What’s The Difference Between Netbooks & Laptops
When netbooks first hit the market they were a new option for many users who just needed to take their computer on the road to be connected to the internet and email. They were super small and very underpowered, but they were a welcomed change from the heavier, bigger laptops that people were lugging around. Both netbooks and laptops were designed for portability, but there are some very important things that set them two of them apart.
There are two significant differences between netbooks and laptops to the casual buyer. The first is, of course, the size. Netbooks are very small -- usually only about 9" to 10" across. This means you can easily transport it in a convenient bag, but it also means that typing on the keyboard can be a little cramped.
The second major difference is the price. On average, netbooks are about half the price of a top of the line laptop. If a person is looking for a mobile solution, but can't afford the high price of a laptop, this might be the best way to go.
Besides those main reasons, there are some other important differences that most customers tend to overlook. When overlooking these differences, you could be quite shocked when you get your new netbook home and out of the box.
The major point that needs to be stressed to a consumer is that a netbook is not a mini laptop. Laptop computers are comparable to a desktop computer but scaled way down so that it is portable. Netbooks were specifically designed to be a device that can connect to the internet and run small applications. You shouldn't be planning on running multiple apps or even high-end programs or games on a netbook.
Due to the increased demand, the difference between netbooks and laptops is slowly starting to narrow. More of the companies are starting to increase the size, processing power, and the memory on these devices. Since technology continues to advance, the prices and sizes of laptops continue to decrease.
Some of the big makers of computer components and software are discouraging this line-blurring because they often make their products available to netbook producers at a discounted price. If users can get the same functionality out of cheaper netbook as a full-featured laptop, their own profit margins will start to drop off.
Yes, netbooks might not be as powerful as a normal, full size laptop, but they are perfect for what they intend to be used for.
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