Does Apple’s iPad spell the death of netbooks?

When Apple CEO Steve Jobs said that netbooks are no better at anything than laptops or smartphones, he was half right and half wrong. As we all know, netbooks are underpowered compared to 14-inch or 15-inch laptops. Of course they are portable, but not as much as a smartphone. However, they are better than an iPad in many ways.

The iPad is a 1.5 pound device intended for consuming digital media. Sure, you’ll find watching videos on a full-screen device more enjoyable than on a netbook with a keyboard. The iPad doesn’t have an e-ink display; it’s still better than netbooks for reading e-books.

But a computer as we know it is designed to both create and consume content. The iPad is good for the latter. What if you want to create content? Don’t we also need to send emails and create documents? Of course, the iPad has an onscreen keyboard. But many people prefer to use a physical keyboard than a virtual keyboard. And you’ll know why when you try to enter text using the on-screen keyboard with the tablet resting on a table. Your neck will start to hurt in no time.

To get around the problem, Apple offers a $69 keyboard dock with the iPad. But it will only work in portrait mode, which leaves you stuck with an unusual resolution of 768 x 1024 pixels.

Granted, netbooks are not the best devices for consuming media. But they are capable of doing everything a computer is supposed to do. Also, they are cheaper. The iPad starts at $499, while a standard netbook is now available for as little as $300.

Netbooks are also capable of multitasking; they are compatible with Adobe Flash and allow you to choose the operating system you want to run. They are also capable of running full desktop applications.

That said, the iPad is still usable, just not as much as Steve Jobs would like us to believe. It’s good for watching videos that don’t require Flash. (iPad does not support Adobe Flash). You can also use it to read eBooks, but not for long periods. The iPad doesn’t have an e-ink screen, and reading eBooks on a standard screen will tire your eyes after a while.