Last month, in a conference call following the release of Apple's quarterly earnings, Apple CEO Tim Cook told analysts that he felt no pressure to converge laptop and tablet markets.

A complete transcript of the call was posted online by Seeking Alpha.

During the call, A. Sacconaghi, a research analyst for Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC., asked Cook to comment on his belief that "the PC … and tablet markets or [Apple] MacBook Air and tablet markets won't converge," citing Windows 8 as an example of a PC replicating a tablet experience.

In response, Cook expressed his belief that iPads and MacBooks were two separate markets, and that ultimately the devices were suited to different users.

"You can converge a toaster and a refrigerator" said Cook, "but those things are probably not going to be pleasing to the user." 

But Matt Peckham of TIME Magazine's Techland says that Cook's easy dismissal of hybrids is flat out "wrongheaded."  After all, Peckham points out, laptops are hybrids of desktop computers. And iPhones are one of the most impressive hybrids of all, merging "a phone, a music player, a camera, a computer, a Rolodex, a daily organizer, a stopwatch, a handheld game system" and other technologies.

And, there are a few laptop accessories available, including a removable keyboard, that allow your iPad to function as a laptop. But two of the key attributes of the iPad are its weight and versatility, both of which may be impaired if you go overboard with extra parts.

If you're trying to decide between a tablet and a customized laptop, consult a specialist at PortableOne to determine which device would best suit your needs.