Laptop Versus Netbook

In this face-paced computer age it is sometimes difficult to keep track of all of the new technological terms being tossed around and know exactly what they mean. A relatively new and not so well-known word is netbook. Some people think they have a laptop, but they actually have a netbook. Let us discuss the differences between the two types of computers so you will be able to distinguish them apart in the future. For the purposes of this article, the focus will be on netbooks because most people are knowledgeable about laptops.

A netbook is an ultra-mobile personal computer that has a smaller form factor than a laptop. Netbooks were created for three reasons. The first was to create an ultra lightweight that is extremely portable. The second was to allow people wishing to purchase a mobile computer a cost-effective option since laptops are significantly more expensive than desktops. Affordability is one of the biggest factors for the success of the netbook. The last reason is energy efficiency. It's great to have a mobile computer but if the battery doesn't last very long, the computer is kind of worthless. For this reason, the netbook sought to use low power consumption hardware. The operating system is also a major power reducer because netbooks are usually pre-installed with Linux or Windows XP which are much more energy-efficient than Windows Vista.

Even though all of these features are great, there is one major downside: its limitation of use. Don't expect to play the latest high definition videos and games on your netbook. The netbook sacrifices specs to reach a low price point (usually less than 400 dollars). Netbooks are general use computers suitable for checking your email, surfing the web, typing papers, and using lightweight applications. Laptops on the other hand are basically mobile desktops with slightly less powerful hardware than desktops and can cost multiple times more than netbooks. Every quarter the popularity and demand for netbooks has risen. There is a trend in the economy shifting from desktops to laptops and now from laptops to netbooks. The rate in which this shift is occurring until it reaches a mass market audience remains uncertain and perhaps there will always be room for desktops, laptops, and netbooks alike to stay in the computer market. Hopefully, you have a better understanding of the difference between netbooks and laptops and the computer industry in general.