What's the Difference Between a Netbook and a Laptop?

A Laptop is a portable computer. It used to be a specific type, but the usage of the term has grown to encompass all portable computers (including Netbooks) other than a "LAN Box" (which is basically a desktop computer with a handle).

A Netbook is a subset of Laptops and usually refers to a smaller and less powerful laptop that is used for basic web-browsing and e-mail. It noramlly consists of a 8" to 10" screen, 1 GB of RAM, 32Gb SSD or 160Gb Hard Disk and Wi-Fi or 3G for your internet connection. It does not have an optical drive but does have a USB 2.0 connection to plug in an external Optical drive if needed.

A netbook typically runs on a ULV processor of some type (eg. Intel Atom) to increase battery life and does not normally have the speed or power to run a full Windows Vista install as its Operating System. Thus most netbooks will run either Windows XP or various Linux distros as an Operating System. There are some that run Andriod or Win CE and later this year some will be available with Chrome as an OS.

Hope this helps.

The main differences are usually enough info to tell them apart and decide which is right for you: (1)Netbook is smaller, lighter size than notebook/laptop; (2)netbook is less expensive; (3)netbook "typically" has less memory and smaller hard drive; (4)netbook processor is usualy not as powerful as notebook/laptop; (5)netbook may not be capable of running latest and most powerful operating systems, such as Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate (Note: I heard that new netbooks may come with Windows 7 "Starter" edition). Putting it all together, the netbook is a nice, low cost alternative to the heavier, more expensive notebook when you don't need all that power and if you are using basic applications that do not requier more resources or a beefier operating system. Some examples of when a netbook would be a good idea are email, web browsing, homework assignments, GPS in-car use, personal uses such as daily budget tracking or mall-business use, etc. When a netbook would NOT be a good idea: high-end photo editing, video and audio editing, sienctific applications, power user, programming, high-end web-page design and web site maintenance.

I hope this helps!

Netbooks are the smallest "laptops" or portable computers. Usually with a screen size of 12" and smaller.
Netbooks are intended for Surfing and light program tasks. Right now, allmost all netbooks run Windows XP

Laptops are portable computers of greater size and capability. It has better hardware than a netbook, but still not the same as a desktop computer. Laptops are usually capable of medium gaming, and can run the newest operating systems.

A netbook is useful if you're, say, a college student, who's using the computer for writing term papers and cruising websites for research. That's about all it's good for. The Netbook doesn't have an incredible amount of memory, nor does it have the power to run games or many flashy websites.

I've also heard of people using netbooks having issues with viewing certain websites because the screen just isn't big enough.

Really, unless you have no intention of using your computer for more than basic internet, document writing, and email, you'd be better off with a laptop.

A netbook is a wireless creature -- you have to subscribe to a wireless plan.

A lot of answers but none relate very well to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netbook

Which is that a netbook is more a beefed up mobile/smart device! ARM, MEPIS, MIPS are chips used for sat nav and phone units, rather than standard notebooks.

It's only when you get to 1.6 Ghz that you need to go to Atom processors which are really just reduced notebooks.

A laptop is a mobile desktop, a notebook is a heavy laptop and a tablet PC is the best light screen enabled laptop.

A Notebook is a Portable Computer. A Netbook is a Book about Nets.

So what is the difference between laptop and netbook? A laptop (also called a notebook) is computer which has been designed to be made portable, featuring a screen hinged to a keyboard. A laptop includes a battery for portable power and a touchpad instead of a mouse for input.

Mini laptops (also called a netbook, subnotebook or ultraportables) take these ideas further still, creating a new market above handheld computers, smartphones and personal digital assistants.

In short, the difference between laptop and netbook is a netbook is smaller, lighter, cheaper (on the whole) and simpler...



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