iPhone or Netbook -- Poll & Reasons Why

Which do you prefer?

  • iPhone

    Votes: 11 61.1%

  • Netbook

    Votes: 7 38.9%
  • Total voters
    18
  • Poll closed .
Rob Schaffer

Rob Schaffer

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Looking for the reasons why I should get either an iPhone or a Netbook. I want something to look up flight weather and airport information, check the internet for POA / AOPA / etc. Access to flight planning such as the AOPA internet flight planner. Easy to pack and take with me on a trip or in my flightbag.

Currently, I've been leaning towards the iPhone as I can have connection to the web anyplace to update weather etc if I have to land temporarily at an airport without WiFi active. Also, seems to have a lot of good apps for flying. Consolidates so much infomation directly to my fingertips.

The Netbooks are handy devices too, and I can do all the flight planning I want and visit the POA regularly,... provided I have WiFi nearby. Initially, these seem to be a lower overall cost, but reviews also have been that they are limited in their capabilities for installing software and in their use.

So, before I run off in a direction and spend the money, I want to make sure it will work best for me. I have a phone that works fine, but I'm not under contract. We have a laptop at home, but my desktop just died / fried, which is what I was using mainly for flight planning and studying.

So, can you provide insight on what you find more useful if you have them, and general comments.
 
If you get only one, iPhone.

No netbook grabs me (yet.) I want a higher res screen (on both.)

I'll want the new Macbook Touch, assumming it'll be a Macbook Air touch screen tablet.
 
I've used the iPhone several times to file flight plans, check weather, etc. while in the car on the way to the airport (of course, that requires someone else driving). Also very handy when you land somewhere that doesn't have WiFi, as you mentioned. I have attempted to use Blackberries and just haven't been able to get a hang of using aviationweather.gov or fltplan.com on it. Maybe it's just me.

Laptops are cheap, though, and it doesn't take much to have a laptop that can hop on the internet. The best solution is to get a phone that you can surf the web with and also tether to your laptop. I seem to recall the iPhone won't do tethering, but the Blackberry will. You might want to look into that.

For what it's worth, I'm figuring that I want an iPhone, but I want to wait until I can get one through Verizon. They're my current carrier and I'm happy with their service.
 
mikea said:
If you get only one, iPhone.

No netbook grabs me (yet.) I want a higher res screen (on both.)

I'll want the new Macbook Touch, assumming it'll be a Macbook Air touch screen tablet.
Click to expand...
Ditto.

I also happen to be in the know that there are some really cool netbooks getting ready to come out. They will truly be netobooks in that they will contain internal ability to use more than just WiFi to access the Internet.
 
There are a few netbooks out right now that use Verizon's internet service.

Anything you can do to avoid being locked into AT&T is worth it, even for the coveted iPhone.
 
SkyHog said:
There are a few netbooks out right now that use Verizon's internet service.

Anything you can do to avoid being locked into AT&T is worth it, even for the coveted iPhone.
Click to expand...
What I am talking about will not lock you into AT&T nor is it slow cellular service. There are already a handful of WiMAX laptops out there. I was talking with some guys from Lenova, Toshiba, and Dell a few weeks ago and they were telling me what is coming out in the next several months. Nice stuff. I am not under NDA so I don't mind telling you that there is stuff soon to be out there.
 
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I've had Cingular,.. now AT&T since i first got my cell phone 7 years ago... never had any trouble with them.
 
Rob Schaffer said:
I've had Cingular,.. now AT&T since i first got my cell phone 7 years ago... never had any trouble with them.
Click to expand...
That is not what Nick is infering. There are some serious netork capacity issues with AT&T from their deployment of the iPhone. It is causing them to handle data is some interesting manners. You can do a search on Google and see some of it.
 
I've got a cell phone for talking. Verizon. Moto world phone (CDMA + GSM).

Bought a netbook (ASUS EEEpc) earlier this year for our trip to Europe and the near east. The netbook offers a 160 GByte hard drive and USB ports so I could download pictures from the cameras each day. Instant back-up. WiFi access and we could take care of e-mail. Given than I filled a 4 GByte memory card and was well into the 8 GByte card that followed in my DSLR and my wife filled the 1 GByte card and was well into the 2 GByte card we bought on the cruise for her point and shoot, I don't think an iPhone would have been a viable back-up device for the cameras.
 
I have a Netbook (and EvDO card). And a company laptop. And 2 Blackberries. And desktops.

Each serves a different role.

I like the netbook for most travel stuff. It's got multiple network connections, it's light, and it has a real keyboard.
 
smigaldi said:
There are some serious netork capacity issues with AT&T from their deployment of the iPhone. It is causing them to handle data is some interesting manners. You can do a search on Google and see some of it.
Click to expand...
I think this is mainly a problem in highly populated areas with many iPhone users. I've noticed it in San Francisco, although it seems like this past week the service was better than I have seen previously.
 
I'd go with the iphone. You'll always have it with you (assuming you typically carry your cell phone whereever you go) so you'll always have access to the web appications you want. If you get a netbook there are bound to be times when you don't think to bring it with you and then wish you had.

I just got a googlephone. So far I haven't found many aviation apps for it but its great being able to Access online weather anytime I want.
 
I've had an iPhone for several years. Just got a Netbook. I'm really happy with the netbook, due to its small size. The iPhone can be a bit of a hassle on some websites, but in general, if you could only have one, I'd go iPhone. It's hard to make a phone call holding a notebook to your ear. :idea:
 
For all around mobility, I prefer my Android to any other technology choice.

I'm bullish on netbooks but think the market needs to settle out a bit. I'm waiting for some low power ARM based models to start to proliferate.

Cheers,

-Andrew
 
First post here with my new iPhone 3Gs!!!! Still getting set up with everything, thanks for the tips guys!:cornut:
 
I have an HP Mini with the mobile broadband card. Came in quite handy in Brigham City, UT - easy, fast setup and a very quick connection. I love my Mini. I've loaded it with everything I need for flight planning.
 
I own an Acer AspireOne Netbook, Wifi, 120GB HD, no BroadBand.
Most airport FBOs have free wifi, and StarBucks Shops and some sandwich shops.

I picked up a VirginMobile Pay as you go USB BroadBand for it. Cricket offers the same.

The Netbook will do better for weather displays, other internet options while traveling. Not as handy as "in the cockpit moving map", but it works for me. No GPS feed.

I have a couple of glider buddies that bring up the VFR charts on their iPhone will soaring.
 
flyersfan31 said:
It's hard to make a phone call holding a notebook to your ear. :idea:
Click to expand...

Skype, baby ;)

Bought a Netbook, ASUS) about a month ago for my weekly travels and love it (typing on it right now). I even download sectionals and approach plates for use in the plane.
 
I fell way beyond the technology curve when I dropped out of the workforce.

My thought process for the Netbook?

"Gee, it would be cool if there were a really small laptop. Smaller than the one I have now. I don't really need much more than internet, some basic programs like spreadsheets, not MS Office. Hmm. That would be a pretty good idea. They're doing neat stuff with computers these days. I wonder if I can find something like that."

Then I discovered the concept of Netbooks.

Skype? Bluetooth headsets? Jeezz- baby steps here fellas.:fingerwag:
 
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