Netbook vs Tablet

There's a tech question not many people are asking anymore. But they should be. The question is - netbook or tablet? Most people want tablets. Actually, no. Most people want the Apple iPad 2. But today I'm comparing the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with the Acer Aspire One Happy2. Which is right for you? Well, they're very different products but to put it quite frankly, the Aspire One is a computer and the Galaxy Tab is a toy. The Galaxy tab is almost twice the price, but it's gorgeous. The screen makes the iPad look dull and washed out. And the iPad makes the Acer screen look bad. The Galaxy Tab is simply stunningly beautiful. And it definitely is a lot more usable out of the box. Quite frankly, Windows 7 Starter is worthless trash. Ubuntu is a free, open source alternative operating system that runs great, however.

Which brings us to - what do you want to do? If your goal is to use the device as a computer, the netbook will be much more pleasing since it is a computer. It can visit most websites, do most things you expect from a computer. It's a little slow, but it works. I was just watching a TV show on Hulu. You're not going to do that on a Galaxy Tab - Hulu blocks Android devices (no Hulu Plus on the Tab either). Granted, the low-quality screen made it a less than perfect experience, but quite workable never-the-less.

Want all the cool tablet apps you see for iPad? You're not going to get them on a Galaxy Tab. Most of the great tablet apps are strictly iDevice only. Most Android Market apps on Honeycomb are blown-up phone apps. Meh, not worth it. Camera? The Tab is far better, but a modern smartphone camera puts either one to shame. Video watching? The Tab's screen is gorgeous, but Netflix is a low-quality blown up phone app (no Netflix on Ubuntu though to be fair), and Hulu doesn't exist. Which leaves YouTube. And YouTube looks beautiful on the Tab. But is it enough?

I don't think so, and that's the feeling that I repeatedly get when using the Galaxy Tab... not enough. The software isn't enough, the hardware's gorgeous. But if it's a pretty toy that doesn't do much, who cares? The Acer Aspire One is a powerful (for it's size and class) miniature computer. You have a keyboard and word processing software to write your next great novel on. You have a full keyboard. You have the full range of... being a computer. The Galaxy Tab's a fun toy. It's great for the right person. A non-techy person who mostly wants YouTube, email, and Google video chat. If that sounds like you... enjoy. I choose the full computer :)