The iPad is here and has already shown some impressive sales, but how does it really rate when compared to netbooks and other computing devices. The iPad is a tablet computing device which runs on a modified version of the iPhone 3.2 OS. It has a 9.7 inch vertical display with a multi-touch interface. It comes in storage capacities of 16, 32 and 64 MB. The smallest one starts with a price tag of about $499.

Compared to the iPad, netbooks have a wide variety of available options. There are different manufacturers, system specs, operating systems and costs. Whichever one you choose can be highly customized to your computing needs.

First off let’s compare operating systems(OS). The iPhone OS is a limited operating system that can use applications that are installed through the Apple app store. Only programs created specifically for the iPad, iPhone or iPod touch can be used and all programs undergo approval by Apple before they become available. Netbooks use either Linux or Microsoft Windows based operating systems. Both these are complete operating systems with a huge variety of software available either through open-source venues or commercially. Often there are several different kinds of similar applications made by different manufacturers that perform similar tasks allowing users to choose between the features they want and the price they are willing to pay.

Both of the operating systems available on netbooks are capable of multitasking which the iPad OS is not. With the iPad OS you have to shut down your email to play a game or to type a note. With a netbook your email program can remain open allowing you to know instantly if a new email comes in. With multitasking you can perform a variety of tasks without having to quit the task that you are doing, which increases productivity.

The iPad has a design that makes one think of a giant iPod touch. Now, the iPod touch is an excellent product, but the iPad loses our favorite feature of the iPod touch – The fact that I can slide it in my pocket. One can easily have it with them at all times to check email while in line at Barnes & Noble or to play a game of Pac-Man while standing in line at a bank. With the iPad you always need something else to carry it in and it is not as convenient to pull out and use when you only have a couple of minutes. It just makes sense that if you’re going to have something bigger than your pocket you’d be better off with a computer with full capabilities.

Most netbooks have condensed keyboards that are fine for typing on once you spend a couple of days with it. With a netbook you can type about the speed of a full size keyboard compared to maybe a quarter as fast on the iPad keyboard at best. Yes, there is a keyboard dock for the iPad, for another $70. However, there are external USB keyboards you can hook up to a netbook too, for a lot less money. And if the iPad has to be hooked up to a dock to use the keyboard why not just use a desktop computer?

The iPad also lacks the expansion capabilities of a netbook. Netbooks can often be upgraded in storage space and memory. They have USB slots for connecting peripheral devices of all types, like gamepads, external mice, full-sized keyboards, Thumb Drives, scanners and printers to name a few. Documents created on netbooks are portable to other computers, meaning the file you create on your netbook can be used with your desktop when you get home without some complicated syncing system through the wi-fi like iPads. It’s nice to be able to type a document on the netbook and know that you can just plug in a Thumb Drive and transfer that file to your desktop and continue working.

There is also the matter of price. The cheapest iPads start at around $499 while the lower-end netbooks are between $250 and $300, almost half the cost of the iPad. We have found find that a netbook does much more of what you want for a much better price. Additionally, you are not restricted to a single source for new software with a netbook, and you can easily add the devices you want to it.

Source: MyTechTeam

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