Don't toss that netbook just yet

With a laptop at home, a desktop at work and a smartphone for everything in between, any given person may have a computer for every possible occasion.

When the tablet computer showed up, there was suddenly another must-have device. The tablet bridges the gap between laptop and smartphone, boasting more portability than the former and wider functionality than the latter.

However, this comes largely at the expense of the netbook. Tablets and netbooks often serve the same purpose, offering a high level of portability while also enabling the user to stay productive.

But just because consumers have a new option doesn't mean they should throw out their netbooks. Though the tablet's functionality may overlap with the netbook's, these smaller computers still hold value. For example, the presence of a keyboard and mouse or trackpad may be much-appreciated when the user needs to type a report or do some design work. While tablets may be able to meet the majority of a user's needs, that remaining bit could be crucial.

These days, nearly everyone's looking for a little flexibility. Whether it's in the workplace, at school or even when choosing shampoo, people like to have options. This is especially true with technology. More often, people need multiple machines to meet a wider variety of needs.