Why netbooks will always outsell tablets

Apple’s iPad will always be more desirable than a Dell Inspiron, but when it comes to getting work done its obvious which one you’d rather have at your side, says John Hillman

We in the tech world seem to love nothing more than watching a Darwinian struggle between rival forces. Whether it’s PCs versus Macs or Flash versus HTML5, we just can’t resist choosing sides and baying for blood. It’s my firm belief that all tech geeks are descended from medieval bear baiters.

Apple Innovation

Unsurprisingly Apple features quite a lot in these bloodthirsty battles – which is testament to its incredible innovation over the last 15 years. So it is hardly surprising that it’s latest game-changing product, the iPad, is the driving force behind the latest punch up – but I have to say I think it’s one it isn’t really going to win.

There’s much discussion about the way Tablets will change computing, and there’s little doubt that they already have. But expecting them to somehow replace the PC, and the netbooks in particular, seems a stretch too far for me.

CES 2011 is Tablet time

Ok so Apple has sold three million iPads in the last few years, and next January CES, the Consumer Electronics Show, will unveil more jealous rivals than Shakespeare could have ever stomached. Already we’ve seen the Dell Streak make a noble charge at the beast, if not exactly landing anything that resembles a killer blow. Many more young hopefuls are being hurriedly prepared to enter the fray.

Netbooks matter most

But in that time over 85 million people have gone out and bought a netbook. Why? Because most people favour price, portability and practicality over a nice shiny toy and until Apple and everyone else manages to convince us otherwise that’s the way it’s going to stay. Could I write this article on an iPad? Maybe. Do I really want to type on a touchscreen? Nah.

Netbooks bring the Internet and the power of computing to the masses, they bring the freedom to work remotely to people who previously had to go to the office or an Internet Café just to check their emails. Tablets are cool, fun things to play with, great multimedia devices for the world’s affluent minority. They’re the tech world’s show pony, but most of us still wake up every day in need of a reliable work horse.

Image Credit: dpstyles™