Netbooks versus Notebooks

In a previous post we talked about the desktop versus the laptop. If you so decide, however, that the laptop is best suited for your computing needs, there is once again another question that you will have to hurdle: do you get yourself a netbook or a full-sized notebook?

netbook versus notebook The term laptop has been used often as a general term to refer to mobile computers that can be carried around, but within that category are the small, ultra-mobile netbooks; the regular sized, 13” to 17” laptops; and the slightly bigger but more powerful 15.4” to 19” notebook computers. Still, there is debate as to which is which, and the demarcation lines between categories are rather blurry.

Once again, your purchase choice will depend on which factors are most important to you. For us, it will be price and need – a combination of both, and not one over the other.

A netbook is a great machine to have when you are on the go – if your day is filled with meetings and going from one location to the next, and if there is no way you can function at these appointments without a computer with you. What it is not, however, at least based on our experience, is something that could be used in the long term.

A laptop is best for those who need to be mobile at some point, but not quite as often, and would rather have just the one PC for all his or her computing needs. Those who are into gaming and computer-aided design, however, will find more value in notebook computers.