For me (YMMV), the weight is not a factor since I knew that I would not be holding it for very long. For tablets/ereaders, I started with a Kindle. However, I bought a tooled leather case for it after one slipped out of my hands and broke when it hit the tile floor. Amazon replaced it for free. I've dropped it with the leather case and no problems. I also had a Kindle Fire which was a little heavier, but not bad. I didn't read books on it though and as a tablet, it's way inferior to my N10. I bought a case for my N10 which is also a stand. I use it in the stand 80% + of the time so, again, the weight is not an issue for me. The case does add some weight though. If someone really wants a very light weight ereader, I recommend the Kindle paperwhite. I just got one for my wife and it's really the lightest of any that I've handled. I'm not out looking for the "one size fits all and does all" device. We also have an ASUS netbook. It definitely is heavier but only slightly bigger than the N10. The netbook was only $275 and that was at Best Buy. It has more power and capability than the N10 and is a few years older. However it's not as convenient as a tablet, IMO. As noted in some posts above, it does boil down to personal preferences/uses. I don't have a smartphone and no plans for getting one since I don't like the small screens.....and those expensive 2 year contracts. Another factor is buying/using a particular family of products such as Google, Apple, and/or Amazon. Thankfully, I've been able to use and sync the things that I need including the apps that I had on my Kindle Fire.