Tablets versus Netbooks
There has been much debate about the benefits of tablets versus netbooks, and I hope to provide a thoughtful comment on the subject.
I may be biased since I own a netbook and do not own a tablet, but the reason for my lack of a tablet is only because I have not seen a tablet that I am interested in.
My netbook is many things to me. It is a media consumption device, portable enough to be taken from home to school, school to work, and work to wherever Thirsty Thursday is being held. It’s built in webcam allows me to video chat with my ex-pat father, my friends away from home, and after a few drinks I like to set it on a table across the room and gather everyone into the frame for a good round of Chatroulette. I take all of my school notes on it (I’m a faster typist), I do basic Photoshop for Yearbook, and I can write HTML code on it. It has enough storage space that I can load it up with all my media needs, and has enough memory to multitask somewhat effectively.
The current generation of tablets is dissapointing to me. Apple’s iPad feels like an oversized iPod touch. It is stuck running a locked down operating system and has little appeal other than the few magazine apps for it. Microsoft’s Courier project was extremely promising with dual screens and stylus input, but alas, it was canned. HP’s HP Slate, which was to run Windows 7, looked promising but was also cancelled. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe it is Notion Ink who is making a promising tablet. With multitouch input, swivelling camera, trackpad, and the choice between Ubuntu and Android, it looks like a great competitor to the iPad.
Though there may be some great alternatives to the iPad,
nothing will oust it as the top tablet until Google finally releases a Chrome OS tablet.
