When Apple CEO Steve Jobs said that netbooks are not better at anything than laptops or smartphones he was partly right and partly wrong. As we all know netbooks are underpowered when compared with 14 or 15 inch laptops. Of course they are portable, but not as portable as a smartphone. Nevertheless, they are better than an iPad in many respects.
The iPad is a 1.5 pound device meant for consuming digital media. Sure, you will find watching videos on an all-screen device more palatable than doing it on a netbook with a keyboard. The iPad doesn’t have an e-Ink display; still it is better than netbooks for reading eBooks.
But a computer, as we know it, is meant for both creating and consuming content. The iPad is good for the latter. What if you want to create content? Don’t we also need to send emails and create documents? Of course, the iPad has an on-screen keyboard. But a lot of people prefer using a physical keyboard than a virtual keyboard. And you will know why when you try entering text using the on-screen keyboard with the tablet placed on a table. Your neck will start aching in no time.
To get around the issue Apple does offer a $69 keyboard dock with the iPad. But it will only work in the portrait mode which leaves you stuck with an unusual 768 x 1024 pixels resolution.
Agreed, netbooks are not the best devices for consuming media. But they are capable of performing everything a computer is supposed to do. Besides, they are cheaper. The iPad starts at $499, whereas a standard netbook is now available for as little as $300.
Netbooks are also capable of multi-tasking; they support Adobe Flash and allow you to choose the operating system you want to run. They are also capable of running full desktop applications.
That said, the iPad is still usable, but not as usable as Steve Jobs would like us to believe. It is good for watching videos that doesn’t require Flash. (iPad doesn’t support Adobe Flash.). You may also use it to read eBooks, but not for prolonged periods. The iPad doesn’t have an e-Ink display and reading eBooks on a standard display will strain your eyes after a while.
The author is the editor of Notebooks Unlimited.Net, a tech blog giving laptop reviews. Visit her website for notebook reviews, news, tips and hacks.