I have a netbook running OS X bug free and an iPad. The netbook is far more superior to my iPad for a number of reasons but I love the iPad more for casual web surfing.
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15 reasons why iPad is better than a netbook
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I have a netbook running OS X bug free and an iPad. The netbook is far more superior to my iPad for a number of reasons but I love the iPad more for casual web surfing.
I'm here at my wife's office helping a coworker setup her netbook, the Asus Eee-PC or whatever the heck it's called. It has Win7 Startup.
Why in the hell would somebody want one of these over an iPad? It's pointless! It's slow. The keyboard is harder to type on than the iPad. It's slow. Windows 7 is a pain because the screen is so small that whenever you move a window around, it tries to maximize it (yeah I know you can disable it, but still). It's slow. You still have to sit down to really use it. It's noisy. It's slow. Did I mention it's slow?
My 3G will be here tomorrow... sure hope Fedex comes early.
Rob
A few possible solutions:
Buy netbook with larger screen (it can be larger than what iPad has)
Buy netbook with decent CPU (all netbooks have CPUs faster than iPad but to have a performance better than iPad you need to chose better CPus)
Maximize all Windows if you find the screen still to be too small - this is at least as good as iPad
The tests show that better netbooks have better performance than iPad (not to mention versatility).
I also have a netbook running OS X (an Asus eee-PC as it happens), and I love it. I don't have the cash for an iPad, but my little netbook is a great supplement to my iMac.
I'm sure I would enjoy an iPad if I had one, and I'm sure it's the right choice for many people, but I have no trouble seeing why someone might choose a netbook.
I'm sure I would enjoy an iPad if I had one, and I'm sure it's the right choice for many people, but I have no trouble seeing why someone might choose a netbook.
42 reasons why netbooks are better than the iPad. It works both ways.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2358590,00.asp
this article fails to mention the biggest problem, you can't use it like a real computer. no mouse support!!!!!
its a toy without a mouse, pure and simple
i am probably going to sell mine soon, just don't want a $500 toy in my house. has to be functional in some way or its gone.
The most read posts/blogs anywhere are the ones that start with a number. "15 ways an iPad is better than my dog.". 39 ways an iPad is better than my whole house!". It's all irrelivant, as there is only one thing that is like an iPad and it is an iPad.
Start me a thread like "15 things my iPad can do that you'll want yours to do to!", and I'll pay attention. Macrumor members must be pretty bored to let a thread like this one get this long.
Start me a thread like "15 things my iPad can do that you'll want yours to do to!", and I'll pay attention. Macrumor members must be pretty bored to let a thread like this one get this long.
While iPad is not good at note taking it is not a total failure either. This device is mostly for entertainment and it has some uses where it does really well. It is not going to replace the netbooks though.
The iPad takes notes nicely!
Hello.
After hating a 10' net book for the last year, the iPad is a blessing.
That little piece of junk is on its third battery, the screen is awful, the trackpad is worse. At least the keyboard isn't too terrible.
iPad wins in every major category for which I use it.
Browsing goes to the iPad.
Email also.
Pictures too.
Music, ease of typing and mousing, speed of sleep/wake and even speed of complete reboot..... iPad takes it all.
Oh, and battery life. 10+ hours vs MAYBE 4 hours on a cumbersome 6-cell optional battery when it's new.... Thank you iPad for charging on any old USB port as well!
And of course, the big one..... iPad does Notes!
It does notes very nicely too and even with the included "Notes" app.
Want to read a book? Just try doing that on a crummy 10" net book. iPad excels again!
Want 3G coverage? Well, OK, a couple of net books have that without an adapter.
GPS on a net book? Eww.
My net book only does 2 things my iPad doesn't.
1- webcam.
2- runs that popular malware known as Windows.
Maybe I'll keep that crummy old net book just to laugh at,
Sent from my iPad,
Keri
PS. I bought the net book for portability. It actually was nicely portable. Until you have to carry around the bulky charger that is.
Hello.
After hating a 10' net book for the last year, the iPad is a blessing.
That little piece of junk is on its third battery, the screen is awful, the trackpad is worse. At least the keyboard isn't too terrible.
iPad wins in every major category for which I use it.
Browsing goes to the iPad.
Email also.
Pictures too.
Music, ease of typing and mousing, speed of sleep/wake and even speed of complete reboot..... iPad takes it all.
Oh, and battery life. 10+ hours vs MAYBE 4 hours on a cumbersome 6-cell optional battery when it's new.... Thank you iPad for charging on any old USB port as well!
And of course, the big one..... iPad does Notes!
It does notes very nicely too and even with the included "Notes" app.
Want to read a book? Just try doing that on a crummy 10" net book. iPad excels again!
Want 3G coverage? Well, OK, a couple of net books have that without an adapter.
GPS on a net book? Eww.
My net book only does 2 things my iPad doesn't.
1- webcam.
2- runs that popular malware known as Windows.
Maybe I'll keep that crummy old net book just to laugh at,
Sent from my iPad,
Keri
PS. I bought the net book for portability. It actually was nicely portable. Until you have to carry around the bulky charger that is.
I can't speak for those among us who are proficient "touch" typists. But for the fairly quick "hunt-n-peck" typists such as myself, I can type almost as fast on my iPad as I can on a normal keyboard. Judging from many of the posts on this form, most iPad owners are having similar experiences.
Hello.
Oddly enough, "touch" typing on the iPads onscreen keyboard isn't bad.
And I'm an old school typist from long ago when all we had in school was manual, non-electric typewriters.
Even without the clicky-clack of manual keys it isn't bad at all.
Have Fun,
Sent from my iPad,
Keri
So, you bought a "crummy" netbook and now you are complaining about it? Interesting. You could have bought netbook with 14 hour battery life and not carry around a bulky charger.
Actually, it was well-regarded in net book circles.
Other than the appallingly short battery lifetime, (not the length of charge of a functional battery) the little brat isn't built badly.
My point is that's it's a pain to use.
Very nicely portable which I like,
but
just annoying to use.
The original 3-cell battery lasted up to 2 hours for about a month and died. The first 6-cell lasted about 8 months and died. Now on Battery #3, another 6-cell which lasts an acceptable 4 hours or so, sometimes longer.
The iPad is in a completely different class. A WAY BETTER one.
It's like comparing:
A Manual Typewriter to a Word Processor.
8mm Home Movies to DVDs
Knitting Needles to an automated Loom.
a Model "T" Ford to a new Lexus.
A dirt floor hovel to a luxury penthouse.
It's not necessarily "Bad", just not-so-good.
Or "Crummy", as I affectionately put it.
Have Fun,
Keri
2 BIG reasons the iPad is better than current netbooks (or notebooks for that matter)
1. The iPad is GPS aware (for the GPS models anyway). So they can do a myriad tasks that netbooks are not made for.
2. Multitouch: Alowing inovative software that even a mouse cannot do. Let's see, the very cool piano software comes to mind first.
Mmmmm, and instant startup. Oh, did I mention 11 1/2 hour battery life (with the screen on at all times).
Ken
1. The iPad is GPS aware (for the GPS models anyway). So they can do a myriad tasks that netbooks are not made for.
2. Multitouch: Alowing inovative software that even a mouse cannot do. Let's see, the very cool piano software comes to mind first.
Mmmmm, and instant startup. Oh, did I mention 11 1/2 hour battery life (with the screen on at all times).
Ken
great, save your money buying a netbook instead of a ipad to have extra money to eat out...logic at its best....
how about going for a jog....buy the ipad....
This thread is pointless.
People who don't want an iPad will choose a netbook and visa versa.
I've had 4 different netbooks and could never find one that was good at anything. I'm not hating cause I really would like to have a good netbook but screen resolution and preformance is just horrible (for most of them). I now have a 3g iPad and though it still has some areas to grow, It finally has most of the things I need.
I still have my mbp to do my development and such, but now I'm able to run my business and take my iPad with me to client visits and do what I need with them to get their requirements for projects and such.
I remember having this same conversion 3 years ago when the iPhone came into the market. Alot of people wanted to consider it a "TOY" and now 3 years later I don't think those people are singing the same song.
The bottom line is that SOFTWARE is what drives a platform. This is why in my opinion the reason for the iPad (and iPhone success). The ipad has some great titles under it's belt (and it continues to grow), netbook can run windows software of course, but the device wasn't built for alot of them. So you get a subpar experience with a netbook and thus why people say they suck. I'm a software developer that develop and teach development / programming for multiple platforms of pc's , macs, and mobile devices. The iPad and iPhone are great devices because the software built for them were designed for them. They aren't devices that are trying to run software that was designed for larger devices (netbooks running alot of pc software).
But to each their own. ME, I'm sticking with my iPad as my mobile computer. My iPad with LogMeIn are a great pair for alot of my mobile work and gaining access to all my business, data, and development servers.
People who don't want an iPad will choose a netbook and visa versa.
I've had 4 different netbooks and could never find one that was good at anything. I'm not hating cause I really would like to have a good netbook but screen resolution and preformance is just horrible (for most of them). I now have a 3g iPad and though it still has some areas to grow, It finally has most of the things I need.
I still have my mbp to do my development and such, but now I'm able to run my business and take my iPad with me to client visits and do what I need with them to get their requirements for projects and such.
I remember having this same conversion 3 years ago when the iPhone came into the market. Alot of people wanted to consider it a "TOY" and now 3 years later I don't think those people are singing the same song.
The bottom line is that SOFTWARE is what drives a platform. This is why in my opinion the reason for the iPad (and iPhone success). The ipad has some great titles under it's belt (and it continues to grow), netbook can run windows software of course, but the device wasn't built for alot of them. So you get a subpar experience with a netbook and thus why people say they suck. I'm a software developer that develop and teach development / programming for multiple platforms of pc's , macs, and mobile devices. The iPad and iPhone are great devices because the software built for them were designed for them. They aren't devices that are trying to run software that was designed for larger devices (netbooks running alot of pc software).
But to each their own. ME, I'm sticking with my iPad as my mobile computer. My iPad with LogMeIn are a great pair for alot of my mobile work and gaining access to all my business, data, and development servers.
If that was the case you probably would not need to visit the forums like this one
You are being inconsistent. iPad does not offer something that no other product has either. And you are very wrong about other similar products. There are plenty of tablets available (Archos has been selling tablets for quite a while now and do not forget the iPod). And yes, people do not buy iPad because of the price, but many buy it because it's Apple and there is a commercial for it every time you watch TV. There are many people who will buy anything once they saw it on TV more than 10 times
Archos? Come on, Ancros is a shell of an iPad and you know it! The internet browser alone is not pleasant at all.
It is very obvious you have never touched an iPad. Mice are so 1980's. Tactile keyboards are so 1980's as well. There are plenty of things the iPad can do that a netbook, or even a notebook (Mac or PC) can't do. Make no mistake about it, the iPad is a very Serious computer. Time for some of you to quit living in the past. I am nearly 68 years of age and I am grasping this new technology nicely. I am enjoying my 3G iPad more and more every day.
I had to laugh earlier tonight. I was sitting in Starbucks next to a guy with a netbook. I never said a word to him, nor did he every say a word to me. I made sure I selected some of the more spectacular apps that his netbook could not do. I could see the guy viewing my iPad in the corner of my eye. There is no doubt about it, the guy was incredulous and likely kicking himself for buying the underpowered cheap netbook.
BTW, have any of you downloaded the new Koi Pond for the iPad? Incredible graphics and one would be hard pressed to splash the water with ones fingers on a netbook. Fun superfulous (SIC) app yes but it points out something more the iPad can do vs a netbook.
Ken
I had to laugh earlier tonight. I was sitting in Starbucks next to a guy with a netbook. I never said a word to him, nor did he every say a word to me. I made sure I selected some of the more spectacular apps that his netbook could not do. I could see the guy viewing my iPad in the corner of my eye. There is no doubt about it, the guy was incredulous and likely kicking himself for buying the underpowered cheap netbook.
BTW, have any of you downloaded the new Koi Pond for the iPad? Incredible graphics and one would be hard pressed to splash the water with ones fingers on a netbook
. Fun superfulous (SIC) app yes but it points out something more the iPad can do vs a netbook.Ken
It is very obvious you have never touched an iPad. Mice are so 1980's. Tactile keyboards are so 1980's as well. There are plenty of things the iPad can do that a netbook, or even a notebook (Mac or PC) can't do. Make no mistake about it, the iPad is a very Serious computer. Time for some of you to quit living in the past. I am nearly 68 years of age and I am grasping this new technology nicely. I am enjoying my 3G iPad more and more every day.
I had to laugh earlier tonight. I was sitting in Starbucks next to a guy with a netbook. I never said a word to him, nor did he every say a word to me. I made sure I selected some of the more spectacular apps that his netbook could not do. I could see the guy viewing my iPad in the corner of my eye. There is no doubt about it, the guy was incredulous and likely kicking himself for buying the underpowered cheap netbook.
BTW, have any of you downloaded the new Koi Pond for the iPad? Incredible graphics and one would be hard pressed to splash the water with ones fingers on a netbook
Ken
To be fair, even the most underpowered netbooks are more powerful than iPad. They have more powerful CPU (Atom vs ARM A4), more RAM and more storage. It's true that some applications run pretty fast on iPad (Safari is one of them) and OS being as primitive as it is does rather few tasks but does them fast. Still, there are too many things that netbooks can do but ipad can not that it's really hard to compare the two. And I am not aware of a single thing that iPad can do that netbooks can not (keep in mind that there are netbooks with touch screens).
Thats what so many seem not to grasp
It's not about power or specs, its about efficient use of resource. Lets be honest, the iPhone isn't by far the most spec'ed out phone on the market, but it is very efficient at what it does. It's simple to use and a joy to use.
People put way to much into specs. Specs don't translate into best product all the time. Its like these people I know that buy expensive quad core + computers with 8+ gigs of ram only to use programs like office and Internet Explorer. The iPad is spec'ed nicely to do what it was intended to do. Of course more ram would be nice and such, but I haven't really heard anyone say "Man, My iPad Is Slow As Hell". It was built for certain functionality, and coupled with an OS that does just that.
Netbooks on the other hand or underpowered machines with cheap hardware (thus lower prices) TRYING to run software and OS's that are simply way to advance (resoures wise) and dimension wise. This is why you see slow performance and less than stellar application performance from these netbooks.
It's not about power or specs, its about efficient use of resource. Lets be honest, the iPhone isn't by far the most spec'ed out phone on the market, but it is very efficient at what it does. It's simple to use and a joy to use.
People put way to much into specs. Specs don't translate into best product all the time. Its like these people I know that buy expensive quad core + computers with 8+ gigs of ram only to use programs like office and Internet Explorer. The iPad is spec'ed nicely to do what it was intended to do. Of course more ram would be nice and such, but I haven't really heard anyone say "Man, My iPad Is Slow As Hell". It was built for certain functionality, and coupled with an OS that does just that.
Netbooks on the other hand or underpowered machines with cheap hardware (thus lower prices) TRYING to run software and OS's that are simply way to advance (resoures wise) and dimension wise. This is why you see slow performance and less than stellar application performance from these netbooks.
Like many I have come to the iPad from an osx running net book. In that scenario the net book is highly capable, and from what I hear the latest models even more so.
But I prefer my iPad for most everyday stuff now. The reason? Simplicity and speed.
It's a device that just works. It is small enough to chuck in a bag and not worry about a charger for a typical day. I'm not worried a software update will hose my installation. There's so far no issue of malware ( ok tenuous on osx anyway)
The net book was fine, but I don't think I'll go back. To me the combination of iPhone, iPad and a macbook is pretty close to computing nirvana for the majority of people, even fitting into microsofts 3screen vision
But I prefer my iPad for most everyday stuff now. The reason? Simplicity and speed.
It's a device that just works. It is small enough to chuck in a bag and not worry about a charger for a typical day. I'm not worried a software update will hose my installation. There's so far no issue of malware ( ok tenuous on osx anyway)
The net book was fine, but I don't think I'll go back. To me the combination of iPhone, iPad and a macbook is pretty close to computing nirvana for the majority of people, even fitting into microsofts 3screen vision
To be fair??? Tell me a few things that your netbook can do that the iPad cannot do? Regardless of the speed of the processor it is no faster than the weakest link, the G3 cell network. I'll be waiting for you to tell me about all of the GPS aware programs that your netbook can do and how the quite innovative touch based programs work on your netbook?
Powerful, shmowerfel, the iPad can do many many things better than even a high end Mac Pro can do. On the other hand they compliment each other. I cannot and do not edit large RAW photos I take on my iPad, neither would I attempt to edit video on the iPad. You see my 27 inch iMac with secondary 24 inch monitor does these tasks nicely. Can you do that on your netbook?
I'll be waiting for your answer.
Ken
Powerful, shmowerfel, the iPad can do many many things better than even a high end Mac Pro can do. On the other hand they compliment each other. I cannot and do not edit large RAW photos I take on my iPad, neither would I attempt to edit video on the iPad. You see my 27 inch iMac with secondary 24 inch monitor does these tasks nicely. Can you do that on your netbook?
I'll be waiting for your answer.
Ken
The list is too long: playing DVDs (or BluRay), printing, reading/writing data to many peripheral devices (Flash memory, HDD etc.), running real software (like Adobe Acrobat) and so on. 3G is a limiting factor only in some cases. Many tasks do not require it. We could use GPS with notebooks/netbooks for a long time. Now some models have a built-in GPS, for example this Sony Vaio X.
and with a release price of £1900!! Totally worth it...
My netbook:
DVDs/BluRay - Never use either
Running real software - I just really run Evernote, Safari, Mail and iChat on here
I've tried running more, but it's pretty slow, but with click2flash, it's slightly improved. Still moving to an iPad though.