- The netbooks changed the laptop market forever in terms of price.
- The iPad has by far the best screen than any other existing device.
- The Macbook Air is one of the lightest laptops and with the highest battery life.
So a lot of people ask me what should I buya netbook, an iPad or a Macbook Air?
Can I work on an iPad?
The iPads and their apps are evolved enough to allow us to do some “serious†work: word processing, spreadsheets and presentations.
Many people work almost exclusively with an internet browser (on a web app) or via email. So, unless your life doesn’t depend of systems like AutoCAD or Photoshop, or if you do complicated things with a specific app that isn’t available for iPad, or you work in 3D, is very likely that you can use an iPad to work.
In fact, if your job depends on something like this, a netbook won’t do it for you either. It just doesn’t have the necessary power.
What if I buy another tablet?
The only other table that I recommend is the Kindle, to read.
An iPad for less
A good option to get an iPad for less is to get a previous model on Amazon. It’s almost as good and you may get it for $100 less.
The best netbook
I’m not a big fan of netbook. I think they’re kind of underpowered. Having said that, I think that the Acer Aspire One is the best netbook. With a 320GB hard drive and a battery life of 8 hours (actual: 5-6) it’s not bad deal for less than $300.
MacBook Air and another alternative
The MacBook Air is the best laptop that you can buy in any category. Unbeatable quality and durability for the price. There’s no HP, Lenovo, Dell or Sony machine that comes near it. Also, the chances that you get a virus on a Mac are slim, so you have the benefit of spending less money on antivirus software.
And you can install Windows on it.
If you want an alternative to a Macbook Air with Windows, I recommend the Asus Zenbook.
What about a cheaper laptops that are not netbooks?
The truth is that it’s very difficult to manufacture a good computer for less than $500. There’s no magic solution or special manufacturer. All computers are made in the same factories in China and the price difference comes from the quality of its components and its guarantee. If you use a laptop to work, I recommend you invest in your work tool as if it really was your work tool.
To sum up:
Get a netbook if:
- You have less than $500.
Get an iPad if:
- You already have a laptop
- Your work doesn’t depend on using an intensive app.
I recommend you buy a good case and a good keyboard for iPad (or a good case with keyboard!). That way you’ll have almost a full laptop.
Get a MacBook Air if:
- You want a new laptop
- You need to use Photoshop or any other application that requires more computing power.
