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The holiday season is approaching and there are just so many choices these days! Any time you are in the market for a new gadget, you will find that it may be overwhelming given the amount of devices you have to choose from let alone narrowing on the specific model once you have done so. It is impossible to cover everything in one article, so today we will narrow our focus to the netbook and the tablet.

Overview

Netbooks, a mini version of the laptop, have been on the market for a few years now and have been gaining steam with the increasing interest in smaller and more portable devices. Tablets on the other hand, are relatively new. Ever since Apple released the iPad, tablets have become a popular laptop/smart phone hybrid. They ditched the keyboard and feature a nifty touch screen display.

Netbooks

Netbooks were originally made with 18 cm (7 inch) screens but have since then expanded up to 25 cm (10.1 inch) screens and larger. They weight around 1.3 kg (3 lbs) and are built similarly to a laptop.

Why a netbook over a laptop?

Size and portability. Netbooks are great in the classroom. They don’t take up that much space and are easy to carry from class to class. They are a perfect gift for any college student. Its keyboard allows for fast typing, which makes it ideal for note taking and writing essays and reports.

Netbooks are also very power efficient. Its small display means it will not require the same amount of power a that a normal laptop would and will last longer in between charges. The typical battery life of a netbook will range from 7-11 hours with conservative use.

The price of a netbook will typically range between £155-£310 ($250-$500) which makes it an affordable 2nd computer or a cheaper alternative to a laptop.

Tablet PCs

The tablet was the first non-phone gadget to fully utilize touchscreen technology. The tablet PC ditched the keyboard in favor of a touchscreen disply. Tablet PCs measure in at around 20×25 cm (8×10 inches). It has the same width as your smart phone which makes it easy to slide in and out of your brief case or back pack. They weigh around .7 kgs (1.5 lbs) which make it even more portable that the netbook.

Why a tablet PC over a laptop?

Size, portability and function. The tablet is especially designed as an entertainment device. It can perform most of the functions that a laptop can, but will out preform the laptop in other areas thanks to its touch screen functionality. It preforms best when it comes to media and recreational use. It is very easy to surf the web and jump in and out of programs with a tablet PC.
The price of tablet PCs range from £185-£619 ($299-$1,000) or more. This, along with its lack of keyboard are the main disadvantages with the tablet.

Netbooks or tablet PCs?

Who wins?

It depends what the recipient will be using it for. If you are looking for a portable device to kill time, watch videos and play games, the tablet will be best. If you are looking for a classroom or work tool, the netbook is better suited for the job.

Regardless of the reason, either option would make great gifts this holiday season.

What will you be asking for this Christmas?