Smartphones vs netbooks vs tablets - which is best for you?

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Tablet PCs and netbooks are designed to run like notebook computers, so are much more adept at running more than one program or app at any one time.

Processor speed is the main gripe in this game though. You can expect much higher speeds with both tablets and netbooks, plus a full processor – whether you opt for Intel, ARM or any other processor, it’s sure to be faster than a smartphone, offering speeds up to 1.4GHz.

Storage

Capacity is another issue. Sure, Nokia has always been excellent at bolstering memory so you can store every document you’ve ever written, in addition to music and video, but other smartphones have a long way to go until they will pack the same storage as netbooks. They may have the bonus of microSD card slots for extra hot-swappable memory, but even this will only boost storage by up to 32GB.

Tablets and netbooks are much better suited to those who need storage. Not only is the built-in storage much larger - up to 320GB as standard - you also have the choice between solid state or ATA. SSD may be more robust, but also 10 times as expensive and generally smaller in capacity.

Price

As a general rule of thumb, tablets are more expensive than netbooks, although you won’t always have to empty your piggy bank to get in on the action.

There are options to suit all budgets – whether you opt for the more sober with a tablet like the consumer-friendly Eee PC T-91M at around £350, or you go all out and opt for a more fully featured device such as the Fujitsu Stylistic ST6012 – which is almost £1,400 without any upgrades - is up to what you require from working on the move.

What you pay for where Fujitsu is concerned is the 12.1-in touch screen display with integrated e-ink technology to make handwriting recognition a breeze. Asus’ cheaper option is less powerful and uses a conventional resistive touch panel, including a full hardware QWERTY keyboard for speedy text entry.

However, the tablets that have been on the market have not reached their full potential thus far. Thankfully, the dawn of the tablet has now arrived, thanks to compact devices such as the iPad.

With technology evolving so quickly, there’s no stopping the portable technology sector. Netbooks are the best featured at the moment, and provide an excellent choice for those who need access to full laptop features in a small form factor.

Tablets however, are catching up. Soon, there won’t be the day where these three devices co-exist so happily. Instead, they will merge to make a fully featured, fully functional hybrid device where connectivity is key.

Windows 7 has brought a whole load of extra features to the table, taking advantage of its multitouch support, but these notebook-like devices are generally more expensive, with super-powered processors needed to run them.

Maybe the answer lies in operating systems such as the Linux-based Maemo or Google Android, although these platforms need a boost before they have the same capabilities as a netbook.

Until that day, the choice is yours. Do you want a compact device to slip in your pocket, an always-on device that uses downloaded apps to do everything you want it to do at the expense of little power and a small screen? If so, choose the smartphone option.

Do you opt for the mid-point? A device with the optional keyboard, larger touch screen and fuller OS. If you do, a tablet may be more your thing. But if you’d rather have a compact, fully functioning netbook and could never imagine using a touch screen for virtual text entry – whether using your handwriting or otherwise - a netbook is better suited to your needs.

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