People love netbooks and tablets because they're small, lightweight, and portable (they fit almost any bag), and they have long battery life. Which on-the-go device makes the better travel companion?

iPad: You'll certainly want some sort of cover and/or stand to protect the iPad; but beyond that, it's a great travel companion. In the first place, it's smaller and lighter than even the smallest netbook. And the IPS display delivers a wider range of viewing angles, so it's easier to get a clear view of what's on screen when you prop it up on your lap, hold it in one hand, or share it with someone sitting next to you. We don't have solid battery life numbers yet, but the range we've been hearing reported elsewhere (7 to 10 hours, depending on how you use it) is comparable to that of a good netbook.

Netbook: Netbooks are far easier to carry around than full-featured laptops, but even the small ones are twice as heavy and twice as thick as the iPad. Many of them have poor displays with washed-out color and bad viewing angles, which can make them hard to see clearly if you don't position the netbook firmly on a hard surface.

Advantage: iPad. The iPad wins with its slimmer design, lighter weight, equivalent battery life, and superior screen.