The Differences Between Laptops and Netbooks
Thanks to new technology, today's mobile computers are lighter and more powerful than ever. Users can type reports, create multimedia presentations, watch videos and surf the Internet from the back of a taxi or in a crowded airport waiting room. And they can do all of this with netbook or laptop computers. Before buying a new mobile computer, consumers should make sure to learn about the differences between laptops and netbooks.
These two computer types, after all, are designed for very different users. You want to make sure before buying either a laptop or a netbook that you purchase the mobile computer that is right for you and your computing needs. The good news is that manufacturers are constantly improving the performance of both netbooks and laptops, so you'll always have plenty of good machines from which to choose.
Netbooks are usually more affordable than laptop computers. In fact, it's possible to find a perfectly acceptable netbook that costs in the neighborhood of $200. Laptop computers, though, will usually cost $400 or more, depending on their quality and power.
Netbooks are also lighter than most laptops. Their lightweight nature coupled with their lower selling points, are the two main benefits of netbooks. Mobile professionals and students, for example, often use netbooks as secondary computers. They bring them to their classes or meetings, and then transfer their notes and data onto their primary computer systems.
Most netbooks today are more than powerful enough to handle basic computing chores. Users can surf the Internet, send and receive e-mail messages and do most word-processing chores efficiently on netbooks. However, those users who need more processing power should usually consider laptops as they provide a better performance.
Most netbooks, for instance, can't play today's more intense, graphics-rich computer games. Gamers usually invest in a higher-end laptop or desktop personal computers. Netbooks also aren't good for performance intensive editing tasks like video or photo editing. Again, laptop computers, with their greater memory, are more suited to this task.
Remember, too, that most netbooks don't boast CD drives. This helps make them so lightweight. But mobile computer users who want to watch a DVD while waiting for their next flight will have to go with a laptop to do this. That's because laptops generally do come with their own DVD drives.
Mobile computer users who expect their applications to run quickly and smoothly, might want to invest in a more expensive laptop rather than a netbook. Remember, netbooks are priced cheaply. This means that they don't operate quite as quickly as standard laptops. Again, these inexpensive and lightweight computers are meant to take on the most basic of computing jobs. More advanced computing is best left to laptops and their larger amounts of memory.
Finally, most netbooks come with smaller keyboards and screens. Computer users familiar only with standard-size keyboards may struggle a bit when typing e-mail messages, term papers or reports. Laptop computers, though, often come with standard-size keyboards. In fact, many manufacturers tout their laptop's larger keyboards as a key selling point.
When it comes to aesthetics, there is very little difference between today's laptops and netbooks. In fact, despite their lower price tags, many netbooks are extremely hip and stylish. Netbooks often come in a range of bright colors, for instance. And their thin bodies are usually quite attractive.
Both laptops and netbooks come with their own selling points. To make the right decision on which type of computer is best for you, take a long look at your mobile computing needs. Understanding the differences between laptops and netbooks will help you determine which makes the most sense for you.
Gerry runs his own computer hardware blog over at Otakugadgets where he regularly reviews new laptops and netbooks.
