What to buy?

1. What to buy? Phone, iPad, tablet, notebook, desktop, workstation?

2. There are LOT’s of choices • TV Set Interfaces (AppleTV, Boxee, Roku, etc.) • Internet-Capable CellPhone • “SmartPhone” (iPhone, BlackBerry, etc.) • Tablets (traditional or iPad type) • Notebook (netbook, notebook, portable ws) • Desktop (allIn1, SFF, desktop, tower, ws) • eBook Reader (Kimble, Nook, etc)

3. TV set - Internet • First one was the Radio Shack “Color Computer”, which used a TV for a display. • WebTV devices came out, very limited functionality with a clunky interface. • Today – Samsung SmartTV, AppleTV, GoogleTV, Boxee Box, Roku – others – allow varying access to Internet browsing and streaming.

5. Usability • TV interfaces are not full-scale computers, do not even approach iPad type tablet in applications. They are primarily for watching such Internet-based media sources as Netflix, but most do offer basic browsing and a few apps.

6. Internet-capable CellPhone • This category includes cell phones that can connect to the Internet, but are not classed by the carriers as “smart-phones.” • This type device can be connected on an “ad-hoc” basis – charged by the megabyte instead of a monthly charge that includes a certain amount of download megabytes.

7. Example: LG VX5500

8. Usability • “Just a phone” with capability of browsing, and a few apps like calendar, address book, calculator. • Low-priced, don’t require an Internet connection, meet a certain need. • Frequently easier to operate – a “one-trick pony,” but the trick may be well done.

9. SmartPhone • These devices have more capability of added applications than basic cellphones. • Added – email, browsing, ability to purchase a multitude of applications for various purposes. • If you purchase one of these, the carrier normally REQUIRES that you subscribe to an online usage plan.

11. Usability • Primarily a phone, pocket-size, but can be used for email, browsing, and a lot of apps (vary by phone OS). • Require paying for monthly Internet access. • Browsing can be very slow – even the 3G systems are nowhere near broadband speed.

12. Tablets • Tablets come in two main categories: • The oldest is the tablet made by modifying a notebook computer to have a screen on top, usually with touch operation. Example: HP Slate. • More recent is the tablet design using a non-Windows or Mac interface, such as the iPad, HP TouchPad, Galaxy (Android OS).

13. Traditional Tablets

14. Usability • Mostly Windows or Mac OS based, can do pretty much anything that a notebook can do. • Optimized for use where user is constantly mobile. • Touch screen and other features generally result in higher cost than regular notebook.

16. Usability • These tablets do not run either Windows or Mac OS – applications are more like SmartPhone apps. Many of them are closed-systems (apps must be approved or cannot be installed). • Apps available tend to be what I’d call “Hollywood TV star” – lots of flash and show, but little real utility. • Limited storage. No printing.

17. Notebooks • Categories: first called “laptops,” now divided into notebooks, netbooks, and portable workstations. • Operating system: Windows (or Mac OS) (others such as Linux can be used). • “Netbook” implies a small and lightweight notebook, with no internal CD or DVD drive. • The first “netbook” came out long before the term – it was the Toshiba Libretto 20.

18. The Libretto 20 – summer of 1996. Processor 486 at 75 mHz, 8 meg RAM expandable to 20, oh – and Windows 95.

19. Current “Netbook”

20. Usability • Completely usable as a larger notebook, but easier to carry around. No internal CD or DVD. • Can be bought with WWAN (wireless wide-area network), but there is subscription monthly charge like a SmartPhone. • Can be attached to external devices, including large monitors, projectors, USB devices. • Most any program that will run on a notebook will run on a netbook.

21. Usability continued • Processors and entire system optimized for mobile usage and lower battery usage. However, these processors don’t have the sheer raw power of those in better notebooks and desktops.

23. Usability • Almost anything that can be done with a desktop or workstation can be done on a notebook. Exceptions involve support for many and multiple hardware devices that could be fitted into a large tower case. • Power and usability generally on a par with desktops. • In fact, the turning point happened a couple of years ago – more notebooks are sold than desktops in both the consumer and business market.

24. Desktops • Desktop Computers are made in different formats: • All in One • SFF (Small Form Factor) • Micro-Tower (mini-tower, tower) • Workstation (generally – more powerful, with high-end graphics for scientific and technical work).

26. Usability • The “all-in-1” devices are built right into the monitor housing, less “stuff” and cabling needed so they look better in a living room. • The SFF (small form factor) can even be mounted on a stand that also holds the monitor, they excel in lots of power in a small space. • The standard size micro- or mini-tower designs have more room for added devices (like a DVD reader and DVD writer for easier copying).

27. Usability - continued • The workstation is generally a large tower case, that can hold a lot of processor, memory, video capability for high end CAD, scientific, math, heavy-duty computing. • Most expandable of all systems.

28. eBook Reader • Specialized computer for reading electronic books. • Major ones include Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook • Software to read these books is also available for many smart-phones, net-books, tablets, notebooks, and desktops.

30. Usability • The eBook reader capability is also available as applications that run on SmartPhones, tablets, netbooks, notebooks, and desktop/workstations. • However, the eBook reader is optimized for convenient use in reading books, thin and lightweight, text-optimized screen, and is another “one-trick pony” that does that one trick well.

31. So, which one?????? • ‘Ya pays yer money, and ya takes yer choice. • Maybe more than one????? • You should now be better informed to make a choice that fits your own needs.

32. Content produced by Jim Cason Promised LAN Computing, Inc. 4703 Carolina Avenue Trent Woods, NC 28562 (252) 636-0407 • http://www.promlancomp.com