There is a problem of plenty today, when it comes to choosing a brand new computer. The confusion is not just because of the range of laptop brands made available in the market, but also because of the different types of computing devices that have been launched. With devices like the Apple iPad launched in the market, which is a tablet computer, the confusion of the layman consumer has risen even higher. I came across many friends, colleagues and acquaintances, whose common question was ‘Should I buy an iPad or laptop computer?’. After having given the same speech on the iPad vs laptop comparison countless number of times, I decided to put it online in the form of this article! So keep reading ahead to get some sound advice which will help you decide on which is better – Apple iPad or laptop.

Which is Better – iPad or Laptop Computer?

To be honest, I was initially taken in by the hype surrounding the Apple iPad, being touted as a ‘Laptop Killer’. However, it quickly died down after I actually got to see and use it. When I saw what the Apple iPad was capable of, I thought comparing it with a laptop was a far cry! Don’t let the iPad vs laptop reviews fool you into believing that it is the next big thing which will replace laptops as it’s in no measure a substitute for a real laptop computer! Let me discuss some of the pros and cons of iPad.

Here are the prime features of the Apple iPad. It is a fact that this device has completely revolutionized the tablet computer range of devices, but it falls substantially short of being a laptop killer. With a 1Ghz Apple A4 processor and 256 MB DRAM and a maximum of 64 GB storage space, 9.7 inch multi touch screen, battery life offering 10 hours of video and bluetooth Wifi + 3G connectivity, it is one of the best tablet computers ever launched. It works best as an ebook reader and media player, but it’s not designed for serious computing.

For people who are used to operating keyboards on laptops, the switch over to a touch screen keyboard can be highly uncomfortable. The device is like a huge Apple iPod Touch, which performs poorly when it comes to multitasking. It has a slow processor and the 256 MB RAM does not help its cause. You have to pay separately for a bluetooth keyboard and it has no USB or SD card slot to use.

With these features, a Wifi + 3G enabled Apple iPad will cost you about $829! You can have all these features and more with a netbook or laptop computer, which costs less than half the price of the Apple iPad. For details about costing, refer to this article which talks about how much does an iPad cost.

Do I have to say anything more? Some of the best laptop computers and netbook computers provide high processing speed, multitasking ability, a comfort of usage and comparable battery life! I hope that you realize that making a choice between iPad or laptop for college is a no-brainer. If you are still confused, make a list of iPad vs laptop pros and cons, considering features and utility, to make a decision. For college use, I recommend that you get a laptop, which would certainly be the best choice.

Hope this article has made it eminently clear as to which is better – Apple iPad or laptop computer. As I already discussed before, the Apple iPad is highly overpriced, has the least amount of features, compared to a netbook computer or laptop computer and has a very limited range of applications. It makes me wonder why would anybody prefer an iPad to a laptop computer! To sum it all up, if you are looking for a costly toy to show off, get an Apple iPad, but if you need real functionality, go for a full scale laptop computer!