Netbook or iPad

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zakdoc89

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I'm in the market for a portable device. I've been looking at getting a netbook for sometime, but now I'm confused, do I get an ipad, or a netbook?
Currently looking at the following:
Asus 1215N price $500 = R4000
Ipad 16gb $500= R4000

Getting it into SA shouldn't be a problem since I'm expecting a bunch of other stuff too. Budget is the lower R4k I may manage R5k at a real push.

What I need is some advice, i've read all the specs of both items, and i'm pretty sure I know what I'll be getting, I just need personal experiences.... Or maybe a shove in the right direction.
 
If you get a 3G connection with the Asus, rather choose the Asus.
Or why not push for the iPad with 3G?

I would think on the smaller devices (especially the iPad), 3G is essential.
What are you gonna use the devices for?
 
zakdoc89 said:
I'm in the market for a portable device. I've been looking at getting a netbook for sometime, but now I'm confused, do I get an ipad, or a netbook?
Currently looking at the following:
Asus 1215N price $500 = R4000
Ipad 16gb $500= R4000

Getting it into SA shouldn't be a problem since I'm expecting a bunch of other stuff too. Budget is the lower R4k I may manage R5k at a real push.

What I need is some advice, i've read all the specs of both items, and i'm pretty sure I know what I'll be getting, I just need personal experiences.... Or maybe a shove in the right direction.
Click to expand...

I have a netbook. I don't have an iPad, but I've played with one recently.

It all really depends on your needs. I'm keen on buying an iPad, simply to be able to surf the web whilst lying in front of the tv, reading pdf's in bed and occasionally checking mail. I think it is absolutely perfect for that. What thing still bothering me is the lack of divx/xvid playability - I want to watch the occasional video too. I'm not interested in converting files, nor am I interested in jailbreaking.

Where a netbook still trumps the iPad, I think, is where you use Word/Excel for extended periods. Probably fine for shorter periods, but not for long. The lack of multi-tasking also plays a role, especially when you're doing serious work - mail/excel/word all open etc. There is an update on its way to address multi-tasking, but I'm unsure of the details.

Where are you planning on buying?
 
SiriS said:
What thing still bothering me is the lack of divx/xvid playability - I want to watch the occasional video too. I'm not interested in converting files, nor am I interested in jailbreaking.
The lack of multi-tasking also plays a role, especially when you're doing serious work - mail/excel/word all open etc. There is an update on its way to address multi-tasking, but I'm unsure of the details.
Click to expand...

The multitasking is fixed in IOS4.1, hopefully coming soon.
VNC for the iPad, released last week, should allow playback for all your video needs!
 
ebendl said:
The multitasking is fixed in IOS4.1, hopefully coming soon.
VNC for the iPad, released last week, should allow playback for all your video needs!
Click to expand...

That makes the iPad an even more compelling argument for me.

Did you import, and from which supplier if you did?

EDIT/ you mean VLC player?
 
ebendl said:
The multitasking is fixed in IOS4.1, hopefully coming soon.
VNC for the iPad, released last week, should allow playback for all your video needs!
Click to expand...

iOS 4.2 will be released in November.
 
Or... you can get a slate pc. Been playing with one, and miss it dearly now. The concept of having a functional PC in "ipad" form factor is quite appealing.
 
I'm a university student, and thus have wifi access for most of the day, not sure if the iPad is compatible with the wifi network tho.
I've played around with a netbook the samsung 10" model and found it too small, hence the choice of the 12" asus.
There are lots of apps for my degree on the app store, I also have quite a few pdfs. But my justification for the netbook is: easier to type out lectures, and for me to copy from lectures/friends flash drives. Cheaper for more functionality.
Ideally I would like both devices, but can only afford one... Tough choice....

Ipad is very limited space wise, no usb access and apparently a new model with retina display is in the pipe-line
 
zakdoc89 said:
I'm a university student, and thus have wifi access for most of the day, not sure if the iPad is compatible with the wifi network tho.
I've played around with a netbook the samsung 10" model and found it too small, hence the choice of the 12" asus.
There are lots of apps for my degree on the app store, I also have quite a few pdfs. But my justification for the netbook is: easier to type out lectures, and for me to copy from lectures/friends flash drives. Cheaper for more functionality.
Ideally I would like both devices, but can only afford one... Tough choice....

Ipad is very limited space wise, no usb access and apparently a new model with retina display is in the pipe-line
Click to expand...

You're going to use it regularly for typing and you seem to be looking for mini-pc functionality - a netbook is probably better suited to your needs.
 
I have a touch screen phone and the keyboard is awesome. Works really well. Perfect for phone usage.

But for typing up lecture notes, essays etc, i cant see how a touch screen is going to work out. Guess i have to try it out first. But my gut feeling is for typing long-ish documents, not having the screen up at an angle to the keyboard is going to be difficult to get used to.

Maybe somebody with an iPad can comment on this. Can you use an external keyboard and plug it into the usb port?
 
McGuywer said:
Yes you can. Apple sells them.
Click to expand...

Figured they would. So now it depends on do you want to carry the keyboard around too. An can you prop up the iPad easily - like in your lecture room.
 
The iPad does have a keyboard you can buy, and it should work well. The only problem is that if you start adding on keyboards and 3g and extra storage etc you're already racking up the costs for functionality that a netbook already provides. But then again an iPad by itself has a lot of very cool functionality that a netbook just can't beat.
 
zakdoc89 said:
Exactly my point.... So the netbook it is... With the current R/$ I think ill be happy too....
Click to expand...

IMO that's the right decision. I have two netbooks, an Asus 10" screen and a Sony Vaio P 8", for when I want to travel really light. Love them both, iPad couldn't do half the stuff that they can do.
 
Look I have to admit when I had a netbook there was nothing we used it for that an iPad couldn't do, and quite often better. But it's all down to needs.
 
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