If you're unsure about which device best suits you check out this article which highlights the pros and cons of both.

Alternatively you may want to plump for the best of both worlds and get yourself a hybrid device.

So what has the hybrid market got to offer?

The Lenovo IdeaPad was the first hybrid on the market - it looks good and has a smooth metamorphosis action which converts the device from a netbook to a tablet. It's 11.6 inches in size and features a detachable tablet screen. When the screen is locked in - netbook style - it runs Windows 7  with an intel core duo processor. When the screen is detached the tablet offers a qualcomm snap-dragon power with multi-touch screen, it runs the Lenovo Linux  Skylight OS and has 16GB of storage. The tablet has 3G connectivity which can also be used in netbook form to get online; in netbook form it has built in wifi. The best bit is all data will be synchronized when the tablet is reattached to form the netbook - Very Smart!

Dell's hybrid device is the Dell Inspiron Duo - the name is fancy and the design which allows you to flip the screen 180 degrees and click it into place to either form a netbook or tablet is certainly an innovative and smooth invention. However the Inspiron Duo doesn't have a great ability as a stand alone tablet device as the touch screen interface (Windows 7 Home Premium Touch) is unpredictable and slow in comparison to the Android and ipad touch interfaces. And with only a 4 cell battery the Duo isn't great for portable use - the battery isn't detachable either.  On the upside the Duo constantly runs on Windows 7 with an intel core processor and the screen resolution is superb at 1366 x 768. The keyboard is very easy to type on even though it is slightly smaller than a standard one  (95% of full sized keyboard). The Dell Duo is the nicest looking hybrid but not the best device for overall performance.

For a different take on the Hybrid device check out the Toshiba Libretto W105; unlike the other models which convert from a netbook/notebook to tablet - offering a 'real' keyboard and mouse button combination - the Libretto is kind of like two tablets hinged together, picture a book type device but replace the pages with touch screens. Toshiba categorize this unique [slightly bizarre] device as a dual-screen laptop [?] as the bottom half of the device is fitted with a 7" touch screen - the same as the top. The Libretto runs on Windows 7 with a speedy processor.  The additional 7" screen (where the physical keyboard is usually found) is multipurpose: it could be used as a second screen or to extend the primary screen; additionally you can type on it with one of several of Toshiba's virtual keyboards. Both screens have identical 1024 x 600 resolutions and support a capacitive touch interface, similar to iphone, which allows you tap instead of press. Other features include 1 usb port and a headphone jack; you can connect to Wifi too and there is also a web-cam.  It's a little short on storage for such an expensive product with just 64GB SSD. This isn't my kind of device at all - it's clam-shell like appearance and lack of keyboard is this writers idea of a nightmare. Although the processor is fast it lets you know about it with noisy fans which seem to unrelentingly whir in the background. This is a peculiar product which I struggle to see as having mass-market appeal.

Fianlly back to the relatively normal hybrid device the HP EliteBook 2740p. The EliteBook is a sturdy solid device and it would be ideal in a professional, business environment. Thanks to its Core i5 (or Core i7) processor it is probably the most powerful and responsive hybrid on the market. It has fanastic battery life and a full size keyboard [love it!]. It's made from scratch resistent aliminium and although it is not very sleek or chic in appearance it has a certain robust charisma. At 3.9 lbs it's pretty light for a laptop hybrid but heavy when compared to netbooks and tablets. The 12" screen swivels 180 degrees to cover (tablet form) or expose the keyboard (laptop form). The EliteBook also features a digitized pen, which is stored in the back of the model, the pen allows users to take advantage of the Windows 7 handwriting application - very cool and quirky; not sure how useful it really is though. The device features 3 usb ports, 4GB of RAM, 12" touch screen, and a whopping 250GB of storage! It may not be the prettiest hybrid but it definitely has its place on the business market - I give it a thumbs up.

Happy Hybrid Hunting!

Here are a few hints which will hopefully assist you with your netbook purchase

Value for Money?

While Netbooks have come down in price the cheapest model will not necessarily be the best option for your needs. Think about what you are going to be using it for; do you really need a 120GB hard drive if you’re just using it for surfing the net? Alternatively is this going to be the main device you work from – if the answers yes then a larger hard drive should be a priority.

Does Size Matter?

Well you’ve obviously chosen to purchase a netbook because you want something more compact and portable than your home PC or a standard notebook. But again I would say think about what you’re buying it for and consider how much time you will spend on it. The smaller models – or rather the smaller screens – may give you aches and pains from ill posture if your stooping to view the screen content; or you may find them frustrating if you are using them for long periods of time for content creation.

Also think about the size of the keyboard – they are a lot smaller than standard keyboards with new tricks and shortcuts to learn. If you have agile nimble fingers then the netbook keyboard shouldn’t take long to master; however if you aren’t the most graceful typist you may want to hook up an external full size keyboard via usb.

Light Weight!

If you are literally going to be taking your netbook everywhere with you and you’re constantly on the move then the fact netbooks are a lot lighter than most laptops is definitely a pro however think about what you are sacrificing to gain the light weight device e.g. a DVD/CD drive – most netbooks just have a usb connection. The netbooks lack of a disk drive will also be important to consider when you are installing or transferring software – you may need to go on the internet to find (and sometime purchase) drivers.

Operating Systems

When I first went virtual netbook window shopping on the web I was surprised by the variation in netbook prices but as I read the different specs I quickly realized the price depended on the size of the hard drive, the RAM and the operating system. Some netbooks run on a Linux OS, it may take time to become familiar with this OS and Linux will be frustrating for users who normally work on Windows. A Linux OS may be cheaper but I would personally recommend Windows; however again it depends on the user and what the netbook will be used for.

Battery Life

Again this depends on the usage of the computer; but netbook battery life varies widely from 2-3 hours right up to 8 hours. Check this out before you buy. Some manufacturers offer several different batteries so you can decide which spec is for you.

Finally I would like to add that if you are going to purchase your netbook in a store do not let the sales assistant talk you into buying if you’re not sure; remember no matter how nice they are they’re probably on commission. If you are unsure and don’t want to buy there and then go home and do a little research or come back with a friend or family member who can offer you some advice and support.

In the quick guide the main differences between the two are outlined but this article will explain in a little more detail the purpose that both Tablets and Netbooks serve.

Essentially Netbooks are better for content creation while Tablets enhance content consumption.

You may not be surprised to learn that the average person will spend 75% of their computer time consuming content; whilst spending just 25% creating it. So, if you put it down to statistics most people would be best suited to a tablet - but what happens when one wants to compose a long email or write an essay;  would a netbook be the best choice then?

People appreciate the compact nature of netbooks but when it comes to consuming content the tablet is the optimal device. In terms of  portability the tablet is slightly superior to the netbook, mainly due to the fact that they are essentially just a touch screen, and it is this straight forward touch screen interface that has made consuming media and online content simpler and more responsive than ever before. Your online life is instantly accessible - Facebook, Twitter, blogs, ebooks, movies, games, apps - are all literally at your finger tips. The flexibility of tablets suggest they could become an integral part of everybody's digital lifestyles but it is important to mention here that the presence of tablets will never defunct the need for desktops or laptops when it comes to serious content creation or heavy content management.

According to market research and some industry professionals the demand for netbooks has already peaked and customers are now becoming preferential toward tablets and the new hybrid models such as the Lenovo Ideapad. However it is difficult to make any sweeping generalisations about future sales as the ipad and other tablets are very much the new kids on the technology block and faddy behaviours along with celebrity endorsements may wain in the future.

Yet, when it comes to users whose priority is online consumption on a light, portable, responsive device the tablet may win out. Our constantly developing digital lifestyles mean that our dependency on access to content is growing - this is where tablets come into their own enabling users to access their online lives anytime, anyplace, anywhere - My friend insists on carrying his ipad everywhere and by that I mean from the sofa to the kitchen, he even takes it to the bathroom!

Touch screen technology and the emergence of the tablet along with smartphones has changed the way we think about computers and their role in our life.

For laptop lovers who can afford to splash out on other gadgets a tablet may be a quirky supplementary device but it will never be viewed as a PC substitute. As a writer I will always prioritise a netbook or laptop over a tablet - It's all about the keyboard for me and dabbing away on a touch-pad-keyboard just doesn't cut the mustard in my opinion. Yet the tablet may prove to be a vital device for individuals who for one reason or another are not computer literate - whether that be through a medical condition or just lack of education - the tablet's simple user interface allows anyone to browse online content in the simplest and most direct way.

So, the netbook wins the war in my house but the tablet is undoubtebly going to hold its place in the market, and quite rightly too.

Perhaps the hybrid can convince me...

Check out the quick guide below to see which category you fit into then you can confidently go and purchase the right device for your needs.

NETBOOKS:

Best For...

• Email
• Medium to Heavy Content Creation
• Surfing the Net
• Academic Work
• Keyboard Related Tasks - writing, composing emails and reports, spread sheets, etc.
• Familiar PC Operating System (Usually Windows)
• Light Weight
• Good Portability

Would Suit...

People whose time on the computer involves content management or creation. And someone who needs a keyboard to complete their work. Perfect for anyone wanting an ultra light and compact version of their desktop.

TABLETS:

Best For...

• Reading Ebooks
• Watching Movies
• Playing Games
• Using Apps
• Surfing Media Content Online
• Accessibility - Touch Screen Interface
• Extreme Portability
• Light Weight

Would Suit...

People who want extreme portability from a speedy, responsive gadget with a simple, high accessibility interface. Ideal for someone with low content creation needs who wishes to enhance their content consumption.

Happy Gadget Hunting...

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