years. I'm still using Office XP. It still works fine. No one's holding a gun to your head to do so. Most of my clients are still using older versions of Office as well. No one's holding a gun to their heads either.

It sounds like you haven't. What many of the posters have stated: 'it's a BIG iPod Touch.' Push the button, it's on: instantly! I'm sure that netbook has to be in some sort of sleep, standby, hibernate (or whatever the hell it's called)-mode before it's opened up and -wait for it- used, otherwise it's batteries would go flat. DUH! I said 'carrying a briefcase or under-the-arm 'satchel' -a 'satchel' or 'portfolio' is a flat case that holds papers or thin books or items inside that you carry around in your hand, under or in your arm, etc. Unzip to open. Slide the iPad out. It's thin. It will never fit in a pocket. Like a netbook, it will not fit in a pocket... except maybe a coat pocket during the winter.

Multi-tasking: It's what's everyone keeps saying and not having a clue. ITunes going, surfing, down loading emails or really, what multiple things are you referring to that you need to do? You're just spewing out rubbish because everyone else is saying it. 10 hour battery life (continuous) ain't good enough for you? Are you going to be away from a outlet that long?( I won't comment about those other 'things') The things that are done now-a-days are just routine episodes of an electronic life style. It's an electronic appliance: like a toaster; a microwave; a fridge. Instant. Quick. Now. This is not a serious item like a laptop or desktop. If you have to do some serious number crunching or top-notch design work, or high-end photo editing, you'd be a fool to use this... or a netbook!

Go to the Apple site... if you're capable without looking awkward and straining your wrist and neck.

There are numerous things you might want to consider like:

1.) What you plan on doing and how comfortable you might be without a keyboard. If you're emails are short and to the point, you might be able to get away without one.

Yes, you CAN buy a keyboard attachment for the iPad, but it's gonna cost you extra money. That will not only raise the base price $70, it's another thing you have to carry around with you. The Netbook's keyboard is already attached and it's included in the price - which brings us to...

2.) Most netbooks are a bit cheaper than the iPad to begin with. The Dell Mini 10v can be had for as little as $249. Lenovo's offerings start at $359. HP's netbooks start at $269. That's in comparison to the iPad which starts at $499 for the basic model.

3.) The Apple universe is a walled garden with lots of limitations. Since the iPad runs the same operating system as the iPhone/iPod Touch, this can be an issue. You'd have to buy new apps to do some things that don't come with the device. Yes, there are free iP___ apps out there as well.

Netbooks, on the other hand, will run any and all standard PC software given they're based on full versions of Windows (or Linux). If you're really a die-hard Mac fan, there are even tutorials on how to set up certain Dell Mini 10's with OSX. If youv'e got a licence for the software and it's OK to install it on more than one device, you can install it and use it on either one. It may be cheaper to go this route.

4.) Then there's the issue of what sort of stuff you can or can't do with the iPad. It's primary purpose is as a fancy ebook reader. But as such, there's been a recent controversy with regards to how Apple is going to require ALL content to be approved (read: censored) before it's allowed onto your device. Amazon and Barnes & Noble have both released or announced ebook reader apps for the iPhone/Pod/Pad that have been approved. The issue is the content that will be banned from your iPad. If, for instance, you have a subscription to say, Playboy or Maxim - you will NOT be able to read either magazine on your iPad.

You can, of course, read them from the comfort of your home PC by way of the desktop version of the ebook reader - but it won't sync to your mobile device.

While it might be considered "OK" and "PC" to keep the iP_____ family of devices porn and smut free, it begs the question - "What's next on Apple's list to be banned?" Given Apple's track record, that's hard to say. They recently purged something like 5,000 apps from the iPhone store because they were deemed "too racy".

Who knows - Steve Jobs may get an itch and decide that only certain politically oriented content that agrees with his personal views may be allowed and all else is banned.

Or medical text with graphic depiction of various body parts could be banned simply because they're too suggestive.

Either way - it's not an issue with the netbook. You can have pretty much ANY and all content on them regardless of how they're rated - G, PG, PG-13, R or XXX for that matter.

5.) As far as battery life goes - That's hard to say. It will depend largely on a couple of things - like how you use the device. Since we haven't got a working iPad to put through the proverbial testing mill, it's hard to say how well it will live up to what Apple claims the battery life will be. Either way you go, you'll likely need to keep charging the devices. All of these devices come with the usual charging cables and stuff you need to keep them going.

Netbooks, as a general rule have user replacable batteries. That is, if your battery is running low, and you're not quite done with what you're working on, you can shut the device down after saving your work, pop in a fresh battery and go on with your life. The iPad - not so much. It, like the iPhone and iPod Touch comes with a battery that's sealed inside of the device. You can't replace it yourself. You'll need to take it back to an Apple store and they'll replace the iPad - lock, stock and barrel for $99. It would be also a very good idea to sync your device with your primary desktop before turning in your iPad for replacement as anything on the device will NOT be extracted...

6.) Netbooks, typically come with 160 GB or larger drives which are 10 times larger than the base iPad hard drive (only 16 GB). If you have a large music collection you want to bring along with you, or if you want to bring movies along for your trips, 16 GB may not be quite enough room. The largest drive space available to the iPad is 64 GB - half as much as the ones typically found in base line netbooks.

7.) About the only thing that the iPad excels in would be in the realm of "cool factor". If that's an important feature, more important than productivity, then by all means, there's your answer.

The bottom line, if it were my decision, I'd go with the netbook. They offer more bang for the buck. But hey, I'm less concerned with looking good as I am with getting the job done.