Gradacomm technologies

This post is for core networking guru types in the actual field of Network optimization whether in enterprise infrastructure or core network backends.

Arp

The Arp command manages the Address Resolution Protocol cache. The Arp cache maintains a list of computer names and their corresponding IP addresses. In some situations, primarily on school or corporate networks, an administrator may need to view or modify the contents of the Arp cache. Arp is considered an advanced network administration tool.

Displays and modifies the IP-to-Physical address translation tables used by
address resolution protocol (ARP).

ARP -s inet_addr eth_addr [if_addr]
ARP -d inet_addr [if_addr]
ARP -a [inet_addr] [-N if_addr]

-a Displays current ARP entries by interrogating the current
protocol data. If inet_addr is specified, the IP and Physical
addresses for only the specified computer are displayed. If
more than one network interface uses ARP, entries for each ARP
table are displayed.
-g Same as -a.
inet_addr Specifies an internet address.
-N if_addr Displays the ARP entries for the network interface specified
by if_addr.
-d Deletes the host specified by inet_addr. inet_addr may be
wildcarded with * to delete all hosts.
-s Adds the host and associates the Internet address inet_addr
with the Physical address eth_addr. The Physical address is
given as 6 hexadecimal bytes separated by hyphens. The entry
is permanent.
eth_addr Specifies a physical address.
if_addr If present, this specifies the Internet address of the
interface whose address translation table should be modified.
If not present, the first applicable interface will be used.
Example:
> arp -s 157.55.85.212 00-aa-00-62-c6-09 .... Adds a static entry.
> arp -a .... Displays the arp table.

Finger

Displays information about a user on a specified system running the Finger service. Output varies based on the remote system.

FINGER [-l] [user] [...]

-l Displays information in long list format.
user Specifies the user you want information about. Omit the user
parameter to display information about all users on the
specifed host.
Specifies the server on the remote system whose users you want information about.

Hostname

The Hostname utility in Windows 7 displays the computer's name. This tool is often used on a computer to verify its name when attempts to map network drives on that computer fail.

USAGE: hostname

IPconfig

The IPconfig tool shows a computer's TCP/IP configuration. It displays the IP address, the network (subnet) mask and the internet/network gateway address (if one is set for that network). Use this tool to verify that the TCP/IP configuration has been set up correctly.

USAGE: ipconfig [/? | /all | /renew [adapter] | /release [adapter] |
/flushdns | /displaydns | /registerdns |
/showclassid adapter |
/setclassid adapter [classid] ]

where
adapter Connection name
(wildcard characters * and ? allowed, see examples)
Options: /? Display this help message
/all Display full configuration information.
/release Release the IP address for the specified adapter.
/renew Renew the IP address for the specified adapter.
/flushdns Purges the DNS Resolver cache.
/registerdns Refreshes all DHCP leases and re-registers DNS names
/displaydns Display the contents of the DNS Resolver Cache.
/showclassid Displays all the dhcp class IDs allowed for adapter.
/setclassid Modifies the dhcp class id.

The default is to display only the IP address, subnet mask and
default gateway for each adapter bound to TCP/IP.

For Release and Renew, if no adapter name is specified, then the IP address
leases for all adapters bound to TCP/IP will be released or renewed.

For Setclassid, if no ClassId is specified, then the ClassId is removed.

Examples:
> ipconfig ... Show information.
> ipconfig /all ... Show detailed information
> ipconfig /renew ... renew all adapters
> ipconfig /renew EL* ... renew any connection that has its
name starting with EL
> ipconfig /release *Con* ... release all matching connections,
eg. "Local Area Connection 1" or
"Local Area Connection 2"

Nbtstat

Displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections using NBT (NetBIOS over TCP/IP).

NBTSTAT [ [-a RemoteName] [-A IP address] [-c] [-n]
[-r] [-R] [-RR] [-s] [-S] [interval] ]

-a (adapter status) Lists the remote machine's name table given its name
-A (Adapter status) Lists the remote machine's name table given its
IP address.
-c (cache) Lists NBT's cache of remote [machine] names and their IP addresses
-n (names) Lists local NetBIOS names.
-r (resolved) Lists names resolved by broadcast and via WINS
-R (Reload) Purges and reloads the remote cache name table
-S (Sessions) Lists sessions table with the destination IP addresses
-s (sessions) Lists sessions table converting destination IP addresses to computer NETBIOS names.
-RR (ReleaseRefresh) Sends Name Release packets to WINS and then, starts Refresh

RemoteName
Remote host machine name. IP address Dotted decimal representation of the IP address.
interval Redisplays selected statistics, pausing interval seconds between each display. Press Ctrl+C to stop redisplaying
statistics.

Net

The net command is used to update, fix, or view the network or network settings.

NET [ ACCOUNTS | COMPUTER | CONFIG | CONTINUE | FILE | GROUP | HELP |
HELPMSG | LOCALGROUP | NAME | PAUSE | PRINT | SEND | SESSION |
SHARE | START | STATISTICS | STOP | TIME | USE | USER | VIEW ]

NET ACCOUNTS Adjust account settings.
[/FORCELOGOFF:{minutes | NO}] [/MINPWLEN:length]
[/MAXPWAGE:{days | UNLIMITED}] [/MINPWAGE:days]
[/UNIQUEPW:number] [/DOMAIN]

NET COMPUTER Add other networked computers with Windows Domain Controller.
\\computername {/ADD | /DEL}

NET CONFIG Displays your current server and/or workgroup settings.
[SERVER | WORKSTATION]

NET CONTINUE Continues the use of service.
[service]

NET FILE Display opened shared files on the server.
[id [/CLOSE]]

NET GROUP Add, delete, view, and otherwise manage network workgroups.
[groupname [/COMMENT:"text"]] [/DOMAIN]
groupname {/ADD [/COMMENT:"text"] | /DELETE} [/DOMAIN]
groupname username [...] {/ADD | /DELETE} [/DOMAIN]

NET LOCALGROUP Add, delete, view, and otherwise manage network groups.
[groupname [/COMMENT:"text"]] [/DOMAIN]
groupname {/ADD [/COMMENT:"text"] | /DELETE} [/DOMAIN]
groupname name [...] {/ADD | /DELETE} [/DOMAIN]

NET NAME Create or delete name used for messaging.
[name [/ADD | /DELETE]]

NET PAUSE Pause the specified network service.
[service]

NET PRINT Manage network print jobs.
\\computername\sharename
[\\computername] job # [/HOLD | /RELEASE | /DELETE]

NET SEND Sends messages to other users, computers, or messaging names on the network.
The Messenger service must be running to receive messages.
You can send a message only to an name that is active on the network.
If the message is sent to a username, that user must be logged on and running the Messenger
service to receive the message.
{name | * | /DOMAIN[:name] | /USERS} message

NET SESSION Display all sessions connected to the computer and deletes them if specified.
[\\computername] [/DELETE]

NET SHARE Create and manage a local network share.
sharename
sharename=drive:path [/USERS:number | /UNLIMITED]
[/REMARK:"text"]
[/CACHE:Manual | Documents| Programs | None ]
sharename [/USERS:number | /UNLIMITED]
[/REMARK:"text"]
[/CACHE:Manual | Documents | Programs | None]
{sharename | devicename | drive:path} /DELETE

NET START Start the specified network service.
[service]

NET STATISTICS
Display network statistics of the workstation or server.
[WORKSTATION | SERVER]

NET STOP Stop the specified network service.
service

NET TIME Display the time and date of another network computer.
[\\computername | /DOMAIN[:domainname] | /RTSDOMAIN[:domainname]] [/SET]
[\\computername] /QUERYSNTP
[\\computername] /SETSNTP[:ntp server list]

NET USE Connects or disconnects your computer from a shared resource or displays information
about your connections.
[devicename | *] [\\computername\sharename[\volume] [password | *]]
[/USER:[domainname\]username]
[/USER:[dotted domain name\]username]
[/USER:[username@dotted domain name]
[/SMARTCARD]
[/SAVECRED]
[[/DELETE] | [/PERSISTENT:{YES | NO}]]
NET USE {devicename | *} [password | *] /HOME
NET USE [/PERSISTENT:{YES | NO}]

NET USER Displays users on the computer and/or domain.
[username [password | *] [options]] [/DOMAIN]
username {password | *} /ADD [options] [/DOMAIN]
username [/DELETE] [/DOMAIN]

NET VIEW Displays a list of computers in a specified workgroup or the shared resources available
on a specified computer.
[\\computername [/CACHE] | /DOMAIN[:domainname]]
NET VIEW /NETWORK:NW [\\computername]

Netsh

Click Here

Netstat

Displays active TCP connections, ports on which the computer is listening, Ethernet statistics, the IP routing table, IPv4 statistics (for the IP, ICMP, TCP, and UDP protocols), and IPv6 statistics (for the IPv6, ICMPv6, TCP over IPv6, and UDP over IPv6 protocols). Used without parameters, netstat displays active TCP connections.

Displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP network connections.

NETSTAT [-a] [-b] [-e] [-n] [-o] [-p proto] [-r] [-s] [-v] [interval]

-a Displays all connections and listening ports.
-b Displays the executable involved in creating each connection or
listening port. In some cases well-known executables host
multiple independent components, and in these cases the
sequence of components involved in creating the connection
or listening port is displayed. In this case the executable
name is in [] at the bottom, on top is the component it called,
and so forth until TCP/IP was reached. Note that this option
can be time-consuming and will fail unless you have sufficient
permissions.
-e Displays Ethernet statistics. This may be combined with the -s
option.
-n Displays addresses and port numbers in numerical form.
-o Displays the owning process ID associated with each connection.
-p proto Shows connections for the protocol specified by proto; proto
may be any of: TCP, UDP, TCPv6, or UDPv6. If used with the -s
option to display per-protocol statistics, proto may be any of:
IP, IPv6, ICMP, ICMPv6, TCP, TCPv6, UDP, or UDPv6.
-r Displays the routing table.
-s Displays per-protocol statistics. By default, statistics are
shown for IP, IPv6, ICMP, ICMPv6, TCP, TCPv6, UDP, and UDPv6;
the -p option may be used to specify a subset of the default.
-v When used in conjunction with -b, will display sequence of
components involved in creating the connection or listening
port for all executables.
interval Redisplays selected statistics, pausing interval seconds
between each display. Press CTRL+C to stop redisplaying
statistics. If omitted, netstat will print the current
configuration information once.

Nslookup

Nslookup is a command-line administrative tool for testing and troubleshooting DNS servers.

Commands: (identifiers are shown in uppercase, [] means optional)
NAME - print info about the host/domain NAME using default server
NAME1 NAME2 - as above, but use NAME2 as server
help or ? - print info on common commands
set OPTION - set an option
all - print options, current server and host
[no]debug - print debugging information
[no]d2 - print exhaustive debugging information
[no]defname - append domain name to each query
[no]recurse - ask for recursive answer to query
[no]search - use domain search list
[no]vc - always use a virtual circuit
domain=NAME - set default domain name to NAME
srchlist=N1[/N2/.../N6] - set domain to N1 and search list to N1,N2, etc.
root=NAME - set root server to NAME
retry=X - set number of retries to X
timeout=X - set initial time-out interval to X seconds
type=X - set query type (ex. A,ANY,CNAME,MX,NS,PTR,SOA,SRV)
querytype=X - same as type
class=X - set query class (ex. IN (Internet), ANY)
[no]msxfr - use MS fast zone transfer
ixfrver=X - current version to use in IXFR transfer request
server NAME - set default server to NAME, using current default server
lserver NAME - set default server to NAME, using initial server
finger [USER] - finger the optional NAME at the current default host
root - set current default server to the root
ls [opt] DOMAIN [> FILE] - list addresses in DOMAIN (optional: output to FILE)
-a - list canonical names and aliases
-d - list all records
-t TYPE - list records of the given type (e.g. A,CNAME,MX,NS,PTR etc.)
view FILE - sort an 'ls' output file and view it with pg
exit - exit the program

Pathping

This utility enables a user to find network latency and network loss.

Usage: pathping [-g host-list] [-h maximum_hops] [-i address] [-n]
[-p period] [-q num_queries] [-w timeout] [-P] [-R] [-T]
[-4] [-6] target_name

Options:
-g host-list Loose source route along host-list.
-h maximum_hops Maximum number of hops to search for target.
-i address Use the specified source address.
-n Do not resolve addresses to hostnames.
-p period Wait period milliseconds between pings.
-q num_queries Number of queries per hop.
-w timeout Wait timeout milliseconds for each reply.
-P Test for RSVP PATH connectivity.
-R Test if each hop is RSVP aware.
-T Test connectivity to each hop with Layer-2 priority tags.
-4 Force using IPv4.
-6 Force using IPv6.

Ping

Ping is the single most powerful troubleshooting tool for networked computers. The Ping tool can at different times verify that TCP/IP is installed correctly on a computer, that a computer has joined the network successfully, that a computer can reach the internet, that a remote web site or computer is responding, and that computer name resolution is working.

Usage: ping [-t] [-a] [-n count] [-l size] [-f] [-i TTL] [-v TOS]
[-r count] [-s count] [[-j host-list] | [-k host-list]]
[-w timeout] target_name

Options:
-t Ping the specified host until stopped.
To see statistics and continue - type Control-Break;
To stop - type Control-C.
-a Resolve addresses to hostnames.
-n count Number of echo requests to send.
-l size Send buffer size.
-f Set Don't Fragment flag in packet.
-i TTL Time To Live.
-v TOS Type Of Service.
-r count Record route for count hops.
-s count Timestamp for count hops.
-j host-list Loose source route along host-list.
-k host-list Strict source route along host-list.
-w timeout Timeout in milliseconds to wait for each reply.

Route

Another advanced network administration tool on Windows 7, route supports manipulation and viewing of a computer's routing table. Route can be used on school or corporate networks to diagnose cases where a computer cannot reach another computer on the LAN.

Manipulates network routing tables.

ROUTE [-f] [-p] [command [destination]
[MASK netmask] [gateway] [METRIC metric] [IF interface]

-f Clears the routing tables of all gateway entries. If this is
used in conjunction with one of the commands, the tables are
cleared prior to running the command.
-p When used with the ADD command, makes a route persistent across
boots of the system. By default, routes are not preserved
when the system is restarted. Ignored for all other commands,
which always affect the appropriate persistent routes. This
option is not supported in Windows 95.
command One of these:
PRINT Prints a route
ADD Adds a route
DELETE Deletes a route
CHANGE Modifies an existing route
destination Specifies the host.
MASK Specifies that the next parameter is the 'netmask' value.
netmask Specifies a subnet mask value for this route entry.
If not specified, it defaults to 255.255.255.255.
gateway Specifies gateway.
interface the interface number for the specified route.
METRIC specifies the metric, ie. cost for the destination.

All symbolic names used for destination are looked up in the network database
file NETWORKS. The symbolic names for gateway are looked up in the host name
database file HOSTS.

If the command is PRINT or DELETE. Destination or gateway can be a wildcard,
(wildcard is specified as a star '*'), or the gateway argument may be omitted.

If Dest contains a * or ?, it is treated as a shell pattern, and only
matching destination routes are printed. The '*' matches any string,
and '?' matches any one char. Examples: 157.*.1, 157.*, 127.*, *224*.
Diagnostic Notes:
Invalid MASK generates an error, that is when (DEST & MASK) != DEST.
Example> route ADD 157.0.0.0 MASK 155.0.0.0 157.55.80.1 IF 1
The route addition failed: The specified mask parameter is invalid.
(Destination & Mask) != Destination.

Examples:

> route PRINT
> route ADD 157.0.0.0 MASK 255.0.0.0 157.55.80.1 METRIC 3 IF 2
destination^ ^mask ^gateway metric^ ^
Interface^
If IF is not given, it tries to find the best interface for a given
gateway.
> route PRINT
> route PRINT 157* .... Only prints those matching 157*
> route CHANGE 157.0.0.0 MASK 255.0.0.0 157.55.80.5 METRIC 2 IF 2

CHANGE is used to modify gateway and/or metric only.
> route PRINT
> route DELETE 157.0.0.0
> route PRINT

Tracert

Tracert (pronounced "traceroute") sends a test network message from a computer to a designated remote host and tracks the path taken by that message. Specifically, Tracert displays the name or IP address of each intermediate router or other network gateway device the message passes through to reach its destination. Tracert is especially useful when diagnosing connectivity problems on the Internet or within a school or corporate network.

Usage: tracert [-d] [-h maximum_hops] [-j host-list] [-w timeout] target_name

Options:
-d Do not resolve addresses to hostnames.
-h maximum_hops Maximum number of hops to search for target.
-j host-list Loose source route along host-list.
-w timeout Wait timeout milliseconds for each reply.

In some situations, you may see new programs or files on the computer. If you are the only user on the computer and new programs are installed, this could be an indication that it has been hacked. However, there are also several legitimate reasons why a new program may appear on the computer, as listed below.

Operating system or other program received updates that included new programs or files.

When you installed a new program, other programs may have been installed with it. For example, it is common for plugins and other free programs to have a check box asking if it is ok to install a new Internet browser toolbar or antivirus program on your computer. If you don’t uncheck these boxes, the additional new programs are installed.

If you suspect someone may have used your machine, ask if they installed a new program.

Below is a listing of programs that may indicate a hacker has been on the computer. Backdoors and Trojans are by far the most common programs installed on a computer after it has been hacked. These programs can allow the hacker to gain access to a large amount of information stored on your computer.

IRC clients are another common way for a hacker to get into a computer or remotely control thousands of computers. If you have ever participated in an IRC chat, your computer could have been hacked.

Spyware, rogue antivirus programs, and malware might be an indication of a hacker. More commonly, however, they are a sign that your computer has been infected via download or visiting a hijacked page while on the Internet.

Computer passwords have changed

Sometimes, after an online account is hacked, the hacker changes the password to one or more accounts. Try using forgot password feature to reset the password. If your e-mail address has changed or this feature does not work, contact the company who is providing the service. They are the only ones who can reset your account and give control back to you.

Local computer password

If your password to log into your computer has changed, it may have been hacked. There is no reason why a password would change on its own.

Lost or forgotten Windows password.

E-mail spam being sent

Getting bounce back e-mails from addresses I don’t know.

For any attacker to take control of a computer, they must remotely connect to it. When someone is remotely connected to your computer, your Internet connection will be slower. Also, many times after the computer is hacked, it becomes a zombie to attack other computers.

Installing a bandwidth monitor program on the computer can help determine which programs are using bandwidth on your computer. Windows users can also use the netstat command to determine remote established network connections and open ports.

Computer security programs and firewalls help restrict access for security purposes. If the computer prompts for access to programs you do not know, rogue programs may be installed or it may have been hacked. If you do not know why a program needs access to the Internet, we recommend blocking access to that program. If you later discover these blocks cause problems, they can be removed.

Tip: A firewall prompting you for access may also just be someone trying to probe your network, looking for open or available ports.

Security programs uninstalled

If the computer’s antivirus program, anti-malware program, or firewall has been uninstalled or disabled, it can also be an indication of a hacked computer. A hacker may disable these programs to help hide any warnings that would appear while they are on your machine.

Note: It is also possible for a virus to disable the antivirus program or malware to interfere with the anti-malware program.

Computer doing things by itself

When someone is remotely connected to a computer, they can remotely control any device on that computer. For example, a mouse cursor could be moved or something could be typed. If you see the computer doing something as if someone else is in control, this can be an indication of a hacked computer.

Modem users

If the computer is dialing the Internet on its own, it is an indication that a program needs to connect to the Internet. It is common for programs like e-mail clients to do this to check for new e-mail. However, if you cannot identify what program needs Internet access, this could be an indication of a hacked computer.

These symptoms may also be an indication of a virus or malware infection in the computer. Viruses often attempt to establish an Internet connection to send data from your computer to a malicious destination.

Internet browser home page changed

If you notice that your web browser configuration has suddenly changed, this may be a symptom of virus or malware infection. Examples of sudden browser changes include your home page changing, a third-party toolbar being added, or your default search engine changing to something you don’t want.

Why Computers Include Firewalls

Most people now use routers at home so they can share their Internet connection between multiple devices. However, there was a time when many people plugged their computer’s Ethernet cable directly into their cable or DSL modem, connecting the computer directly to the Internet. A computer connected directly to the Internet has a publicly addressable IP – in other words, anyone on the Internet can reach it. Any network services you have running on your computer – like the services that come with Windows for file and printer sharing, remote desktop, and other features – would be accessible to other computers on the Internet.
The original release of Windows XP didn’t contain a firewall. The combination of having services designed for local networks, no firewall, and computers connected directly to the Internet led to many Windows XP computers becoming infected within minutes of being connected directly to the Internet.

The Windows Firewall was introduced in Windows XP Service Pack 2, and it finally enabled a firewall by default in Windows. Those network services were isolated from the Internet. Rather than accepting all incoming connections, a firewalled system drops all incoming connections unless it’s specifically configured to allow these incoming connections.
This prevents people on the Internet from connecting to local network services on your computer. It also controls access to network services from other computers on your local network. That’s why you’re asked what type of network it is when you connect to one in Windows. If you connect to a Home network, the firewall will allow access to these services. If you connect to a Public network, the firewall will deny access.
Even if a network service itself is configured not to allow connections from the Internet, it’s possible that the service itself has a security flaw and a specially crafted request could allow an attacker to run arbitrary code on your computer. A firewall prevents this by getting in the way, preventing incoming connections from even reaching these potentially vulnerable services.
More Firewall Functions

Firewalls sit between a network (such as the Internet) and the computer (or local network) the firewall is protecting. A firewall’s main security purpose for home users is blocking unsolicited incoming network traffic, but firewalls can do much more than that. Because a firewall is sitting between these two networks, it can analyze all traffic reaching or leaving the network and decide what to do with it. For example, a firewall could also be configured to block certain types of outgoing traffic or it could log suspicious traffic (or all traffic).

A firewall could have a variety of rules that allow and deny certain types of traffic. For example, it could only allow connections to a server from a specific IP address, dropping all connection requests from elsewhere for security.
Firewalls can be anything from a piece of software running on your laptop (like the firewall included with Windows) to dedicated hardware in a corporate network. Such corporate firewalls could analyze outgoing traffic to ensure no malware was communicating through the network, monitor employee’s network use, and filter traffic — for example, a firewall could be configured to only allow web browsing traffic through the firewall, blocking access to other types of applications.

Step two

Remove The battery pack and Ram

First step

How to Disassemble Apple MacBook Pro screen.
Step by step process.

TABLETS V.S NETBOOK
Which works better for the "END USER"?
books have been on the market for several years and have been extremely popular with consumers who want to compute on the go without spending much or having too large of a system. Tablet PCs are the newcomers that offer friendlier interfaces and slimmer profiles that are extremely tantalizing to consumers. Just look at the success of the iPad even with its $499 starting price tag. In this article, we take a closer look at the two types of mobile computing platforms and hopefully answer the question of which is better for individuals.
Netbooks
Let's start off with netbooks since they have been on the market for a while. They originally started out as extremely compact laptops with just a 7-inch screen but have slowly grown into the popular format with a 10-inch display and roughly 3 pound weight. The resemble a standard laptop in appearance but in a smaller form factor. While early versions of the netbooks often ran Linux, most sold in the United States now run some version of Windows. Prices typically range between $300 and $400 with some models available for less and some available for much more.
So, why buy a netbook instead of a laptop? Well, netbooks offer a much smaller and more compact design that is easier to tote around when traveling. They also are much more efficient when it comes to power consumption that can let them to run for much longer than a typical laptop. This is why they are popular for anyone with long flights or travel times for business or even holidays. They also run the same operating system that most people are familiar with meaning that they don't have to learn a new system to use the netbook.
While most of these aspects are quite nice, netbooks did have their problems. The biggest issue with them is their lack of performance. Since they run the standard Windows operating system, their hardware restrictions end up with a much slower overall computing experience. Some applications are nearly impossible to run on a netbook. Then again, most people needing to run them would probably opt for a traditional laptop instead.
One of a big benefits of their small size was using them as portable media players. The problem is that the netbook format is not very well suited for this purpose. Sure, it can handle streaming standard definition video or playback audio files but the screen and the audio on these are general of lesser quality in order to keep costs down.
Pros
• Use Standard Windows Based Applications
• Can Be Extremely Affordable
• Capable Af All-Day Computing
Cons
• Lack Performance For Some Applications
• Not Well Suited To HD Video Playback
Tablet PCs
There have been attempts at touchscreen computers in the past, but the latest generation tablet PCs are affordable and compact. The iPad is roughly the same size as a small pad of 8 x 11 inch paper and weighs just a pound and a half. This is one of the larger sized tablet PCs as most will be featuring 7-inch display surfaces and some will even use 5-inch displays. This makes they very easy to carry around and slip into a standard briefcase, messenger bag, purse or backpack. Prices range wildly between several hundred for some upcoming Android models to over $800 for the high end iPad.
One of the big benefits of the tablet PC is the simplified touchscreen interfaces. By not having a keyboard, the devices can be more compact and the multitouch gestures can make manipulating programs and media very quick. These styles of interfaces are very easy for people who an unfamiliar with computers. This simplicity also has its drawbacks. In particular, anyone who has to input a large amount of text will long for a traditional keyboard to a virtual keyboard on a touchscreen. While it is certainly possible to write documents on tablets, it is also much faster on a netbook.
Tablet PCs are also great portable media players. Their compact size and large screens make them easy to carry and watch while on the go. The smaller 5-inch models are great for subways and buses where the 10-inch versions are great for sitting on an airplane or long car ride. Many can even handle playback of high definition video sources which the current netbooks have trouble with.
Unlike netbooks, tablet PCs will not be running a standard desktop operating system. Instead they use a variation of mobile operating systems originally designed for smart phones. This allows them to run on more limited performance hardware and easily function with a simplified interface. The downside to this is that they do no use the standard applications that one uses with a traditional computer. Owners will have to obtain and learn how to use programs for cross compatibility with their computer applications.
Pros
• Easy to Use Touch Interfaces
• Excellent As Media Players
• Some Can Double As Mobile Phones
Cons
• Require A Different Set of Mobile Applications
• Virtual Keyboards More Difficult To Use
• Limited File Storage Space
So Which Is Better?
The answer to that question really comes down to what you want to use a mobile computer for. Netbooks make excellent choices for those that want to use their standard computer programs but in a mobile format. It is also excellent for using them heavily for creation of typed documents as the keyboards are better than virtual ones on a touchscreen. On the other hand, if you want to just pick up a mobile PC and use it to watch some videos, check mail or play a game or two, then a tablet PC is a more compact and easy to use platform. Before deciding which one is right for you, take a close look at what you want to use it for.