[kdot]

Yep. 5 netbooks would cost $1500, less than half the cost of the iPads. The Roi is just over 1 year as apposed to 3 years with the Apple solution. Don’t get me wrong - i’m writing this on my new iPad, but for the money, the ipad is a luxury device. - not the most practical choice for government. Plus, a netbook won’t require a second computer to sync to.

[Dr. Sivana]

Yep. 5 netbooks would cost $1500, less than half the cost of the iPads. The Roi is just over 1 year as apposed to 3 years with the Apple solution. Don’t get me wrong - i’m writing this on my new iPad, but for the money, the ipad is a luxury device.

Speaking as a System Admin, I would warn against thinking that you are done with the Netbooks after you pay your $300. The target users (or their kids) are highly likely to mess up the configuration. Go with the iPad, cheaper in the long run. Also 10 hour battery time versus 2 hours.

[antiRepublicrat]

Yep. 5 netbooks would cost $1500, less than half the cost of the iPads. The Roi is just over 1 year as apposed to 3 years with the Apple solution.

The Netbook probably also requires training and security considerations, and the battery doesn't last as long. It's not really good as an e-reader, which is the apparent purpose. A netbook also isn't a brain-dead easy method of content delivery for computer-fearing old farts. And this case they can sync all five to the content producer's system and have all the docs ready.

For a better comparison, you could they should have used a Nook, but then that has a smaller screen and less storage as shipped. It even has a lower battery life, advertised 8 hours with Wi-Fi off vs. the iPad's 10 hours with it on. The iPad probably goes all day with no Wi-Fi and only light document reading.

[isthisnickcool]

The iPad is a killer device. No question about that. I have had piles of laptops and netbooks but hardly use them anymore because of my iPad. With something like iTAP RDP I can even hit Windoze machines remotely.

With that said netbooks would make more sense for a lot of reasons. Cost, ease of hooking up to hard lines, ease of printing, USB port for data loading, etc. Most politicians use these types of devices for more than just reading pdf files so having something that uses flash is good. At these types of meetings when you have people sitting behind a diaz having something up in front of you and somewhat fixed makes more sense. I would not like to see our city council folks or county commissioners fumbling around with a frisbee during meetings.

[itsahoot]

Yep. 5 netbooks would cost $1500, less than half the cost of the iPads

Yep those net books are flying off the shelves, the iPad is doomed. I say bring back mimeograph and indelible pencils.