Ok, so this has been discussed a lot! I know I’m a little late, but I just had to stress this topic. In the 15th Tech Cores podcast, Ryan and Taylor talked about the iPad killing netbooks. I am going to give my reasons how the iPad might kill the NetBook below:
Internet Browsing
The iPad web browsing experience is phenomenal. The reason why it’s so phenomenal is because you can “touch the web.” It is very smooth and fast. I experienced it myself over at Bestbuy, and I will tell you that being able to touch the web is better than clicking the web.
Writing documents
I’d have to say they are about equal on this one. A netbook has a standard keyboard that hopefully all of us have experienced before. However on the iPad, it is a touch screen keyboard. You can buy an Apple Bluetooth keyboard for $70 or the iPad keyboard with dock for $70 as well. I think the touch screen keyboard is good enough for quick documents or editing. The keyboard might take a day or two to get used to, but since the iPad has auto-correct, it will help you get used to the keyboard.
Media
Media on the iPad is going to be excellent. Watching movies on the iPad is excellent because of the it’s 9.7 inch IPS display and the built-in speakers for music playback is excellent. Since the iPad uses iTunes, syncing your Apps, Songs, Movies, Podcasts will be simple and seamless. On a netbook, you have your iTunes and Windows Media player. Media playback on a netbook varies. It varies because the netbook lacks in powerful hardware. On some netbooks, watching 720p videos could get a little choppy. Also, since most netbooks runs Windows 7 Starter, you won’t be able to use Windows Media Center, which is the Front Row equivalent.
Games
Playing games on the iPad is great. The built-in accelerometer makes racing games more realistic, and it allows developers to make games more immerse. Also, getting games on the iPad is super simple. It’s simple because the iPad comes with a user-friendly store, which has all the available games in one native app. On a netbook, gaming performance won’t be the best because of their Atom processors and their graphics cards. Due to the lack of powerful hardware, all you can really play is memory intensive flash games or some basic solitaire. Also, installing some games requires a DVD drive, which the netbook doesn’t have. I’d say that the iPad is a better choice for gaming.
Ports
As you know, an average netbook comes with 3 USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, headphone and mic jack, VGA, and of course, the AC input. On the iPad, it has a 30 pin connector and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Yeah it seems pretty bare bones, but Apple sells an external VGA connector for TV output, an SD card reader, and a USB adapter, but you can only connect cameras to import photos.
OS/Overall Performance
As many of you guys know, the iPad runs the iPhone OS and typical netbooks runs Windows 7 Starter. I would like to start with the iPhone OS first. The iPhone OS is a smartphone OS that’s elegant, smooth, and easy to use. I think the iPhone OS is perfect mainly because how simple it is to operates. For example, my mom doesn’t know anything about computers and she recently got an iPad. How long do you think it will take that my mom to learn it? Hmm, well, my mom learned the iPhone OS than a week. Right now, she already knows how to browse the web with one touch of an icon, view her photos, using multi-touch, and even downloading songs from the iTunes store. That’s just an example of how easy it is to operate the iPad. On to netbooks. Netbooks runs on Windows 7 Starter. Windows 7 Starter is a striped down version of Windows 7, mainly designed for netbooks. For me, the UI is easy for me, but it’s not easy for everyone. It’s not like someone can pick it up instantly or in weeks. Performance on the netbook really depends on the hardware. For some netbooks, performance is sluggish because of the Atom processor. Overall, I think the iPad wins just because of how easy the Ui is and how fast it is.
Overall Impressions
If I was in the situation where I had to choose between the iPad or a netbook, I would choose the iPad. I would never replace an iPad for a notebook, so I’m not going to go there. Anyways, the iPad has everything that I would need if I was ever a traveling person. You can get your work done, read your favorite articles online, then in the meantime you can play some games or listen to music.
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Netbooks, as Steve Jobs correctly stated, are not good for anything. I find typing on my iPad is very comfortable, and easy. The keyboard is the same size as my MacBook Pro's keyboard. I really think the iPad is a better alternative for a netbook, as long as there is an App for what you need to do, however, never fear, there's an app for that.
I think the iPad needs to become independent, and not rely on iTunes. If this should happen, netbooks may just die off.
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LikeI haven't used an iPad yet but the only thing it would be useful for me is Media (music and video) and of course the HD Apps! but for everything else I would rather use a netbook even though they basically have no processor lol. Netbooks are really a joke.
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LikeIt really depends on what you need it for. An iPad is very easy to use and provides a great user experience. It's perfect as an internet tablet, or as a basic internet/email device for someone who isn't computer-literate. A netbook, on the other hand, is a complete computer that runs a desktop operating system, whether it be Windows XP, Windows 7, or Ubuntu (unlike the iPad's "smartphone" operating system). It's also much better for any serious typing work: although the iPad undoubtedly has one of the best touchscreen keyboards in its class, it still sucks to type with no tactile feedback or at an awkward angle. Perhaps the biggest and most important difference here is that a netbook is a standalone PC while the iPad is a "tethered" accessory that must be synced with iTunes. I personally dislike netbooks -- too small for me-- but I know for sure that an iPad will never fully replace my laptop. I'd definitely find a use for one as an internet tablet though.
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LikeNetbooks, as Steve Jobs correctly stated, are not good for anything. u00c2u00a0I find typing on my iPad is very comfortable, and easy. u00c2u00a0The keyboard is the same size as my MacBook Pro's keyboard. u00c2u00a0I really think the iPad is a better alternative for a netbook, as long as there is an App for what you need to do, however, never fear, there's an app for that.
I think the iPad needs to become independent, and not rely on iTunes. u00c2u00a0If this should happen, netbooks may just die off.
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LikeI haven't used an iPad yet but the only thing it would be useful for me is Media (music and video) and of course the HD Apps! but for everything else I would rather use a netbook even though they basically have no processor lol.
Netbooks are really a joke.
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LikeYou're right
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LikeNice post! =)
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LikeIt really depends on what you need it for.
An iPad is very easy to use and provides a great user experience. It's perfect as an internet tablet, or as a basic internet/email device for someone who isn't computer-literate.
A netbook, on the other hand, is a complete computer that runs a desktop operating system, whether it be Windows XP, Windows 7, or Ubuntu (unlike the iPad's "smartphone" operating system). It's also much better for any serious typing work: although the iPad undoubtedly has one of the best touchscreen keyboards in its class, it still sucks to type with no tactile feedback or at an awkward angle.
Perhaps the biggest and most important difference here is that a netbook is a standalone PC while the iPad is a "tethered" accessory that must be synced with iTunes. I personally dislike netbooks -- too small for me-- but I know for sure that an iPad will never fully replace my laptop. I'd definitely find a use for one as an internet tablet though.
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