my views on iPad vs Netbooks...

[J hit&runner]

So first there were netbooks, ultra cheap/portable/long battery life.
Then people think that since they can do whatever they want on a netbook, and its portable, its awesome!! or is it?

What can you do on a netbook?
messenger/surf/Facebook/twitter/email/read documents......
o and you have the tiny keyboard where you can type with....

you certainly can (barely) use your netbook for stuff like photoshop and counterstrike, but who would?

But before i get to do all that, i (at least) have to install:
1. Anti virus
2. firewall (or just use the one built in)
3. any office suite
4. preferred browser

And I still have to perform all the upkeep i would have to do on a PC!!!

This leads to the question:
Is it practical to use a full fledged windows on a netbook???

It seems like manufacturers are not getting the big picture. An OS is there to bridge the gap between the consumer and the machine. So as long as the OS provides that service seamlessly and allowing the user to do what he wants, its a good OS.
But it seems like manufacturers are building netbooks just to run windows, with no concern about what the consumer actually needs.

With less intensive hardware, an ipad with iOS can do everything an average netbook user will expect to do with their netbooks, but better and faster, and in most cases longer battery life.

Thats why, if netbook manufacturers want to retake the market, they have to enhance the consumers' experience, not the hardware itself. Cause no matter how much faster Atom goes, its not really going anywhere without sacrificing battery life, and then you're still left with the upkeep you'll normally have with a full sized PC.

So if google comes out with a netbook version of android, package that with touchscreen netbooks, have the manufacturers market that extensively, they just might recapture their market share.

EDITED:
so apple is coming out with their own macbook air mini..which is basically what netbooks are doing... o well... so much for my post..lol

 

[MRU]

Thanks for sharing but your preaching to the converted here.

 

[miniConvert]

It's a good post, surprisingly logical considering the title. I was expecting heresy.

Android and other hardware manufacturers will, most definitely, make a mostly successful play for the 'real' tablet market, as defined by iPad, in time. Just how quickly they gobble up market share (though, in real terms, they'll be growing the market, not hurting Apple too hard directly) will largely depend on Apple's dedication to the iPad through the next couple of generations.

Too many delays to iOS 4 for iPad will cost Apple dearly.

 

[tachnyrus]

Entirely agree with you in that netbooks aren't very practical computers. However, the iPad isn't priced in netbook range; it's priced closer to a full sized el-cheapo laptop. And it's hard to argue from a price-value point of view to go for the iPad over the full laptop.

The iPad excels at surfing and casual use. But it's not going to allow the productivity of a full machine. It's a neat toy/secondary machine for those who can afford it. A nice to have, but too expensive for what it does, for the rest of the public.

EDIT: Disclosure: I've got an iPad, macbook air, and iMac. The iPad's nice for goofing around, but when it's time to get any work done (which sadly, is most of the time), it's not the iPad that gets used.

 

[aohus]

to be honest, the netbook craze was an accidental success.

After Asus' eee-PC success, a lot of the manufacturers went full production with parts that were not meant for netbooks. for example, the Intel Atom chip was not originally designed for netbooks. Thats why after they all came out, people were inherently pissed at their netbook performance. Its part of the reason why Intel made so damn much money the past years.

 

[mixvio]

Entirely agree with you in that netbooks aren't very practical computers. However, the iPad isn't priced in netbook range; it's priced closer to a full sized el-cheapo laptop. And it's hard to argue from a price-value point of view to go for the iPad over the full laptop.

The iPad excels at surfing and casual use. But it's not going to allow the productivity of a full machine. It's a neat toy/secondary machine for those who can afford it. A nice to have, but too expensive for what it does, for the rest of the public.

EDIT: Disclosure: I've got an iPad, macbook air, and iMac. The iPad's nice for goofing around, but when it's time to get any work done (which sadly, is most of the time), it's not the iPad that gets used.

I feel like I've harped on this point quite a lot, but I get plenty of work done on my iPad. I have more or less abandoned my laptop entirely, and only use my PC desktop for more serious gaming. Everything else gets done on my iPad and I have no problems with this new arrangement, personally.

 

[aohus]

I have more or less abandoned my laptop entirely, and only use my PC desktop for more serious gaming. Everything else gets done on my iPad and I have no problems with this new arrangement, personally.

when you say you get things done entirely through the iPad, do you mean typing as well? I find it hard to type more than 30 seconds using touch input instead of traditional QWERTY physical keyboard.

 

[MrWillie]

Remember net books were originally meant for third world countries, running Linux off of a 4 gig or so flash drive. That is till CSOB's started buying them, and in my rosey smelling opinion, started cheapening even the full size tablet market.

Edit: Mr Previous Poster,

I have heard claims of people of people saying that they can type 60-70 wpm on the onscreen keyboard. Others use a BT keyboard or the keyboard dock.

 

[Night Spring]

when you say you get things done entirely through the iPad, do you mean typing as well? I find it hard to type more than 30 seconds using touch input instead of traditional QWERTY physical keyboard.

While personally, I'm rather slow typing on the iPad touch keyboard, I've seen people type pretty fast on it. And despite the slowness in typing, the iPad allows me to do work in places / times when previously I would have sat twiddling my fingers, like now I can get quite a bit of writing done on the bus or subway. Or the other day, I was meeting a friend at a coffee shop, and got a lot of work done while waiting for him. For me, a laptop is too heavy to carry around just in case I have those odd spare moments, but the iPad is light and compact enough to have with me all the time. As for netbooks, I hate their small cramped keyboards, and think I would be slower on them than even the iPad's touch keyboard.

I wouldn't say the iPad fulfils my computer needs completely, but it does about 90% of what I need, in a ultra portable format. The rest I do on my desktop. Thus, I no longer need my notebook.

 

[Imsuperjp]

The problem with netbooks is that they took an existing OS and try to retrofit it down so a netbook could use it. What apple did right was design an OS just form the iPad.

 

[Zazoh]

The problem with netbooks is that they took an existing OS and try to retrofit it down so a netbook could use it. What apple did right was design an OS just form the iPad.

And that is what they do right on phone too. I agree with the inventor of the cell phone and re-inventor of the phone through Jitterbug. He was on 60 min not too long ago and made a comment about phones being designed by engineers for engineers.

Apple is the closest to the human design there is. And, to the OPs point, too much configuring leads to confusion.

 

[mark28]

So first there were netbooks, ultra cheap/portable/long battery life.
Then people think that since they can do whatever they want on a netbook, and its portable, its awesome!! or is it?

What can you do on a netbook?
messenger/surf/Facebook/twitter/email/read documents......
o and you have the tiny keyboard where you can type with....

you certainly can (barely) use your netbook for stuff like photoshop and counterstrike, but who would?

But before i get to do all that, i (at least) have to install:
1. Anti virus
2. firewall (or just use the one built in)
3. any office suite
4. preferred browser

And I still have to perform all the upkeep i would have to do on a PC!!!

This leads to the question:
Is it practical to use a full fledged windows on a netbook???

It seems like manufacturers are not getting the big picture. An OS is there to bridge the gap between the consumer and the machine. So as long as the OS provides that service seamlessly and allowing the user to do what he wants, its a good OS.
But it seems like manufacturers are building netbooks just to run windows, with no concern about what the consumer actually needs.

With less intensive hardware, an ipad with iOS can do everything an average netbook user will expect to do with their netbooks, but better and faster, and in most cases longer battery life.

Thats why, if netbook manufacturers want to retake the market, they have to enhance the consumers' experience, not the hardware itself. Cause no matter how much faster Atom goes, its not really going anywhere without sacrificing battery life, and then you're still left with the upkeep you'll normally have with a full sized PC.

So if google comes out with a netbook version of android, package that with touchscreen netbooks, have the manufacturers market that extensively, they just might recapture their market share.

1. Linux.
2. Open system without the need of jailbreaking it which voids the warranty.
3. Cheaper
4. Able to do more things than an iPad ever will.
5. Independent from other computers.
6. An actual keyboard.
7. Coding and software development you missed btw.
8. Alot more storage.
9. Much better free software on Linux, instead of toys on the iPad/iPhone which you even have to pay for.

iPad is nothing more but a fancy gadget that costs too much to be even a danger to netbooks.

 

[diabolic]

1. Linux.

That kills any argument right in its tracks.

 

[sushi]

It all boils down to what you expect to accomplish with your portable device.

For many, the iPad replaces a Netbook. It all depends on the individual user's needs.

 

[MrWillie]

1. Linux.
2. Open system without the need of jailbreaking it which voids the warranty.
3. Cheaper
4. Able to do more things than an iPad ever will.
5. Independent from other computers.
6. An actual keyboard.
7. Coding and software development you missed btw.
8. Alot more storage.
9. Much better free software on Linux, instead of toys on the iPad/iPhone which you even have to pay for.

iPad is nothing more but a fancy gadget that costs too much to be even a danger to netbooks.

Turn the net book sideways...

Why is all apps for iPad considered toys? Learn how to use one. It's easy.

Keep your room clean and take out the trash without being told and your mom might get you an iPad for Christmas.

 

[mark28]

Turn the net book sideways...

Why is all apps for iPad considered toys? Learn how to use one. It's easy. Keep your room clean and take out the trash without being told and your mom might get you an iPad for Christmas.

Since when is a 15" 2010 MBP, a netbook. Use OS X / Windows programs and see the quality difference in software available. And no, the iPad/iPhone apps can't replace those types of software.

I feel sorry for you that's the way you get your stuff, little kid. Some of us actually work and have plenty of money.

 

[J hit&runner]

1. Linux.
2. Open system without the need of jailbreaking it which voids the warranty.
3. Cheaper
4. Able to do more things than an iPad ever will.
5. Independent from other computers.
6. An actual keyboard.
7. Coding and software development you missed btw.
8. Alot more storage.
9. Much better free software on Linux, instead of toys on the iPad/iPhone which you even have to pay for.

iPad is nothing more but a fancy gadget that costs too much to be even a danger to netbooks.

Yea thats what I initially thought, until i read this article on macrumors

https://www.macrumors.com/2010/08/0...among-global-portable-computer-manufacturers/

and hey, so are mac books... at $999 you can get a decent laptop pc, but people are buying MBs anyways...

 

[J hit&runner]

to be honest, the netbook craze was an accidental success.

After Asus' eee-PC success, a lot of the manufacturers went full production with parts that were not meant for netbooks. for example, the Intel Atom chip was not originally designed for netbooks. Thats why after they all came out, people were inherently pissed at their netbook performance. Its part of the reason why Intel made so damn much money the past years.

AGREED

 

[Stay Tuned]

With and iPad can you:

Can you connect a webcam and video chat
Use Facebook chat
Plug in a USB drive for extra storage
Plug in any USB device other then a camera to import pictures
Visit flash based website
Change or replace the battery
Add additional ram
Add additional storage
Run full version office apps instead of striped down mobile apps
Install traditional chat programs like yahoo messenger instead of stripped down mobile apps
Connect to a TV via HDMI for Hi Def movies
Download and store any file type without the need of an app

The list goes on and on.

The iPad is NOT a netbook or a laptop replacement. It is a media consumption device, a giant iPod touch if you will.

 

[PerfSeeker]

With and iPad can you:

Can you connect a webcam and video chat
Use Facebook chat
Plug in a USB drive for extra storage
Plug in any USB device other then a camera to import pictures
Visit flash based website
Change or replace the battery
Add additional ram
Add additional storage
Run full version office apps instead of striped down mobile apps
Install traditional chat programs like yahoo messenger instead of stripped down mobile apps
Connect to a TV via HDMI for Hi Def movies
Download and store any file type without the need of an app

The list goes on and on.

The iPad is NOT a netbook or a laptop replacement. It is a media consumption device, a giant iPod touch if you will.

Yet the iPads keep flying off the shelves while netbooks die on the vine. Everyone is getting an iPad(incl me) and 100 million sold by 2012.

 

[J hit&runner]

With and iPad can you:

Can you connect a webcam and video chat
Use Facebook chat
Plug in a USB drive for extra storage
Plug in any USB device other then a camera to import pictures
Visit flash based website
Change or replace the battery
Add additional ram
Add additional storage
Run full version office apps instead of striped down mobile apps
Install traditional chat programs like yahoo messenger instead of stripped down mobile apps
Connect to a TV via HDMI for Hi Def movies
Download and store any file type without the need of an app

The list goes on and on.

The iPad is NOT a netbook or a laptop replacement. It is a media consumption device, a giant iPod touch if you will.

definitely not MEANT to be a laptop replacement....
but netbooks on the other hand... yes theres a lot of things that a netbook can do and an ipad cant. but those might not be the core usage of the average user. i had doubts, too. but looking at how ipad is cutting into the netbook market share, the consumers apparently think otherwise.

 

[spammerhamster]

definitely not MEANT to be a laptop replacement....

Yet it can surprisingly replace a lot of laptop's productive actions.

I don't type long essays or program on my ipad, but I won't use my laptop to type long essays or programming either. The keyboard is awkward. Both would be used for quick-edits only.

I can't do heavy compiling, photoshopping, encoding on my iPad. But the same can be said about my laptop. Why'd I do heavy stuff on that, when I got a powerful desktop for these tasks?

The ipad however, can be used for the same productive actions as stated. Monitoring servers with ssh/vnc/rdp and take actions when needed (making a vpn on an ipad is much easier than on a laptop)

Quick edits, mailing, scheduling, all can be done with the ipad.

 

[MrWillie]

Since when is a 15" 2010 MBP, a netbook. Use OS X / Windows programs and see the quality difference in software available. And no, the iPad/iPhone apps can't replace those types of software.

I feel sorry for you that's the way you get your stuff, little kid. Some of us actually work and have plenty of money.

Um... The comaparision was a net book vs iPad, not MBP. Where did you get the idea that anyone was comparing it to the MBP ?

The GENERAL consensus is that most people are replacing there laptops 90 % of the time with iPads. (I am around 80%)

Again, learn how to use it.

With and iPad can you:

Can you connect a webcam and video chat
Use Facebook chat
Plug in a USB drive for extra storage
Plug in any USB device other then a camera to import pictures
Visit flash based website
Change or replace the battery
Add additional ram
Add additional storage
Run full version office apps instead of striped down mobile apps
Install traditional chat programs like yahoo messenger instead of stripped down mobile apps
Connect to a TV via HDMI for Hi Def movies
Download and store any file type without the need of an app

The list goes on and on.

The iPad is NOT a netbook or a laptop replacement. It is a media consumption device, a giant iPod touch if you will.

You got me on the office apps. Execl functionality is my major complaint with the iPad.

Battery- I am get 10+ hours of use, and with a claimed life of three years, swapping out batteries is a non issue.

Flash- I don't do flash on laptop or desktop, so why would I care?

Importing photos- iPad will import photos from a thumb drive.

Web cam- web cams have been available for many years, and how many people video chat ? I don't on my laptop or desktop, and one person on these forums claimed to have video Skyped twice. In two years.

Any chat- eBuddy, textie will send im's to cell phones.

HDMI- wow, reviews I have read on net books claim that they choke on high def. Why not just continue to use my blue ray player ?

Download files and store them- yep you got me there. I had to spend 99 cents on the Goodreader app.

The list goes on and on.

I can, and do monitor facilities remotely from my iPad.

Yes it was originally MARKETED as a media consumption device, but it has grown into much more.

I am sorry you two just don't get it.

 

[eye]

My buddy and my brother both have netbooks. Both said they were getting rid of them and getting an iPad after playing with mine for about five minutes. Just sayin'. Almost the same story with any normal person I know. Yes, tech nerds will have their say but the spending habits of the general population vote iPad.

 

[notjustjay]

I had an Asus EEE PC 1000HE from the day they were released in Canada. I bought it after careful comparison shopping, making sure to buy the best netbook I could for my money -- the best CPU performance, the best keyboard, the best battery life. (At 9.5 hours, I was very impressed.)

I sold it a month after I bought an iPad. After examining my usage habits, I concluded that the iPad was a better fit for my lifestyle.

Sure, the previous posts have already covered that the netbook, from a specification point of view, can do far more than the iPad can. The netbook can run full Windows, has a USB port, webcam, blah blah blah...

But the reality was, I wasn't using my netbook for much more than quick access to Gmail, Facebook, and web surfing while away from home. And while everyone likes to compare the iPad to netbooks and make a list of things the netbook can do that the iPad can't, you might stop to consider the reverse -- what the iPad can do that the netbook can't.

For example, I sometimes found myself lying in bed, or on a couch, with the netbook balanced on my chest, my arms in the air holding the screen up. And if I saw something interesting that I wanted to share, I'd often fold out the netbook to a flat, 180-degree angle, and hand it to the person beside me -- in other words, I wanted to treat it like a tablet!

Or if I wanted to just pop into Facebook/Gmail/Twitter/insert-site-here and do a quick check. On the iPad, it takes 15 seconds. On the netbook: open it up, power-on (or un-Hibernate -- I never did trust XP's Stand By), fire up Firefox, then re-Hibernate) -- took about a minute each time.

Argue spec-for-spec all you like, but in my real-world experience, the iPad is a better experience than the netbook was. It's actually faster, more productive, and more fun, as well as being smaller, lighter, and more portable. The only downside is it was twice the cost of a netbook.

And, yes, there are a couple of things I was able to do on the netbook that I can't do on the iPad -- but that's why I have a "real" laptop, my 15" MBP, ready to go if that's the case. I really don't feel like I've sacrificed anything.