When netbooks first came out, they were a great solution for anyone wanting to take a computer on the road. They were super small and quite underpowered, but they were a great alternative to larger, bulkier laptop. Both the netbook and the laptop were designed with portability in mind, but they definitely have some distinctions that set them apart from each other.
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 and most important difference is the price. Laptops are, on average, almost twice as expensive as a netbook. For anyone who is looking for a solution to their mobile computing needs, but can’t afford the higher costs of a new laptop, this may be the way to go.
Beyond that, though, there are some important differences between netbooks and laptops that many consumers overlook, and could surprise someone who purchased a netbook believing that they were getting a smaller version of a full-featured laptop.
This is a point that needs to be stressed to consumers. A netbook is not a miniaturized laptop. A laptop has all the capabilities of a regular computer, but on a reduced scale for easy portability. You can find laptops that are powerful enough to run almost any software on the market. Netbooks, on the other hand, were designed specifically for connecting to the Internet and running web applications. And while there are plenty of impressive apps out there, you shouldn’t expect to run high end programs or games on a netbook.
Due to increasing demand, though, the difference between netbooks and laptops is starting to shrink. Some companies are pushing the size limitations of netbooks to nearly 12″ and are increasing the standard processing power and memory. At the same time, as technology continues to progress, the prices of laptops, and the average sizes, are starting 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.
As you can clearly see, netbooks are not as powerful or functional as a laptop, but they are a perfect solution for those individuals who are looking for a portable solution.