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what can a netbook do better then a ipad

flyguy206 said:
if you buy a ipad would you have any need for a netbook?
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I know people who have a toaster but no BBQ grill. I know someone who has a BBQ grill but no toaster. I know people who have both. I know people with more than one toaster. I know people who don't have either a laptop or a cell phone. I know people with several of each. Lots of different kinds of people with lots of different needs.

louhamilton said:
Try having you or your kids do their CD based homework on an iPad..
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Try having your kids do their punched card (or Apple II audio cassette tape) based homework on a MacBook Pro. Or maybe the school is advanced enough to run a BBS that requires 1200 baud modems and Kermit to login?

Does your car have a hitch so that it can be pulled by your horse?
 
firewood said:
Try having your kids do their punched card (or Apple II audio cassette tape) based homework on a MacBook Pro. Or maybe the school is advanced enough to run a BBS that requires 1200 baud modems and Kermit to login?

Does your car have a hitch so that it can be pulled by your horse?
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Oh so CD's are dead? or are you saying the ipad and its like of I/O is better than a macbook pro?

I thought the Ipad wasnt a computer... im confused
 
My biggest problem with netbooks was how crappy they run Windows. Once I put linux on my netbook, it runs great. It can do everything the iPad can do and more. People give netbooks a bad wrap but really they are more than capable with the proper OS.
 
Astro8973 said:
Who hands out CD based homework? I have been a student for over 15 years and have never received CD based homework. I am sure a teacher could email the student the homework if need be...
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There are plenty of workbooks that have interactive programs. My 3rd grade son has a math workbook where the included CD has a program to help with the math skills. There is a speed test as well as other various skill building games. They also have a pretty elaborate website for the kids to access and do extra Language Arts activities. I'm not sure if it is flash based or not. I have not looked into it. SO that part may be available via an iPad.

These are not simple homework documents that can be e-mailed. And I'm sure the publishers are not willing to make iPad apps for this programs.

Not sure what school district you belong, but maybe you and your parents need to visit a school board meeting.
 
EssentialParado said:
The iPad I actually like, because it's actually a decent user interface; whether browsing the web or checking my email - it, as the Apple saying goes, 'just works'. Of course this isn't to everyone's taste, but you're uninformed if anyone thinks a netbook is better than an iPad for the majority of users.
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Web browsing is not a full experience on the iPad due to lack of Flash. That cannot be denied.
 
It's hard comparing such different devices, everyone wants something different.
The net-book is a computer, capable of doing all things computer like. The iPad is a portable media device - apps, gaming, photos, videos, music, e-books, and web browsing.

If you want a computer that can do everything you want, then maybe a net-book is the right choice for you, but if the iPad can do everything you want then maybe it's the right choice for you.
Everything the iPad can do it will do better than a net-book can, some things are user preference, such as the virtual keyboard over a physical one.
Web browsing is not a full experience on the iPad due to lack of Flash. That cannot be denied.
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Sure, but how often do you visit flash sites that are not game related? And are they important?

I imagine some flash sites have mobile versions, and more and more sites will use HTML5 - IE YouTube, Vimeo etc... it's just time.
 
flyguy206 said:
I don't see how anyone could want a netbook over a ipad. you are going to have over 144,000 apps to choose from. Plus you can surf the web. and you can watch movies and tv shows podcast. You can get 3g data plan with no contract people don't know how big that is try finding 3g data plan with out no contract for the price apple is offer for the ipad. Not only that the ipad is so thin and light enough that i can bring it anywhere i want to with out it taking much space up. I know my ipad will have updates to fix any problem and add features to it. You are not going to get that with a cheap netbook with windows on it. And people are saying that a netbook is better then a ipad..
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Everyone, I think Steve Jobs is in the house!!
 
Bytor65 said:
Run windows(sort of).

Netbook is an annoying term. Because really, they are just cheap crappy laptops that people buy because they can't justify spending more. I would never buy one.

A laptop vs iPad isn't really a valid comparison, these are not either or devices, they are complementary devices.

Do some work on your main PC or Laptop, then relax on the couch with your iPad.
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This says all of the important things.

What can a netbook do that a laptop can't do better?

Everyone here knows netbooks suck and don't fill any real niche in the market. The iPad can't be any worse than that, because netbooks are essentially worthless. I had a sony notebook several years ago that weighed as much as most netbooks do now. There was no such thing as a netbook back then.. it was a freaking laptop. Netbooks are tiny laptops. Regular laptops have issues because of their size. Making a tiny laptop is as dumb as putting a tiny hardware keyboard on a cell phone.
 
What can a netbook do? The name is less a subject for jokes than iPad is.
What can a netbook do? Protect it's own screen when closed.
What can a netbook do? It's screen can remain fingerprint free.
What can a netbook do? Some can flip their screen over to play Tablet PC just for fun.
What can a netbook do? It depends on the netbook. Some run OS X.
What can a netbook do? It depends on the netbook. Some can run Linux. Some should be OK with Android in the near future.
 
Something just occured to me while reading this thread -- aren't most netbook screens smaller than the ipad? I mean, if a portable computer had a screen as big as the ipad, wouldn't they be considered laptops?

In any case, I was just playing with a friend's netbook, and when I opened up the web browser, almost half the screen was taken up with menu and status bars. The portion of the screen that was actually displaying usable content was so small, it was a most unpleasant experience. I'm sure the ipad will deliver a much more pleasant web browsing experience, at least for non-flash websites. And since I don't use any flash-based websites, personally, I won't miss them.
 
Night Spring said:
Something just occured to me while reading this thread -- aren't most netbook screens smaller than the ipad? I mean, if a portable computer had a screen as big as the ipad, wouldn't they be considered laptops?
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It depends what's your definition of a netbook is but I guess the price is what matters to most people. If it's cheap enough - it's a netbook.

Regarding the screen size, there's a $480 netbook with a 12.1" 16:9 screen so you actually get more screen space for less money in compare to the iPad (even though the quality of the screen is probably inferior to the iPad's).
 
To get back to the OP and his comments

People have different needs and workflows. One being better than the other is really a personal preference based on what they need from a device.

Like with cars, houses, management styles, etc - people have preferences/needs/etc. Everyone is not the same. And thank goodness for that.

Some will find the iPad is everything they want and need it to be. Others will find that a netbook is what they need and want it to be. You can argue until you're blue in the face. You can even insist that one is the winner and the other is a loser. This feature vs that feature. Ultimately - it doesn't matter except to the end user who is getting the device.

This fan boy / hater mentality is crap. Just because you like the iPad doesn't make you a fan boy, kool-aid drinker, etc and just because you don't like the iPad doesn't make you out of touch, ignorant, hater, etc.

And even if the iPad sells a bazillion, that doesn't make people who prefer netbooks losers or "wrong." And if the iPad fails, that doesn't mean those that "predicted" it are amazing or whatnot.

People (and I'm not excluding myself as I have fallen into this myself from time to time) really think too highly of themselves if they always have to be right - or always think they know best.
 
I need a computer that is small, cheap, lightweight and has reasonable battery life.
That's why I bought a Samsung NC10 netbook around a year and a quarter ago.

I take my netbook to uni where I use it mostly for taking notes and programming mostly Java with a bit of Python (occasionally use it to program an Arduino Diecimila via USB), also Matlab (though I tend to run that remotely).

I wanted full disk encryption so I run Windows 7 Ultimate and Fedora 12 Linux (LUKS) though I've run a variety of other OS's (BeOS Haiku, Plan9 etc...) on it in the past both directly and virtualised. I can hook it up to the projectors or large screens in the conference rooms so as to extend the screen. It works with the Java based VPN software that the uni uses so that I can log in to the wireless network securely whilst on campus, and connect whilst off campus.

I like leaving my messenger, Skype (for video chat) and IRC clients running in the background. And I can store my 80GB or so of media on it. Occasionally I play some old PC games on it, and in a pinch I can use it to charge up my iPod or iPhone.

For the most part it runs pretty quick though the virtualisation can be very slow. So far it's been working pretty well for me.
Though I have upgraded the RAM, Wireless card and swapped the hard drive... I guess it wasn't so cheap in the end.

Maybe I am just "too cheap or too poor to buy a real computer". Even though I do have a real desktop computer at home, unless a Mac Pro 1.1 isn't classified as a real computer of-course. :p


So what out of that can the iPad do better?

Hmm well better battery life and lighter I guess, also maybe note taking. Oh and the iPad's screen is likely to be better.
It also may actually be able to perform a lot of those tasks through the use of remote desktop (or ssh), though this is likely to be slower than just using the netbook.


This isn't to say that the iPad is bad, notice how my paragraphs are mostly starting with 'I'. What I want a portable computer for is likely to be completely different from most other people.

I'm actually considering getting an iPad, though it won't be a replacement for the netbook. As when I'm at home I quite often use my netbook/old laptop/iPhone just for browsing the internet, checking my emails, listening to music, reading an ebook etc... The iPad seems perfect for this.
 
yyy said:
It depends what's your definition of a netbook is but I guess the price is what matters to most people. If it's cheap enough - it's a netbook.

Regarding the screen size, there's a $480 netbook with a 12.1" 16:9 screen so you actually get more screen space for less money in compare to the iPad (even though the quality of the screen is probably inferior to the iPad's).
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Something with a 12" screen is not a netbook.

That is a laptop.

I would say you have to be at 10.7" or smaller to even be considered a netbook.

You can't have a 15" screen netbook.

That is the point, netbooks are just smaller laptops. There is no magical difference except the are smaller, less powerful and overall much less functional.



This is the whole issue for this middle ground space.

The netbook took a functional device, the notebook/laptop, and made it smaller and less usable.

The iPad took a functional device, iPhone/iPod Touch, and made it bigger and more usable.

That is the bottom line.
 
marksman said:
I would say you have to be at 10.7" or smaller to even be considered a netbook.

The netbook took a functional device, the notebook/laptop, and made it smaller and less usable.

The iPad took a functional device, iPhone/iPod Touch, and made it bigger and more usable.
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So there's also the Nokia Booklet 3g with a 10.1" screen which seems large enough and it will also come with built-in 3g support, GPS and 12 hour battery life. I don't know how much it'll cost but some say it'll be around $500.

Regarding your last sentences, it's like saying that a cheap car is smaller and less usable whereas an expensive bike is bigger and more usable. It actually depends on what your needs are - you wouldn't buy an expensive bike if you really need a car.
 
I find these comparison tiresome because they based on the completely faulty premise that this will be your only computing device. The iPad is in a different category than a laptop. It isn't meant to replace a laptop, just to complement it.

I agree that if it is your only computing device(context important here), no one but computer phobics should choose an iPad over a laptop (even a crappy one called a netbook).

But realistically most people interested in an iPad will already have a desktop/laptop.

So the realistic comparison is as part of a combo, for someone who already owns a laptop. What do you buy when you already own a laptop? Do now get another cheap laptop (AKA netbook) or an iPad. Ending up with one of these combos:


Combo A) Laptop + netbook (aka crappy laptop)
or
Combo B) Laptop + iPad.


Combo B is more interesting to me, because it brings new usage patterns/form factors/interface to the combination. It has limitations and weaknesses compared to the laptop, but you already have a laptop that you can use if you want that form factor. It brings some new things to your combo.

Combo A is just adding a spare version of what you already have expect inferior in every way. It essentially adds nothing new, just crappier.
 
marksman said:
Something with a 12" screen is not a netbook.

That is a laptop.

I would say you have to be at 10.7" or smaller to even be considered a netbook.

You can't have a 15" screen netbook.

That is the point, netbooks are just smaller laptops. There is no magical difference except the are smaller, less powerful and overall much less functional.



This is the whole issue for this middle ground space.

The netbook took a functional device, the notebook/laptop, and made it smaller and less usable.

The iPad took a functional device, iPhone/iPod Touch, and made it bigger and more usable.

That is the bottom line.
Click to expand...

Hark, I hear some intelligence in this thread after all.

dgree03 said:
Oh so CD's are dead? or are you saying the ipad and its like of I/O is better than a macbook pro?

I thought the Ipad wasnt a computer... im confused
Click to expand...

I will put a CD or DVD into my computer around once a year, and I could easily live without that.

Oh how people cried at Apple removing the floppy disk drive in the iMac, and how they asserted it made it "completely useless" as a computer. Looking back on those comments, you might want to reconsider your statement, and really think how often you use your CD drive. ;)
 
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