Help Your Customer Choose: Tablet, Netbook, or Laptop?

Help Your Customer Choose: Tablet, 

Netbook, or Laptop?

Sure, tablets are popular, but...

Tablet devices took the public spotlight in January 2010, when Apple introduced the iPad. Their sleek design, ease of use, and stylish appearance made them a hit and they continue to grow in popularity to this day.

Yet the tablets that are currently available may not be able to accomplish everything your customers expect them to and they are certainly more expensive than other options out there.

Here we’ll help you understand the differences between the popular tablet devices and already familiar netbooks and laptops. You may be surprised at what you learn. But one thing’s for sure—you’ll be able to quickly and confidently explain those differences to a customer, and have a better chance at turning them from browser to buyer.

Mobile Devices: The Big Picture

Study this chart. Use the information there, plus the questions below, to form a quick but accurate assessment of the general type of mobile device that’s best for your customer.

Ask your customer:

Q: Do you want a companion device to your desktop or laptop for IM and chatting, checking email, some photo sharing, and light Internet use?

A: If YES, a tablet is a good choice.

Q: Do you want a companion device for multitasking, video conferencing, social networking, and full, rich Internet?

A: If YES, a netbook is a good choice.

Q: Looking for a powerful, mobile PC for multimedia creation, watching HD video, 3D gaming, and more?

A: If YES, a laptop is the best choice.

Mobile Devices: A Detailed Comparison

This chart highlights key differences while still providing the kind of detail you’ll need to answer more in-depth questions. For example, you can see at a glance that a laptop is the best choice if your customer wants the power and capabilities for full multimedia creation with some gaming on the side. Or, maybe they want to know if they’ll be able to watch HD movies on a tablet. It’s all here, and feel free to print a copy if you’d like a reference while working the floor.

Tablet or Netbook: Make an Informed Recommendation.

As the previous chart showed, the laptop is a do-it-all primary device for computing, while tablets and netbooks are both companion devices. But how do you help your customer choose between the two types of companion devices?

Here are five questions to ask so you’ll quickly be able to make solid recommendations to your customers.

Do most of your activities require a lot of typing (e.g., IM/Chat, blogs, writing documents, etc.)?

Ask because: you can certainly type on a tablet... but any writing longer than a quick email response is more easily done on a device offering a full keyboard.

Do you have favorite applications on your PC that you’d also like to use on a companion device?

Ask because: most current tablets can’t support the full versions of some applications; also, you can share apps between your PC and your netbook, which you can’t do between a PC and a tablet.

Do you need to connect external devices to your PC, such as a digital camera or phone?

Ask because: netbooks and laptops are easily connected to external devices for photo downloads and more; tablets, on the other hand, are not generally compatible with peripherals.

Do you perform multiple tasks as the same time? Surf the Web, watch online video, IM, etc.?

Ask because: most current tablets don’t have the computing power to handle these simultaneous demands; a netbook or laptop is the best choice for multitaskers.

Do you want or need to use video conferencing?

Ask because: a netbook allows you to participate in video conferencing (which is becoming more common) but tablets don’t have the computing power to handle it.

Make a recommendation based on the most check marks.

No: A Tablet is a better fit

Yes: A Netbook is a better fit

Summary:

Guiding your customers to consider all their options will help turn more of them into informed, satisfied buyers.