iPad

iPad

Purpose:
The iPad, which has been commonly referred to as a tablet, is a slate. The slate’s functionality is great for consuming media. Slates are mid-size, touch-screen devices similar to tablets but lacking a physical keyboard and swivel screen.

Details:

The iPad will run some new applications plus iPhone apps; include 16, 32, and 64 GB versions; have a 1 GHz processor; and carry 3G mobile access for an additional cost.

Products:

iPad, plus a few other slate possibilites showcased at CES by Hewlett-Packard and Asus

Drawbacks:

Some users find it hard to type on touch-screen keyboards, although the iPad has a dock for users to connect a separate keyboard

Tablets

tablets

Purpose:

The tablet allows users to both create and consume content. Typing and editing on the keyboard is more efficient that using touch alone. The mid-size screen makes the tablet portable but offers users a bigger, clearer view of material than a smartphone can.

Details:

The touch-screen computer — unlike the slate– comes with a keyboard. The LED color screen falls between smartphone and laptop size. Tablets usually have a swivel screen that can click into a flat shape

Products:

Lenovo ThinkPad x200, Asus EEE PC T91, HP EliteBook 2730p, HP TouchSmart tx2z, Dell Latitude XT2

Drawbacks:

Some experts say that if the tablet hasn’t caught on yet, it never will. It’s not a “must-have” because it’s less portable than a smartphone and less useful than a laptop

E-readers

eReaders

Purpose:

Users can carry around a portable library with this device and turn pages with a simple touch. Books, newspapers and magazines are downloaded or sent wirelessly to the device. Users can highlight passages and make notes, and your spot is always save.

Details:

Feature, depending on the product, can include non-glare screens, a read-to-me feature, adjustable text size and wireless 3G coverage.

Products:

Kindle, Sony Reader, Nook, eDGe, iRex Digital eBook Reader, COOL-ER, Astak EZ Reader, Cybook, iLiad, Plastic Logic Que, to name a few

Drawbacks:

E-readers’s function is specific to reading e-books, newspapers, magazines and documents but not much else.

Netbooks

netbook

Netbook are mini computers that are smaller than the standard laptop and generally less expensive. They are best used for general computing, e-mail and Internet access. They are more powerful than a smartphone but don;t have the power of a full computer.

Details:

Features can vary, but most netbooks have 10-inch screens, 1 to 2 GB of memory and 160 GB of hard drive storage

Makers:

Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, MSI, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, Velocity Micro

Drawbacks:

Netbooks are ideal fo on-the-go users who are not doing anything that nees a lot of horsepower. The keyboards are 80 to 90 percent smaller that those of standard laptop keyboards, and typically there are no CD or DVD drives.

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