Smartphones
The simple flip phone is long gone, and this new breed of super-phones now completely dominates the cell phone market. With connectivity speeds increasing with each new model, mobile devices offer exactly what young people want – an instant connection to everything and anything online in the palm of their hand. It is the most compact of all devices. There are models ranging from two-five inch screens. For those who don’t want a massive brick in their pocket, there are smaller models out there (many Motorola-made phones are more compact). The obvious downside to a smartphone is limited website use. Many sites (besides Facebook and Twitter) are still not formatted for mobile, so the user is either unable to view certain sites, or the connection is slow to load and navigate. Another factor to consider is that they are expensive, the data plans for phone companies are even more costly. They need to be upgraded multiple times which can add to the cost as well.
Who should get it?: While it is no replacement for a computer, smartphones are a great option for those who only care about getting online to tweet fifty times a day, or basically using any other social media and news sites. Also, it is by far the best option for anyone who needs help keeping track of their hectic schedule.
Tablets
The most recent addition to the mobile family, tablets, are best described as something in between the functionality of a smart phone and a laptop. Tabs such as the Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy and the Motorola Xoom are all popular tablet options. While they’re not exactly pocket sized, tablets are very convenient for travel. The smallest devices have screen widths around seven inches and the biggest screens around 10 inches. All are solely touch screen devices, but some have separate keyboards available for purchase (such as the iPad), so for those who want a real keyboard, fear not. A major con of most tablets is the lack of a USB port and SD card slots. This means it is incapable of connecting to things like MP3 players, non-wireless printers, or camera memory cards (for all you shutterbugs out there). Common programs like Microsoft Word are also not usable on tablets. Another common issue is that some cannot install programs such as Adobe Flash, which is required to view many websites and downloads online. This can also cause limited functioning for more elaborate websites without a mobile format.
Who should get it?: Tablets are great for anyone who doesn’t rely on owning a computer to do projects or documents, or just wants a simplistic version of a laptop that’s fast to use.
Netbooks
The netbook has recently become a popular computer choice, but it is hardly recognized as its own category because it is so similar to the laptop. Essentially it is a laptop, only smaller. It has the same basic functions, capabilities and the familiar design of a laptop. With a screen size from around 10-12 inches wide, compared to the typical 15 inch laptops, netbooks such as the Acer Aspire One and Dell Inspiron Mini are both size effective and cost effective choices. The most expensive netbooks are priced around $500, while a laptop can easily cost $1300 or more. So, with such a huge price gap, there must be some sacrifice in capabilities, right? Unfortunately, there are a few setbacks. One of the most annoying fall backs is the lack of an internal hard drive. What this means is that there is little to no internal storage space, limiting the programs that can be stored on the computer. Also, while it does run the most common processors such as Microsoft Word, some of the specialty programs like Photoshop cannot be installed or won’t completely function on a netbook.
Who should get it?: A netbook is perfect for anybody who is college-bound and just needs the basic functions of a laptop for their studies. It’s smaller and easier to carry around and fits the tight budget of a student.