Netbook or iPad2

[crockers]

Wife wants a new laptop.

All she usually does is surf web and use email. What would you recommend a netbook or an Ipad 2 ?

Cheers

 

[whitenemesis]

Depends on what is preferred? Physical or virtual keys?

 

[timskemp]

Get a proper laptop. Or for a web browsing tablet I'd go with an Archos 101...

 

[Colin_b]

Probably neither, unless she needs long battery life. The netbooks tend to have a little less screen resolution than is entirely useful. Ipads are awkward to type on until you get used to them.

Entry level laptop is probably the best compromise.

 

[crockers]

Sorry should have said - she has a laptop - just finds it heavy and slow....

15.5" Compaq on windows 7 Home premium..

 

[spinaltap]

Why not consider an 11 inch MacBook Air instead?

You can load your existing Mac applications, it is faster than the iPad, and no need for additional keyboard. Best bargains are on the Apple Refurb Store.

 

[flango]

My Samsung netbook goes everywhere with me its light, 10 hours battery and screen resolution is perfect, wouldn't be without it, much better IMHO than iPad or tablet PC and much more durable, just my 2p worth

 

[crockers]

Why not consider an 11 inch MacBook Air instead?

You can load your existing Mac applications, it is faster than the iPad, and no need for additional keyboard. Best bargains are on the Apple Refurb Store.

Cheers - she did love the one she saw but I baulked at the cost...

 

[rascalmaster]

I have the iPad and just ordered the iPad 2.

It's awesome! Have a MacBook pro and another windows laptop as well...

The iPad is perfect for all the stuff a laptop is too cumbersome for, and like all things apple; it just works

 

[crockers]

I am assuming as the iPad2 has a camera she can do video skype with her friends abroad on it ??

 

[bulldoze]

The iPad is such a clever concept - I have always had the opinion that even the most basic pc/laptop/netbook is way too complicated for the majority of users.

It gets nearly everything right, if only it was a little lighter, a little more battery power and the screen had a higher resolution for book/magazine reading.

Roll on iPad 3!

 

[A210AMG]

I have a 17" laptop and a netbook with a 10" screen, currently with a new baby my iPhone is getting the most use....

For surfing and speed of turning on it's ace....


I now really see the point in an iPad

Even the standard 16gb iPad 1 as it can be had for around £300 for surfing and 90% of what I do it would be great. I'm amazed no other slate matches the way the iPad screen works yet....

 

[Dryce]

The iPad is such a clever concept

Clever for Apple.

Selling a netbook with cheaper internals and no hinge or keyboard and a smaller battery and no disk for approx 50% to 100% more than a netbook.

And their actual 'netbook' is even higher priced at £800+ for a Macbook Air.

Meanwhile they deliberately 'fixed' Mac OS X so that it wouldn't run on an Atom processor in an ordinary netbook. Having real netbooks around for comparison with hacked Mac OS X might have been a little embarrassing.

 

[oldcro]

I intend to buy an iPAD2 as soon as they are on sale 25th I think, because it does everything I want and more without the bulk and weight of a laptop.

As for waiting for the iPAD3 before it arrives the media will be talking about the iPAD4, and so on ad infinitum.

 

[Beetnik]

The iPad is such a clever concept - I have always had the opinion that even the most basic pc/laptop/netbook is way too complicated for the majority of users.

It gets nearly everything right, if only it was a little lighter, a little more battery power and the screen had a higher resolution for book/magazine reading.

Roll on iPad 3!

Yes, if only it had multitasking, a camera, expandable memory, flash support, a replaceable battery, an SD card slot or a usb port then it could start and be considered other than a triumph of marketing over substance.

Still, I understand the new version (do they refer to it as 'revolutionary'?) is making great strides forward - you can now get one in white.

 

[Clkrichard]

I have an Ipad and a netbook and I love the speed of loading of the Ipad but I hate the lack of Flash.
For surfing t'internet I think I prefer the clearer Ipad screen though.
Richard

 

[bulldoze]

Clever for Apple.

Selling a netbook with cheaper internals and no hinge or keyboard and a smaller battery and no disk for approx 50% to 100% more than a netbook.

And their actual 'netbook' is even higher priced at £800+ for a Macbook Air.

Meanwhile they deliberately 'fixed' Mac OS X so that it wouldn't run on an Atom processor in an ordinary netbook. Having real netbooks around for comparison with hacked Mac OS X might have been a little embarrassing.

Are you comparing netbooks with a macbook air? there is no comparison the air is far superior in every way except battery life and price.

What is wrong with paying for quality? surely its the reason you drive a Mercedes and not a Kia.

 

[crockers]

Yes, if only it had multitasking, a camera, expandable memory, flash support, a replaceable battery, an SD card slot or a usb port then it could start and be considered other than a triumph of marketing over substance.

Still, I understand the new version (do they refer to it as 'revolutionary'?) is making great strides forward - you can now get one in white.

I think the iPad 2 has camera, and you can use a camera attachment that allows the use of a SD card.

Flash support will never come - but thought other browsers were now moving into anti flash mode...pity - but it is heavy on battery life.

I can't understand the lack of a USB port - suppose it's all about control. With a USB port you could add apps downloaded from 'net. Without it most will have to go via iTunes.

 

[Dryce]

Are you comparing netbooks with a macbook air? there is no comparison the air is far superior in every way except battery life and price.

For what these things get used for? Yes. An Air is a small computer with a keyboard, display, battery, storage, and some sort of CPU. So is a Netbook. Mac OS runs well on an Atom by all accounts - which is IMO a very good reason for them to make sure it couldn't.

A few Air users might need the more powerful CPU. I would suggest that the majority do not. And I'm reasonably convinced that Apple don't do a separate netbook because they couldn't differentiate it sufficiently.

What is wrong with paying for quality? surely its the reason you drive a Mercedes and not a Kia.

I run various PCs (Win 7, Vista, XP, Linux) and two Apples (Mac OS X).

The only quality differentiator between the Appes and the other systems is Mac OS X. Frankly the construction of the Apples is not that impressive.

From a software point of view - yes Apple = good even compared with Win7. But hardware/construction? For example the Apple PSU is more convenient than a standard laptop block - and the magnetic connector is excellent - but not so great when the poor quality cable causes problems.

I like the Apples. But I rate them as poor VFM. And more to the point compared with the last notebook I purchased (a cheap Tosh with an i3 and 4Gbytes) I can't see myself justifying another Macbook at over twice the cost unless Apple up their game on the value front instead of just bumping specs and prices.

 

[bulldoze]

The iPad is the family computer for us - my wife uses a desktop and I have a laptop.

My 3 yr old can work a mouse and pointer but the iPad is perfect for him, kids just know how to use this thing from day one - it is so intuitive to just press stuff. keeps him quiet on long journeys too with his movies, games and his painting apps.

It is fantastic as a sofa surfer as well - and my wife uses it on the train to work everyday for her studying, emails etc.

I would not buy an for iPad myself but I can see the genius in creating a computer for everyone; kids, grannies and the totally computer illiterate, these people do not want a WIMP (windows, icon mouse, pointer) interface and they don't want arcane and confusing filing systems. they are also not the slightest bit interested in stealing media via torrents or swapping .avi files etc. Apple are to be applauded for this revolution or as they call it the post-pc era. Anybody who still thinks this is going to be a flop and think that the masses are simply buying it because it is Apple are very, very foolish - look at the sales figures - this is a game changer, make no mistake.

Competitors like google etc know which way the wind is blowing and they will embrace this as well - all good in the long run for the consumer.