Netbook Vs Laptop
Passions run deep in the ongoing netbook vs laptop debate. And with the rising popularity of tablet style computers, it can often be a daunting task to determine which mobile computing option is best. When it comes to portable devices, it’s hard to beat the versatility and power of a full sized laptop.
The large screen, comfortable keyboard, and reliable processor of most major brands such as Toshiba, Acer, and Hewlett-Packard are sure to make them a driving technological force for years to come. But netbooks, too, have found a place in the computing market, and with their small size, fast SSD drives, and low cost are worthy of investigation.
Netbook Vs Laptop:
Since the early 1990′s, laptops have experienced a rapid rise in popularity not only among business professionals and governmental institutes which first pioneered their use, but among students and casual users as well. In 2008, for the first time, laptops outsold desktop PCs.
Since then, laptops have become the first choice of most shoppers looking for a primary computer, but with the advent of netbooks that began appearing on shelves in 2007, laptops began to see some competition from their smaller, lighter, stripped-down cousins.
Netbooks, as their name suggests, are often optimized for internet usage and for size. Their smaller frame means that screen size is usually between 10 and 12 inches, and similarly, the keyboard is much smaller than that of a standard sized laptop.
But it isn’t just physical aspects of netbooks that differ from laptops; most run a lower quality processor to keep production costs low, run on SSD drives instead of standard hard disk drives, and do not have CD or DVD drives.
Until recently, it was also difficult to run newer versions of the Windows OS due to the stripped down nature of the available netbooks, but as the technology has improved and as demand has grown, new netbooks are now released with the newest available version of Windows.
It’s important to note that Linux remains a viable option for those who do not wish to use Windows, and according to some distributers, 32% of netbooks have a Linux operating system option available.
While their small size and less advanced hardware may seem to be disadvantageous, any users see these factors as a blessing. Users who primarily use their computers for internet access, find that they don’t need a super powerful hard drive or processor, or a cumbersome number of software addons that often appear on new laptops.
And with compact disks becoming ever more obsolete with the continued use of digital transfers, iTunes, and USB drives, most users don’t find they miss having an integrated disk drive.
Netbook Vs Laptop: Size Matter?
Their small size makes them much more manageable than many laptops as most netbooks can fit into a purse or small bag, and are considerably lighter than a laptop.
Jet-set commuters also find the small size of netbooks more convenient during their flights, and students and other individuals who find the cost of a 
full sized laptop difficult to handle can easily find a netbook for $200 or less.
However, there are some areas in which netbooks will never be able to compete with laptops. The wider screen and larger keyboard make laptops ideal for those who do a lot of typing, editing, photo manipulation or digital illustration, moviemaking, or game playing.
In the netbook vs laptop debate, when it comes to running and managing media-rich applications and programs, laptops win hands down. Most laptops also have a longer battery life, a faster processor, and almost any laptop is capable of running whichever operating system the user prefers.
Conversely, the larger, clearer screens, disk drives, complicated hardware, and larger batteries that power most full sized laptops make them heavy and unwieldy.
Despite their name, most users would be uncomfortable using a laptop on their lap, and need quite a large work area, table, or desk on which they can use their computer.
The added software and memory demands of media programs also tend to slow laptops down and add to the overall cost of each machine, making high-quality laptops an unattainable luxury for many.
No matter which option you prefer, laptop or netbook, there are certain brands that outperform their competitors. Hewlett-Packard offers both standard sized laptops such as the HP Pavillion g6, which has a 15.6 inch screen and multiple graphics options, and netbook sized options such as the HP Mini 311.
But although the 311 boasts ION graphics in addition to an Intel Atom processor, many have discovered that it has difficulty running HD movies and games. Acer is probably one of the strongest competitors in the netbook market, and the Acer Aspire One continues to be a crowd pleaser with its ultra sharp screen and 250GB, as well as a 1GHz dual-core AMD C-50 processor.
However the Aspire One, like most netbooks, is unable to effectively handle a lot of multitasking or HD videos and has a short battery life, and the laptop offerings from Acer are often underwhelming.
Netbook VS Laptop: Which To Buy?
One company with consistently well-received laptops AND netbooks is Toshiba, maker of the Toshiba NB550D netbook and the Toshiba Satellite P755-S5269 laptop, which is billed as a desktop replacement and which has an Intel Core i7 which offers quad-core processing power. Both the netbook and the laptop have a lot to offer in the graphics department as well, and the NB550D netbook is one of the few netbook that can currently handle running full HD videos.
The Toshiba Satellite, while chunkier and heavier than the ultra light ultra slim offerings from other companies, is a strong option for individuals looking for a powerful gaming, graphics or multimedia editing, or desktop replacement computer.
Whether affordability, portability, and ease of use is the goal, or whether power, large screen size, and multimedia performance are key, netbooks and laptops provide users with an ever-expanding world of options at ever lower costs, and an individual’s preference will largely depend on the primary use of the computer.
But no matter which type of computer is considered the long term winner in the netbook vs laptop debate, consumers have made it clear that mobile computing is here to stay, and will continue to challenge the dominance of desktop PC.
