OnLive Desktop accesses Windows sitting in the cloud to let you work on Windows on your tablet. The free version of this app offers 2 GB of storage plus access to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The paid version gives you access to other Office software apps. The app is not perfect but it has a lot of potential. Who knew running Windows on iPad could be so easy.

You don’t have to buy a dedicated netbook if you have a tablet these days. The latest generation tablets are getting better all the time. You can use keyboard cases such as KeyFolio Pro to turn your iPad into a netbook. The KeyFolio Pro Performance Keyboard Case is optimized for those who love to type. It is lightweight and convenient. It holds your iPad 2 in place and keeps scratches & wear/tear away from your device. 

This is a Bluetooth keyboard with a rotatable frame. The case does not get in your way and gives you access to everything your tablet has to offer. The case is available for $99 at the time of this writing.

Keeping your iPad or netbook safe in tough working environments is anything but easy. These small gadgets are not designed to be mistreated, exposed to liquids, or dropped harshly. Pelican Hard Back Cases are developed to keep your gadgets safe at all times. The Pelican 1075 Hard Back Case is dustproof, watertight, and can keep your netbook from getting crushed under pressure.

The Pelican i1075 works just as well for the iPad and iPad 2. You can even include your smart cover with your iPad. These cases come with lifetime guarantee which is always nice. These Pelican cases are not for everyone but can save your device against major accidents.

iPad has become quite a bogeyman for PC makers who simply do not innovate and wonder why their sales are falling. There is no question that portable devices such as iPad have had some effect. But as NPD Group puts it, they are not solely to blame. NPD’s Stephen Bake claims that the rate of cannibalization has actually dropped in the past few months:

The explosion of computer sales when Windows 7 launched, as well as the huge increase in Netbook sales at that time, are much more to blame for weak consumer PC sales growth than the iPad… Overall it appears that the vast majority of iPad purchases to-date have been incremental to the consumer technology industry,

said NPD’s Stephen Baker. According to NPD, it is more expensive laptops that have been affected by tablets the most. Of course, it would be unreasonable to believe that the economy has not had an effect on all this. The fact of the matter is netbooks have been often too sluggish in their performance to keep the interest of people. The emergence of applications has contributed to netbooks’ fall as well.

The iPad by itself may have not killed off netbooks. But when you consider its whole ecosystem, it is a very tough device to compete with.

As PC Mag put it, MeeGo may have trouble gaining traction in the netbook market:

MeeGo now appears to be a solution looking for a problem. We’ve fought the “Windows vs. Linux” battle in laptops before; Windows won, because Windows is familiar to people and has lots of existing, powerful apps.

At this point, it seems only an iOS powered netbook can turn the tide for this market. But we already have that in the form of iPad.

Cruxcase can act as a vertical stand for your iPad or as a way to type on your device more conveniently. The catch? The case will set you back $150. Just to be clear, Apple iPad was not designed to be a netbook. So even with this case, you may not get the same experience you are used to on your laptop. But it’s nice to have the option.

Many analysts have been writing off netbooks in the past few months. After all, how can netbooks compete with shiny gadgets such as the iPad or Toshiba’s dual-screen laptop? One does not have to look far to realize how that is possible. Experts wrote Kindle off when iPad made its debut. Fast forward a few months, and Amazon has had one of its best years in Kindle sales. Netbooks may never become as shiny and portable as Apple iPad or Google’s upcoming tablet, but they can compete with them price-wise. People may be interested in getting a lot of features on their portable devices, but the price is a decisive factor too.

How low can we expect the prices of netbooks to get in the near future? Forbes’ Elizabeth Woyke seems to believe netbook prices could reach under $199 by this year’s end:

By the holidays, weak demand will push retailers to slash netbook prices to as low as $199, likely for Black Friday and other special promotions, writes Reitzes. Such a drop would represent a continued decline in netbook value.

Netbooks are still very recession friendly. Since the economy is not out of the woods yet, netbooks will still be in demand. Unfortunately, netbook makers have focused more on standard features and have not thought outside-the-box to make people want to buy netbooks. If this trend continues, there is no bright future for these tiny devices. Intel launching its app store shows that there is still some life in this market. Many experts wrote off iPhone, Kindle, and other similar devices. Only a fool would write off netbooks at this point. But it will be down to the players in the market to change their fortunes.

ASUSTek is the company behind some of the best netbooks we have seen. The company has a variety of netbook models available for sale and keeps pumping out new ones. Unfortunately, ASUS netbooks have not fared too well when competing with iPad for consumers’ bucks. How else can you explain the company have to drop its shipment estimates for the rest of 2010. Apple iPad has been priced very aggressively (something Apple has not done in the past). Netbook prices have not dropped enough to make “price” a decisive factor one way or another.

Apple may have already outsold ASUS in the past few months, but ASUS won’t go down easily, at least not without a fight. We have been hearing about ASUS tablets in the past few months. ASUS officials have promised to challenge Apple wherever it goes. Since Android will be a part of this equation, it won’t be an unfair fight.

Netbook makers need to stop being cute and address some of the issues that consumers have been complaining about since the very day these devices started showing up. Netbooks are not cheap enough and do not have enough power to make people want to take them over an iPad. Nobody picks up an iPad to get sophisticated 3D animation and graphic design done. But the apps in iTunes tips it all heavily in iPad’s favor. Maybe it’s time netbook makers gave Android or other Windows alternatives a good look (at least to bring down their prices).

If you thought Apple was satisfied with all the market-share that it has grabbed with iPad, think again. It is already planning iPad 2, and we could see different iPad sizes and flavors in the near future. According to Digitimes, Apple could introduce smaller screen iPads to hit many new market segments and expand its platform.

Apple has recently placed new iPad orders to Taiwan-based component makers for the fourth quarter of 2010 and the first quarter of 2011 with 9.7-inch, 5.6-inch and 7-inch models all included.

While a 5.6 inch iPad is almost too close in size to iPod Touch, it does make sense for Apple. Many netbook fans were using 7″ and 8.9″ models before 10.1″ units started dominating the market. Consumers like having options (even with Apple products). Apple could bring OLED screens to its iPad units (though there are some doubts about this part of the rumor).

The iPad is not for everyone. Those of you who have gotten used to your netbook may find it a bit difficult to adjust to iPad. It’s a great entertainment device, but it does have its short-comings for business. Solutions such as ClamCase may help using the iPad more convenient for more people. Apple may have all the momentum in the world with its platform, but things can change quickly in the tech world.

Apple may be having a big trouble to deal with as far as iPhone 4 is concerned. But that has not stopped the iPad from eating netbooks’ lunch. The iPad is not designed to necessarily replace a netbook. There are certain areas that netbooks have distinct advantage in over the iPad. Besides, netbooks are still a big hit among traveling business individuals. But that does not mean the iPad is not doing some damage to the netbook market. There are a ton of apps available for this device in iTunes which give business individuals cheaper ways to get things done on the go. No matter how light some netbooks are, they are never going to beat an iPad in portability department.

Goldman Sachs 5Cs are just a few reasons why Apple iPad is going to be a big trouble for tablet makers:

• Consumption
• Content
• Connected
• Constant Operation
• Commerce

The iPad has netbooks beat in many aspects. It’s the ultimate device for consuming information on the go. The long battery life and wireless capability are pretty big pluses too.

This does not mean that netbooks are doomed just yet. There is still a lot of demand for these tiny devices. Apple may also experience some backlash over how it has treated iPhone 4 complaints. That may make people think hard about doing business with Apple (especially those who have never given Apple products a try). Those who are looking for a device to produce information (instead of just consuming it) will be more attracted to netbooks and laptops too.

Netbooks and laptops are not doomed. Not yet anyway. Shiny tablets are on their way, but laptops will be in demand for the foreseeable future.