The iPad

As you may have heard already, Apple is releasing a brand new tablet device unfortunately named the iPad. Steve Jobs is touting this new piece of hardware as �magical� as it will attempt to compete with reading devices such as the Amazon Kindle as well as the ever popular Netbook PC.  Let�s go ahead and throw out any fanboy loyalty we may have for either system and take a completely objective and unbiased look at the pros and cons of the iPad in comparison to its competition.

iPad: �Hi, I�m an iPad.�

Netbook: �And I�m a Netbook.�

iPad: �I can only run one program at a time, if you want to view pictures, or type out a grocery list�you have to stop listening to music or surfing the web.�

Netbook: �I don�t have that feature��

iPad: �I can watch movies as long as they are downloaded wirelessly or synced through a computer and will fit on my 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash memory (btw, we charge you $100 more for each memory upgrade).�

Netbook: �I can use an external DVD drive to watch DVD movies and have unlimited storage space by way of external hard disk drives. The high end Netbooks have as much as 320 GB internal storage with the average being over 100 GB.�

iPad: �I can stream YouTube videos by way of the YouTube app�but don�t have support for flash on web pages.�

Netbook: �Whoa�really? So no Hulu, no flash games like Kitten Canon or Farmville? No blip.tv embeds? No flash based web animation? You do realize that 97% of what�s cool on the internet requires flash right?�

iPad: �Ahem, moving on�I have an on screen keyboard that has no tactile  feedback and takes up half of the screen.�

Netbook: �I come with a real keyboard built in.�

iPad: �I have access to the Apple App Store�which can already be obtained with the iPhone.�

Netbook: �I can install and run real programs with full feature sets that aren�t limited to the fact that I�m an iPad.�

iPad: �I have no external connection ports except for a 30-pin proprietary USB connection used for syncing and charging.  So I can�t attach any peripherals unless they are specifically designed for me.�

Netbook: �I can use practically any USB peripheral, and often have VGA ports and memory card readers.�

iPad: �I have up to 10 hours of battery life.�

Netbook: �Depending on the model, I can get up to 15 hours of battery life.�

iPad: �My cheapest model costs $499.�

Netbook: �I average around $300.�

iPad: �I have the apple logo on my back.�

Netbook: �I definitely don�t have that��

iPad: �I have a 9.7� backlit display so when you�re reading it�s like staring at a computer monitor.�

Netbook: �You know the Kindle has the same size display but it is specially designed to look like paper and be gentle on the eyes without glare.�

iPad: ��I�m like an iPhone, but bigger so that you can�t carry me around in your pocket and without the Phone part.�

Netbook: �So basically you�re telling me that you�re not useful as a cell phone, a laptop or a reading device?�

iPad: �No, I couldn�t possibly be saying all three of those things, that would be multitasking and I can�t do that.�