iPad FAQ: iPad Laptop, Which is Better for My Travel Schedule? Part 1

Posted Jul 2, 2010 at 6:33AM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: iPad FAQs Tags: apple

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Before we begin: yes, I know there are plenty of different laptops and Netbooks on the market with varying weights, displays, and features. For this FAQ series, we will discuss them in general terms in the name of simplicity. Which is easier to tote around? The iPad or Laptop/Netbook? This one is pretty easy to answer. The laptop is ideal in terms of its portability. The iPad weighs around 1.6 pounds, which is extremely light. It also has the tablet form factor and is only half an inch thick. You would be hard pressed to find a powerful computing device that is this small and streamlined. Netbooks are touted for their portability, but usually weigh in the neighborhood of 3 pounds, which is about twice that of an iPad. Their displays also hover in the size range of the iPad's 9.7-inch screen, to give you an idea of their dimensions. Laptops are the biggest and heaviest of the bunch, with displays usually around 13-16 inches on average, and weights around 5 pounds. They are usually thicker too, as you have to account for the keyboard. For this question, the iPad is much easier to tote around. Out of the iPad and Laptop/Netbook, which has the advantage in battery life? When traveling, you don't want your device to die on you. Since you will likely be away from an electrical outlet, battery life is essential. The iPad is quite strong in terms of battery life. Apple claims that it can provide 10 hours of usage when charged, even if you are doing more intense tasks like enjoying multimedia. Whether that figure is entirely true depends on the user, as many times manufacturers fudge numbers a bit, especially in the battery life characteristic. Netbooks usually have great battery life too, thanks to less powerful processors, but their performance is not the greatest and are intended mostly for basic computing. Some Netbooks can provide around 10 hours of battery life or more. Laptops, due to their size and sometimes performance-hungry processors, can dole out usually 2-4 hours of battery life, depending on their exact specs. Of course, you can always bring a spare battery along, but that is just more cargo and clutter. In the battery life department, let's say the iPad and Netbook are similar, with the laptop running in the rear. More comparisons are coming up next in part 2 of this series...

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