Tablet Vs. Netbook

Two decades ago, choosing a computer was a considerably simpler job compared to today. At that time, only desktop computers were around and all you had to do was decide on which brand to go for. The picture has changed drastically, with a consumer bombarded with choices of many types ranging from tablet computers, netbooks, notebooks to full scale desktop computers, with varying sets of features and price ranges. Two new entrants in computing technology are table computers and netbooks, which are fast capturing the market held by notebooks and desktop computers for long. The aim of writing this Buzzle article is to explain the difference between tablet PCs and netbooks, which will help you make a choice between the two.

Tablet Vs. Netbook Comparison

Today, smart phone like the Apple iPhone or Droid X are nothing short of mini computers in their own right. There is added pressure on computer manufacturers to compete this smart phone market. If you are looking for a computer, not as bulky as a notebook, but light enough to be carried in a handbag, ideally suited for Internet access, you have two options to choose from - one is a tablet PC and the other is a netbook. In the following lines, I present a brief comparison of tablets against netbooks.

Tablet Vs. Netbook: Features
Let me first introduce you to tablet computers. Think of the most compact computers and what you get is a tablet PC, with a typical touch screen size of 7" to 10", with weight less than a kilogram. Their USPs are their touch screen functionality, highly portable size, wireless & 3G Internet connectivity along with data storage.

Tablets like the Apple iPad 2 don't have an inbuilt keyboard, but you can connect one externally. You can run a variety of applications, including all the office suite applications, web browsers as well as several games. Most of them are built with capacitive multitouch LCD screen with adequate back lighting.

They double up as ebook readers, personal digital assistants and media players. Some of the best tablet computers to choose from are Dell Streak, HP Touchpad, Samsung Galaxy Tab and Blackberry Playbook. Due to the smaller size, these tablet PCs have a higher battery life compared to notebooks and desktop computers. All of them use SSD memory with an average maximum capacity of 32GB. Average battery life ranges from 4 to 10 hours.

Compared to the rather unconventional looking tablet PCs, netbooks are miniature versions of laptops with screen sizes ranging from 10" to 12" with LCD screens and conventional keyboards. They come with built in Wi-Fi adapters, and an Intel Atom processor which has very low power usage. You can carry out all basic functions including web browsing, word processing and run multimedia applications. They have a typical battery life extending from 7 hours to more than 10 hours. As an Android Tablet vs. iPad comparison will reveal, there is plenty of choice in the tablet space, if you are planning to shop around for one.

Netbooks are highly portable with weight in the range of 1 to 1.5 Kg typically. What separates them from the tablet PCs is the keyboard. For people who are used to keyboards, netbooks will be a more comfortable choice. Netbooks also provide you with more RAM capacity and storage space compared to tablet PCs. You need to buy an additional keyboard for a tablet PC. Netbooks tend to be more robust compared to tablet PCs.

Cost
The prices of tablet PCs like the Apple iPad 2 is substantially high compared to netbooks, which can be bought for less than half the price. For example the Apple iPad 2 3G + Wi-Fi costs more than $800, but most netbooks can be bought for a price of around $300, while offering better functionality. So if you are on a limited budget, go for netbooks, instead of opting for a tablet PC. The higher price of the high-end tablet PCs can be attributed to the highly compact internal design, touch screen interface and SSD memory.

Tablets are ideally suited for people who are regularly in travel mode and need an easy to use computer for Internet browsing, social networking applications, which can double up as an ebook reader, besides being a media player. However, if you want a low cost computer which is not as costly as a notebook, but acts as an equivalent substitute, netbook is the best choice. As discussed before, Tablet PCs like the Apple iPad are highly expensive compared to netbooks which offer all the same functionality as them, for a far lesser price. Hope the comparison between tablets and netbooks provided above, helps you make up your mind, about which would be the best choice for you.