How Is A Netbook Different From A Notebook?
With all the lingo out there about computers, a lot of people are confused about the difference between a netbook and everything else.
Understanding how and why a netbook is different from a laptop, which is commonly known as a notebook, is key to figuring out whether it will suit your computing needs or not. This article will describe in detail why a netbook is different from a notebook in a way that will help you to better understand how it all works.
Screen Size
The screen size of the netbook is typically the first thing most people will notice, coming in at between seven and ten inches, it is quite a bit smaller than the average notebook or laptop.
However, some manufacturers are trying to give consumers a little more bang to their buck, so there are eleven and twelve inch computers currently being marketed as netbooks.
With an average ten-inch screen, most netbooks have a 1024×600 screen resolution, which is still much greater than many old monitors that some are still using.
Weight
The design of the netbook is such that it is meant to be very portable, lightweight and easy to carry around wherever you want to go.
The average netbook weights somewhere between two or three pounds, however there are a few that weigh even more or less.
Operating System
Originally, most netbooks came standard with either a Linux or Windows XP operating system, however today you can even get them in Windows 7 Starter version. There are even other alternative options available out there through some of the smaller computer manufacturers, but it’s best to choose something like Windows 7 Stater, which is faster and much more streamlined than other operating systems.
Overall, it is much more efficient with the system resources, so it will run much smoother and with less memory dedicated solely to the running of the operating system, freeing up the netbook to run more applications.
Memory
Speaking of memory, the average memory on today’s netbook is 1GB, however most can be upgraded to at least 2GB, which is recommended for a heavy social network or application user.
Storage
One of the best improvements in the netbook since it was first released is the storage, which is available in either SDD (Solid State Disk) or HDD (Hard Disk Drive) options.
The netbooks with SSDs are much smaller than those that feature HDD storage, however they are currently listed at a much higher price due to the cost in manufacturing. The SSD netbooks can usually store somewhere between 4GB and 32GB, while the HDDs offer much more space – usually anywhere between 80GB and 160GB in most devices.
If you are going to be hard on your equipment, SDD is the way to go because it is much more “shock resistant” than the HDD models.
Connectivity
Connectivity is not an issue with the netbook either, as it has been optimized with all the ports that you need to stay connected including memory card reader, USB 2.0, headphone and microphone sockets.
Depending upon the model you choose, some even come with optional extras such as an express card slot, 3G and even Bluetooth.
Today, most netbooks come standard with a built-in microphone and pin-hole webcam for social networking or video conferencing.
Keyboard Size
One of the biggest objections to date with the netbook however, is the size of its keyboard compared to the standard size seen on most notebooks. While they are smaller, most are larger than you might expect, coming in at between 80-90% of standard notebook size.
The largest keyboards are seen in the netbooks that have the largest screens and on average a 10-inch netbook has a 92% sized screen. If you have large fingers or think you might have a tough time with a smaller keyboard, you should take that into consideration before deciding on a netbook.
Processing Power
Another slight drawback is seen in the processing power, which is lower than most notebooks in order to increase battery life with these more portable models.
Instead of the dual-core processing model that is found in most notebook or laptop computers, the netbook features a single core version.
Because of this, netbooks are not designed to stand up to intense jobs like playing high-resolution video games, large editing programs or mega multi-tasking, but they will definitely do the job for most day to day tasks and applications.
Cost
One of the most obvious perks to the netbook vs. notebook debate is the price – the average netbook goes for about $300-400, with a full featured version going for up to $800.
For the average user, you will be able to find a netbook that meets all of your requirements for under $500.
Now you can get a netbook for under $100 at some retailers, but that generally comes with an average 2-year mobile broadband contract, which will cost you approximately $60/month.
Hopefully this article has helped you to gain a better understanding of what the netbook can and can’t do. Because there are so many similarities and differences, it’s difficult to sum it all up in a single sentence or two when someone asks you what a netbook is all about.
If challenged to do so, however, you could sum it up by saying that a netbook is a low-cost, light-weight, very mobile computer that is designed to handle everyday tasks.
