Choosing Between A Smartphone Or Netbook
The differences between a netbook and smartphone are getting increasing less as each new development is released. In fact, you will shortly have to look hard to spot these differences and then you will have a choice to make: one or the other. Which is best for you, and what factors should be considered in your choice?
The likely answer is neither of them will meet the needs of the other fully, and that these choice factors will best be met by what might be the ultimate amalgamation of the netbook and smartphone, whatever that might be.
When choosing between them and making a decision whether to purchase a netbook or smartphone you have several things to consider. Taking a very brief look at each, the smartphone is generally switched on since the battery will last days on one charge. That means no boot-up time and you are always ready to go. A netbook’s battery, however, lasts 3-4 hours, so you have wait until it boots up before you can use it – not much use for answering calls!
It should be pretty obvious that if your main use is going to be connected with office work and/or if you are going to be browsing the internet frequently rather than just now and again, then the netbook will be more appropriate for you. You can easily purchase an inexpensive pay-as-you-go cell phone for your ordinary calls, and your netbook for prearranged business calls.
Quite frankly, the netbook or smartphone decision boils down to this. If your phone is predominantly used as just that, and you also use the internet occasionally and a few of the other apps, then go for the smartphone. If you do a lot of browsing or writing letters and notes, or perhaps you have to use spreadsheets and databases on the go, then choose the netbook with a cheap cell phone for your calls.
If you don’t go that way, then you will not get the best use out of either. It is far better to have two devices that meet your needs exactly than one that is a compromise and offers you only partial functionality for your total needs. If you already have a smartphone, then get a netbook as well, and you can always sell or change your smartphone for a less expensive alternate cell phone. If you have a notebook, then forget the smartphone – all you need is the same inexpensive PAYG that you can top up when needed.
It should not be too long before current technology in roll-out screens and keypads, as are available in some e-readers, will extend to smartphones, and then the netbook will become redundant and obsolete. However, that day is not yet here and when it happens will likely depend upon the perceived future of the netbook by their makers. It is likely that one or the other will disappear in the form of an amalgamate device with the speed of a smartphone and the mobile office functionality of a netbook.
A roll-out screen and keyboard will take care of the office side of the notebook, and it can all be slotted into a slightly bulkier version of current smartphones such as the iPhone. It will come, but until then use the advice above. There is still no device that can adequately work both as an instantly-available phone and as a functional portable computer.
Robert Mann supervises business technology products for a Fortune 500 firm. He has built an online application for finding best products by sales rank located at http://www.BestProductSpy.com. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service