subject: Difference between a notebook and netbook [print this page] It seems everyone wants to be mobile these days not tied down with wires and such. So it makes sense when you go to buy a computer, you are likely considering a portable computer. But which one should it be a notebook or a netbook?
What is a notebook computer?
A notebook computer, also called a laptop, has been around for over 20 years. The main purpose of a notebook has always been to try and squeeze a desktop PC into a portable computer. These were some of the first portable computers. However, notebooks today have come a long way. Where in the distant past laptops were one color screens, very heavy, short battery life, very small hard drives for storage, and anything else was external (like a floppy or CD drive).
These days notebooks are smaller, lighter, have screens that compare to big desktop LCD screens, have batteries that can last around 2-3 hours, hard drives only slightly smaller than desktop computers, and often there are many extras includes such as a DVD drive, a memory card reader and so on.
When compared to a desktop, a notebook is slightly slower, usually less powerful graphics, much more energy efficient, and hard to upgrade. Also notebooks are more expensive than desktop PCs.
What is a netbook computer?
Lately the sexiest computer on the market is the netbook. This is a play on the work notebook that also tells you the main purpose of a netbook surfing the internet. A netbook computer has limited hardware such as a slow CPU, limited memory, embedded graphics, a small 9 - 11" screen, no CD or DVD drive, and limited storage. While these may all sound like strikes against netbooks, they allow netbooks to be way lighter than notebooks and their batteries last up to 10 hours! Most importantly netbooks are considerably cheaper than notebook, by a couple hundred dollars or more.
What situations is a netbook good for?
When you are buying a notebook or a netbook, you need to figure out what you want to do with it most of the time. Netbooks are very portable, and often people use them on the bus or long trips or to take notes in college classes. These situations benefit from the small size, light weight, and long battery life. Notebooks are great for a mobile desktop such as taking a work computer home, or a salesman who needs to do a high powered presentation on the road.
Netbooks versus notebooks
If money is a big concern for you, and portability is of utmost importance then you should look at netbook computers. On the other hand, if you want the full functionality of a desktop PC that you can take with you, you are looking at a notebook.
