10 Reasons Why A Netbook Is A Better Choice Than An iPad
1. The Keyboard If productivity is what you want, the iPad is not the best choice for one major reason: its keyboard. The virtual keyboard works well in landscape mode, but getting used to it takes time. Worst of all, even the most proficient virtual keyboard typists will have trouble getting all the words they want into a document since Apple’s software auto-corrects any words that it believes are mistakenly input. A physical keyboard is simply more useful and practical for prolonged use. That plays into the netbook’s favor.
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2. Windows Windows is a better operating system than iPhone OS. It’s that simple. Although Apple’s software is robust for what it does, it’s still a mobile operating system. And that mobile operating system is trying to make a splash in a market where a far more capable operating system, which is running on the vast majority of netbooks, is waiting in the wings for corporate users. Realizing that, netbooks have an upper-hand when compared to the iPad. Apple’s tablet might be an attractive purchase to consumers, but in the corporate world, it’s being held back by its software.
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3. Flash, Anyone? Although Apple has said time and again that it doesn’t want to support Flash because of the potential security issues it brings to the market, Flash is a proven standard on the Web that the vast majority of games and videos use. It’s also worth noting that a slew of Web sites use Flash to extend the functionality of pages. Owners of Windows netbooks won’t need to worry about that, since Microsoft’s operating system supports Flash.
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4. Software Is Everything Apple’s App Store is certainly a leader in the smartphone space. With well over 200,000 applications, there are undoubtedly many apps that users will find valuable. But the App Store still pales in comparison to the compatibility of netbooks running Windows. Those that need specific software packages will be able to run them on a Windows-based machine without much trouble. The same can’t be said for the iPad. And although more developers are turning to the App Store to deliver products, few iPhone enterprise applications can compare to those available to Windows netbook owners.
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5. The iPad Is First-Gen The iPad is undoubtedly a great device that has set a new standard in the marketplace. But it’s worth mentioning that the device is still a first-generation product with first-generation issues. For example, when the iPad originally launched, it suffered from Wi-Fi problems. Some owners are still experiencing those problems more than two months after the tablet’s release. Netbooks, on the other hand, have been around longer. And although anything can happen to hardware, they might be more reliable for those that require a mobile PC to be with them at all times.
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6. Productivity Means Something More productive time at work means more time for play. Plus, in the corporate world, productivity is what drives revenue. Realizing that, companies should be looking for the device that can deliver the best opportunity to increase user productivity. That won’t necessarily happen with the iPad. As mentioned, the device’s keyboard can’t compare to a standard physical keyboard. It’s also worth noting that iPhone OS is a hobbled alternative to Windows. If productivity is what a user covets, the netbook is still the best option by a wide margin. It’s hard for Apple or any tablet fan to dispute that.
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7. The Best iPad Hasn’t Hit Store Shelves Yet Apple is awfully good at delivering products that people immediately want. But the company is also good at offering a finite number of features to ensure consumers will want more in the next version of the device. The iPad is no different. Apple’s tablet currently features some, but not all, of the bells and whistles that customers are really looking for, like a camera, Webcam capabilities, and more. The best iPad is coming next year. Meanwhile, the best netbooks are already available. Why settle for second place?
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8. No Multitasking Multitasking still isn’t available in Apple’s iPad. Apple says that it will be making its way to the tablet later this year, but until that happens, the iPad is a less-capable alternative to netbooks. After all, if a user wants to be able to surf the Web and continue typing up a document at the same time, they won’t be able to do it. That’s a major issue and a key reason why a netbook might trump the iPad today. When multitasking comes to the iPad, it will be time to reevaluate both products. But until then, Apple’s tablet just doesn’t compare.
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9. Price Plays A Part Price is always a key consideration when buyers need to consider which mobile computer they want to buy. Perhaps that’s why netbooks are still popular. The iPad currently retails for $499 up to $829. Compare that to netbooks, which can be purchased for as little as $199, and it quickly becomes clear that the lightweight notebooks are far more attractive, from a price perspective, than the iPad. Granted, Apple’s product delivers touch functionality, but it’s being offered at a premium that just doesn’t justify its value.
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10. The More Options, The Better Those that are looking for a new, lightweight computer to bring along on travel excursions or business trips will find more to choose from with netbooks. The iPad only comes from Apple, and the only option the customer has is to choose between six different versions of the device. Netbooks come in all shapes and sizes from a variety of vendors. So, if a customer is happy with Dell’s computer, they can buy a netbook from that company. If they prefer Asus, they can get one. Apple doesn’t allow for such choices.