How do netbooks, tablets and smartbooks compare?

Thanks to a new breed of mobile devices, laptops are no longer the only--or even the best--mobile computing option for many users. Netbooks, tablet PCs and smartbooks bring many of the benefits of traditional laptops in seductively sleek, tiny and affordable packages. Ultra portable and quite affordable, each excels in different ways. In fact, CEA estimates that in 2010 nearly 80% of all computers sold will be mobile computers.  Here's a breakdown of each type:

Netbooks
Netbooks have evolved from miniature, no-frills, web-surfing machines to bonafide laptops with enough get-up-and-go for a lot of users. Walk the laptop aisle of your favorite consumer electronics retailer and you'll likely find netbooks sporting the same processors, operating system, memory and hard-drive storage as full-sized laptops. Conversely, you'll likely find the price of entry level laptops falling close to those of netbooks. The two are getting harder to differentiate in terms of features, performance and price.

The current line-up of netbooks offers lots of features for little money. For example, many come standard with built-in wireless N networking, two or more USB ports, 250GB or more of hard disk space and a full version of Windows 7. Though they won't have enough juice to fuel power-hungry programs like Photoshop or video editors, netbooks will run everyday productivity software like Outlook, Office and the like with few issues. Since it's likely the only one of the group with a traditional Windows operating system (OS), the netbook may be your only option if you need to install and run specific Windows-based applications.

Tablet PCs
Newcomers to the mobile computing scene, tablet PCs are completely changing the mobile computing experience. Currently dominated by Apple's iPad, a number of tablets are slated to hit shelves in the coming months, bringing more features and choices to the category.

At first glance, tablets look like oversized smartphones. They offer no built-in physical keyboard. All interaction, like typing and navigating, is done using a touchscreen. The flat, thin tablet design is the ideal size and weight for couch Web surfing, reading eBooks and watching movies and TV shows. Tablets can also double as a digital photo frame, rear-seat video player, or second monitor for your desktop PC--they're quite versatile.

Tablet PCs typically run on mobile operating system--as opposed to a traditional desktop OS used on netbooks and laptops--that makes booting them up and launching programs blazingly fast in comparison. The streamlined mobile OS also helps make them super efficient when it comes to power consumption, allowing tablets to offer between two and three times the battery charge cycle of many netbooks. One possible deal breaker for some users: you cannot run Windows desktop applications on a tablet. Tablets run "apps" specially designed to run on their mobile OS. While app versions of your favorite software may be available for your tablet, some are not. You'll definitely want to consider app availability before investing in a tablet PC.

Smartbooks
Smartbooks borrow features and design cues from netbooks and tablets. This up-and-coming class of mobile devices will offer the best features of both, such as a built-in keyboard, a touch screen interface, a laptop-like hinged case and a snazzy swiveling screen that converts it to a tablet when you want. Like tablets, most will likely run on a mobile OS and will run apps, not desktop software, available through an app store. Stay tuned as smartbook products begin to roll out late 2010 or early 2011.

Conclusion
With all the new mobile computing devices on sale and coming soon, you have more options than ever to be productive, stay connected and keep entertained on the go. Consider important factors such as size, design and operating system as you shop for the best solution for you.