On the flipside, the iPhone offers "Direct OS updates by OS vendor," which is important because "It can be updated directly by the OS vendor, so no need to wait until the manufacturer or network provider releases an update."

I think these kind of real-world explanations can be especially helpful to novice shoppers, who may not appreciate the differences between, say, a 40nm and 45nm processor.

Versus IO has more phones than tablets (the Barnes & Noble Nook series was nowhere to be found), and not every aspect of every device is factored in. Just because a phone has a bigger battery, for example, doesn't mean it has better battery life. And the site doesn't take pricing or carriers into account.

Still, for those who like to not only compare specs but also learn more about them, Versus IO is a great place to visit.

Contributing Editor writes about business and consumer technology. Ask for help with your PC hassles at hasslefree@pcworld.com, or try the treasure trove of helpful folks in the . Sign up to have the e-mailed to you each week.