The iPad is the top-selling tablet computer.
In the late 2000s during a time of recession, small low-speed "netbooks" became popular computers because of their portability and low price. Although netbooks remain available today, Apple's release of the iPad in 2010 changed the landscape of the ultraportable computer market. Since then, several other companies have released tablet computers of their own. If you have thought about buying a netbook, consider a tablet computer as a possible alternative.
Netbook Benefits
Most netbooks run the Windows operating system. This means that -- with some limitations -- you can use a netbook to run the software that you are familiar with and avoid needing to learn new programs and interfaces. Netbooks are very inexpensive -- often costing $300 or less -- and weigh less than full-sized notebook computers, making them extremely portable. Although a notebook may be bothersome to carry wherever you go, you will seldom notice the addition of a netbook to your bag or briefcase. Compared to a tablet computer, an additional benefit of a netbook is the fact that it has a physical keyboard. Although many tablets are compatible with external keyboards, they do not include them. You will generally find that it is much simpler to enter large amounts of text on a keyboard than by tapping a virtual keyboard on a screen.
Netbook Drawbacks
Compared to tablets, netbooks suffer because they do not run software written specifically for the platform. Windows software is designed with full-sized notebook and desktop computers in mind -- computers with faster processors and more RAM. If you attempt to run complicated applications or several applications simultaneously on a netbook, you may find that the performance is much poorer than it would be with other types of computers. Netbooks also are unable to run many computer games. Although tablet computers such as the iPad typically have slower processors in terms of clock speed, they run software written specifically for them, and for this reason may seem much faster.
Tablet Benefits
In addition to the perceived performance benefits, tablets also benefit from being smaller and lighter than netbooks. For example, the iPad weighs approximately 1.5 pounds. Few netbooks can match its 10-hour battery life. Tablets are excellent devices for reading books, watching movies or playing games on the couch. Many tablets also include built-in 3G wireless adapters. If you subscribe to a cellular data access plan, you can get online with a tablet wherever you can receive phone cellular signal. At home, you can switch to the internal Wi-Fi adapter and browse the Web using your own wireless router.
Tablet Types
According to ABI Research, the iPad had an 85-percent share of the tablet market in 2010. However, other companies are bringing tablets of their own to the market. As of 2011, the most prominent competitors are tablets running Google's Android operating system. Because Android is free, it may attract the hardware and software developers needed to compete with Apple. Microsoft is also preparing an upcoming operating system, Windows 8, that will be optimized to run on tablet computers. Microsoft is expected to release Windows 8 in 2012.
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