Strategic technology choices can make a difference in both the money you spend and the equipment you select. Sometimes the marketing hype overrides the real needs we are working to satisfy.
A case in point; Apple has mounted a very persuasive marketing campaign for the iPad. I really like how it operates and the apparent simplicity of the hardware. However, the iPad’s strength is in content consumption and not content creation. I am seeing a number of keyboard accessories come on the scene and people appear to be purchasing them. Now when you add a separate keyboard to the iPad you now have two pieces of hardware that can cost more than a more powerful laptop or netbook.
I am interested in creating content for this website and the Texbiker.net bicycling blog. For this my HP netbook is far better and the cost was a $75 less than the basic iPad without the keyboard. Add a $100 keyboard and the difference is even worse.