If you’re like most people, the amount of computer hardware options available to you can become more than a little confusing. Do I want a laptop or a netbook? What is a netbook in the first place? What’s the difference between a laptop and a tablet and what the heck is a “convertible”? (Hint…it’s not a shinny sports car in the computer world). Hopefully the following discussion will give you a better understanding of the differences between these devices and which might be right for you.
Laptops – The traditional portable computer. Laptops have become drastically cheaper over the last five years and also become much more reliable. In addition, laptops generally are not very rugged and do not have screens made for outdoor use or visibility. However, many companies do make ruggedized laptops that are built like tanks and normally have sunlight readable displays, but they aren’t very cheap. A major advantage to a laptop is that it normally has a large screen (10″ – 17”) and a keyboard. Today, most laptops provide as much power and performance as an average desktop computer.
 Image courtesy of Dell, Inc. Netbooks – This is the latest craze and the cheapest portable computer you can currently buy. Netbooks are very small and meant to be extremely portable and have long battery lives. What this means though is they have reduced specifications across the board; smaller screens (7-11”), lower screen resolutions, less memory, less hard drive space, slower processors, etc. Netbooks are great for what their name implies, using the internet or for email. Beyond that you will probably run into some serious limitations, especially if you expect it to be your daily work machine. Generally netbooks are not very rugged either, so do not expect them to hold up too well in the field. If you do get a netbook make sure you get one with a default screen resolution of at LEAST 1024 x 768, anything smaller and you will be disappointed.
Tablets – The truly portable PC. Tablets are not new to the market but in the last few years have been gaining more steam and evolving into a viable solution if you need a portable PC. Tablets have really come into their own since the release of Windows VISTA and Windows 7. Tablets generally do not have a keyboard and just have a screen that supports a touch interface. A variation of this is what is often called a “convertible”. This means that the tablet does have a normal keyboard and can look like a normal laptop but the screen actually can be rotated so that the screen covers the keyboard and you can just use the touch screen and carry the device like a normal tablet. Tablets come in many shapes and sizes and ruggedized models are becoming more common – not to mention at more affordable prices. A tablet can provide all the features you need for outdoor use, if properly configured, and without breaking the bank in the process.
For my money, if I’m going to be doing a mixture of outdoor work and indoor work then the tablet style PC is the way to go.
Tags: Ag Leader, Ag Leader Technology, computer specs, farm computer, laptops, netbooks, precision agriculture, precision farming software, tablet computer
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In this article it is stated that “tablets have really come into their own since the release of Windows Vista and Windows 7″. While both Vista and Windows 7 have integrated far better tablet support than their predecessors, both have failed to be utilized in mainstream consumer tablets. Although running the full version of Windows does allow great compatibility for third-party software (such as Ag Leader’s), the hardware constraints generated by the operating system’s requirements render most Windows tablets insufficient or underpowered for many common tasks. In my opinion, a much better solution for a tablet’s operating system is one that has been built from the ground up to run on mobile devices. A tablet such as the iPad or one running Google’s Android operating system provide a much smoother experience than a standard Windows device. These tablets generally include all of the hardware found in the Windows variations and some even have built in GPS. Ag Leader has thus far chosen to create their software only for Windows and Windows Mobile. I believe they could create a better user experience if they ported their software to one of the aforementioned tablets and marketed it as the “premier agriculture device”.
Thanks for the comment Adam. I appreciate you reading our blog and the honest feedback provided. You raise some interesting points. One of the things Ag Leader keeps in mind is technology is always changing and improving. There are definitely pros and cons to any mobile device, tablet computer or otherwise.