Is an iPhone Comparable to a Netbook?

When Apple invented the iPhone, they created a whole new way for consumers to look at simple activities such as talking on the phone, browsing the Internet, and listening to music. This is because the iPhone is the first mobile phone that has had all of these capabilities. While this is good news for consumers, is it necessarily good news for manufacturers of netbooks? It all depends on what the consumer thinks is better. So, which is it?

The newest version of the iPhone is the 3G, which holds a music player, an Internet connection with Wifi capabilities as well as the Safari browser, and of course, a phone. So with all of this that comes in a small lightweight package that can fit in the palm of your hand, wouldn’t this automatically be the hands-down winner? Not necessarily. A netbook has all of these capabilities as well, with built-in webcams that let you keep in touch with your friends and family, wireless capabilities and the ability to store and listen to music via built-in speakers. 

It’s true that a netbook is much larger than an iPhone however, because netbooks are designed with their compact size in mind, most usually aren’t much larger than a book. And for students who are already carrying around textbooks and notebooks, a netbook doesn’t seem like that much more to carry. This could be bad news for the iPhone as size was really the only thing it had over any netbook.

You may also think that an iPhone will be cheaper since really, it only has 3 platforms and with a netbook, you’re getting an entire machine. However, consider that most netbooks fall within the price range of £200 – £300 while the iPhone costs approximately £500 and you’ll quickly see where your money will be better spent.

Browsing on the Internet is also much easier with a netbook. With the iPhone, you only have the option of using Safari, which can have its limitations but with a netbook, you can easily use Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, or any other browser that you choose. However, consider also that with a netbook you will be typing on a QWERTY keyboard as normal and with the iPhone all you’ll get is the 3.5″ screen and again, netbooks will make it much easier. 

The only real advantage that an iPhone has over a netbook is that it will connect you to the Apps store, which will let you turn your iPhone into just about anything you want. But considering that you can also customize a netbook, this is still not much of an advantage. It’s clear that in every department, netbooks are a clear winner.