Toy advice?
So, I have a birthday coming up. I also have a long trip coming up, and I'd like to not have to monopolize a Certain Someone's laptop every time I want to check my email. So I'm contemplating asking for either a tablet or a netbook for my birthday.
The iPad, of course, was the first thing to come to mind. I have a Mac already and I love it to pieces, so having something from the same family appeals. The iPad looks very shiny and I think I could fall in love with it, except... the lack of Flash and the lack of multitasking are kind of dealbreakers for me. When I get on the Internet, I want the whole Internet, dammit. And I want my tabbed browsing and to chat on IM while checking my blogs AND working on fic in Googledocs. I don't think that's too much to ask. And so far my search for Other Tablet reviews have been dissatisfactory - "well, they're good, but they're no iPad" seems to be the most anyone will say.
So apparently what I want is a netbook, which is fine, except I can't find anything too informative on those either. And I kind of ragequit the third time one of those netbook review sites shoved a popup in my face. (Hmm, maybe the lack of Flash isn't such a bad thing.)
Can any netbook or tablet owners help me out? I'd like something cheap and reliable and fairly small. It's okay if it's not powerful, I probably wouldn't notice. WiFi only, I don't want to have to pay a monthly fee to make my toys work. Also, is there some store you recommend to go out and try these fancy machines, see if I fall in love?
The iPad, of course, was the first thing to come to mind. I have a Mac already and I love it to pieces, so having something from the same family appeals. The iPad looks very shiny and I think I could fall in love with it, except... the lack of Flash and the lack of multitasking are kind of dealbreakers for me. When I get on the Internet, I want the whole Internet, dammit. And I want my tabbed browsing and to chat on IM while checking my blogs AND working on fic in Googledocs. I don't think that's too much to ask. And so far my search for Other Tablet reviews have been dissatisfactory - "well, they're good, but they're no iPad" seems to be the most anyone will say.
So apparently what I want is a netbook, which is fine, except I can't find anything too informative on those either. And I kind of ragequit the third time one of those netbook review sites shoved a popup in my face. (Hmm, maybe the lack of Flash isn't such a bad thing.)
Can any netbook or tablet owners help me out? I'd like something cheap and reliable and fairly small. It's okay if it's not powerful, I probably wouldn't notice. WiFi only, I don't want to have to pay a monthly fee to make my toys work. Also, is there some store you recommend to go out and try these fancy machines, see if I fall in love?