* A “netbook” is a small, usually 8.9″ screen, PC running Windows (XP, Vista, or 7), running under $1000.  A “convertible” further enhances a netbook for our uses, as it describes the ‘flip-able’ screen that lays flat to form a ’slate’ computer, as pictured above.  Flip the screen the other way, and it looks like a mini-laptop, with a keyboard and built-in trackpad.

**3G explained: Current iPads (4/24/10) have built-in Wifi only.  Netbooks also have built-in WiFi.  But new iPads coming out in a bit will have “3G” capability.  Actually, Netbooks have had that option for about 2 years, with an USB ‘dongle’ from Verizon and others, for about $60/mo.

The term WiFi means that somewhere within about 150 ft of you must be a ‘hot spot’.  A hot spot is a AC-powered device that is plugged into the Internet through your cable company, phone company, or Internet Service Provider (more technical than that, but will suffice for this explanation), and has an antenna which transmits/receives the ‘Internet’.  Now *your* device, be it iPad or netbook or notebook or desktop computer would have to also have WiFi, which means that *it* has wireless Internet capabilities, which *everything* has these days (except for desktops, usually).

Now more on the hot spot.  There are 2 types, “unsecured”, which means it’s open access, most anyone can use it, and “secured” which means that you’ll need a password (key), or you’ll need to login and pay (or have prepaid, like T-Mobile and its Starbucks’ hot spots).

Hopefully that explains WiFi.

The iPad has Wifi, so as long as you meet the above conditions, you’re good to go.  No other fees.

The *new* 3G iPad that will be coming out shortly will *also* have “3G” capability.  That is, the *cellular* network (ATT has one as well as Verizon) that allows phones to achieve email/web/maps/etc., that today’s phones are capable of.  3G is a “data” network as compared the older “voice-only” network for cell phones.  And *that* is what will cost extra.  It will be only ATT as carrier and will cost a monthly fee.  But then the iPad, just like the iPhone and Touch, will be able to hook up to the Internet not just near hot spots, but anywhere there is a cell signal.

More on 3G, if you want it:  Cell phones from over about 5 years ago did voice only or data sent in a voice manner (too technical for this discussion).  There was some limited email capabilities but no real “Internet”.  That’s because the old cell network wasn’t capable and/or was very slow, as it wasn’t a true “data” network”; it was voice, transmitting sounds in a manner consistent with how it’s been done in the last 20 or so years.  The phone companies had to build an entirely new wireless network around the world.  The current one is of a type called “3G” (you can Google it).  It allows 3G capable phones, like the iPhone, to connect to the Internet, at reasonable speeds, because it is a true “data” network, sending voice *as* data (1’s and 0’s) at very fast speeds.

And 4G is not far around the corner (faster).

*** Menu button – The iPad, like the iPhone and iPod Touch, has a very accessible menu button that takes you to the menu screen of the iPad itself, where you launch apps from.  This is a real problem for some users that enjoy opening/closing applications.  In other words, if you are in Proloquo2Go, for example, and excellent AAC app, the user can press their menu button at any time and they will *exit* the app!  Not good.  With my PTP-PC AAC program on the netbook (or PC), I can lock them into the AAC software.  I don’t believe you can do this with the iPad.  *This is a major consideration*!