Credit: Apple

The iPad still has some ways to go before completely running netbooks out of the market, but it has generated quite a lot of buzz among people who spend a lot of time on the road. With the recent announcement on multi-tasking for iPad, it seems the device is more than ready to take on netbooks and smartbooks. While there are many reasons for netbook prices dropping a bit recently, you can always look at iPad as a catalyst for it all. After all, people are less likely to spend $500 to get a netbook if they can get the same benefits from their iPad.

According to Barclays Captial, the iPad has played a role in dropping netbook prices:

We wouldn’t be surprised to see pressure from new tablet devices (like the iPad) possibly pushing sub-notebook pricing lower to compete

The iPad does have some minor issues that needs to be addressed before one can consider the device a success. For starters, the processor can always get a major boost. There should also an easier way to transfer files to iPad (without having to use e-mail or iTunes sync functionality).

Apple is known for supporting PDF and other popular file formats. But it’d be also nice if the company had more simple tools for business professionals to help them open business files and get things done on the road. The official business apps by Apple do cost a bit of money. Maybe adding a free version of those apps to the iPad would help.

Top netbooks are always going to be tempting for business professionals who are not used to using their fingers to get their work done (without having a real keyboard). Netbooks can also support CDs, popular desktop PC programs, and much more. But the competition is going to be stiffer in the upcoming years. Could we see the end of laptops in the next few years?