Netbooks and Tablets Written by Tim Keyser Georgia CTAE Resource Network 2010

Netbooks Netbooks are much smaller than standard notebook computers and normally, far less powerful.

Features Battery life on netbooks is significantly longer than traditional notebooks since the less powerful components consume less electricity. Battery life on netbooks is significantly longer than traditional notebooks since the less powerful components consume less electricity. Netbooks generally do not have DVD (optical) drives and they rely on network or removable storage (USB) installation of software. Netbooks generally do not have DVD (optical) drives and they rely on network or removable storage (USB) installation of software. External DVD drives provide a convenient method of installing operating systems and other software. External DVD drives provide a convenient method of installing operating systems and other software.

Convenience The long battery life and ultra small size of netbooks often make them much more convenient to carry than standard notebook computers. The long battery life and ultra small size of netbooks often make them much more convenient to carry than standard notebook computers.

Cost Netbook computers are significantly less expensive than standard notebook computers since they have fewer features and less powerful components. Netbook computers are significantly less expensive than standard notebook computers since they have fewer features and less powerful components.

Expansion ports Expansion ports are common on netbooks, but netbooks generally have fewer ports than standard notebook computers.

Tablets Tablets have been on the market for several years, but they have not been nearly as popular as notebooks. Tablets function like notebook computers with the addition of displays (screens) that swivel into a position similar to writing tablets. Tablets also have touch screen capability and a stylus.

A Typical Tablet

Cost The demand for tablets is lower than that of notebooks and netbooks. Lower demand, combined with the additional features of tablets, increases the overall cost of the computer.

The Future of Tablets Recent developments by companies such as Apple and Google have lead to new tablet designs that have greatly lowered the cost of computers with tablet functionality. Other companies have developed inexpensive, scaled down tablets in the past, but they have not found a large following in the consumer market.

Understanding Be sure to familiarize yourself with different styles of netbooks and tablets and the features that affect their cost. Be sure to familiarize yourself with different styles of netbooks and tablets and the features that affect their cost. Reading reviews of products is an excellent method of researching before making purchasing decisions. Reading reviews of products is an excellent method of researching before making purchasing decisions.