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Will a Netbook Perform as Well as a Notebook or Laptop?

Guest post by: Graham Kelly

Article Overview: When you consider purchasing a new portable computer, the variety of laptops, notebooks and netbooks can be overwhelming. Most users do not realize that laptops and notebooks are exactly the same product.

Will a Netbook Perform as Well as a Notebook or Laptop?

When you consider purchasing a new portable computer, the variety of laptops, notebooks and netbooks can be overwhelming. Most users do not realize that laptops and notebooks are exactly the same product. Manufacturers now try to promote the name 'notebook' as laptop implies that it should be ok to use it on your laptop. A notebook should never be used on your lap as there is a tendency for you to block the air inlet or vibrate the hard drive. Netbooks are, however, a completely different type of portable computer.

Notebooks are typically priced at half the cost of the equivalent netebook; this is possible as many of the less important components and a degree of the power has been reduced.

In order to keep the size and weight down a netbook always has a small-screen size. This has the additional effect of reducing the cost as the screens are relatively expensive. If you have failing eye sight or are intending to play games or use graphic-design programs, then the 7 to 11 inch screen found on a typical netbook will be no use. A notebook will usually be provided with a 12 to 20 inch screen with a high resolution setting such that it should compete with any desktop for the graphics quality.

For a portable computer to be of any use it must be able to operate from battery power for an extended period. Netbooks typically offer up to 6 hours use whereas a typical notebook should operate for about 1 hour. Since netbooks have fewer power consuming components than the equivalent notebook then there is a considerable difference in battery life. Much does depend though on exactly how the computer is used and how old the battery is.

One of the major disadvantages of a netbook compared with a notebook is the smaller keyboard found on the former. For the netbook to be small it has to come with a small keyboard with small key caps. If you are going to be entering lots of data into your portable computer, then you will be better usinga notebook.

By leaving out an optical drive, a netbook, can be made smaller and cheaper than the equivalent notebook. Almost every user will soon miss the optical drive as most software is supplied on DVD. An external USB optical drive can be purchased and kept with the netbook, but it is quite large and heavy. If you, mainly just use the Internet, then lack of an optical drive may not be a problem.However, for most users, an optical drive is essential.

Notebooks are provided with larger hard drives and faster CPUs than in netbooks. If you just intend to use your portable computer on the Internet, then this difference will not be important.

Netbooks come with very few external input/output connectors as there is not much space to accommodate them.Notebooks are available with many different connectors for almost every connection requirement.

Netbooks and notebooks tend to be unreliable. When it comes to repairing portable computers netbooks are almost impossible to repair economically. Netbook motherboards are very tightly packed with electronic components making faultfinding difficult. Usually, it is more economical to replace the complete netbook if it fails. Fortunately, notebooks are easier to repair but is always a job for a laptop repair specialist.

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Article Tags: laptop repair, netbook repair, notebook repair



Related Forum Posts
Re: Recommendations for going Wireless - [size=130:3farizrp][color=#cc3333:3farizrp]Notebook/Netbook[/color:3farizrp][/size:3farizrp] As far as your notebook preferences, I got a netbook about a year and a half ago (January 2010) for notetaking in classes, and for ultimate portability of computing power. The only limitation to the netbook is multi-tasking ability. I tend to do many, MANY things at once on a computer, and that was the biggest limitation for me. If you don't plan to be running 15 programs at a time, then I'd definitely suggest a $300~$350 investment in a netbook. [size=130:3farizrp][color=#cc3333:3farizrp]File Synchronization[/color:3farizrp][/size:3farizrp] A bit late on the chime-in, but there's another tool, similar to Dropbox, called Syncplicity. I originally chose Syncplicity over dropbox because Syncplicity allows you to sync a folder with Google Docs, and it allows you to select which folders on your computer to sync (where Dropbox forces one folder for use). I have since moved to a combination of Syncplicity and Dropbox. But really, either way, Syncplicity and Dropbox are both easy to use, and a great way to sync files from one computer to the other. Highly recommended that you look into it, if you haven't done so already. [size=130:3farizrp][color=#cc3333:3farizrp]Email Synchronization[/color:3farizrp][/size:3farizrp] Assuming you use something like Gmail as your primary email account, set up an email client (Outlook, Thunderbird, etc.) on both of your computers and use IMAP to access your email. IMAP is a protocol that "pushes" email to your client, similar to a blackberry, instead of POP email, which "pulls" email from the server every x minutes. IMAP also updates server information, such as where you've moved an email, if you've read it, replied to it, etc. Best of luck!
laptop vs. Desktop - I'm not a heavy gamer or graphics person so a Laptop is ideal for me for all the obvious reasons (portability, wireless, work on the go, etc etc) Major downside is the battery power and the cost to replace it - half as much as the cost of the laptop on my current IBM.
Re: Who are the key players in your life? - I'd have to say my family, who supported me when I first started out in business for myself... especially my sister, who bought me my Laptop! A supportive family can make anyone a success. A non-supportive family - would make it very tough, I would think. All the more reason to only allow positive-thinking people in to your life and ditch anyone who brings you down with nagging or slighting jokes, et al!
Moving from Home Office to Real Office - Thought I'd revive this thread, as the people who contributed to it before were UK-based. I do all my work out of my home - I'm a writer - and I travel alot - in state right now - because I write travel articles. With a Notebook comoputer, the world's my oyster. How many people here run their businesses out of their homes, and how many dream of becoming such a big business that you'll actually need to take an office elsewhere? I know I've heard ads for .... a company whose name I can't recall...that rents out "offices" for people for a day - indeed I [i:83joj35g]think [/i:83joj35g]it's called Virtual Office... where people who work from home can order up an office for a day to hold meetings with potential clients, etc...
Re: Desktops Vs Laptops - [quote="TheAnonymousMan":92vjkzw0] Laptop is more of a security risk because it can be stolen easily. [/quote:92vjkzw0] I just heard recently that you can install device similar to Lojack for vehicle. Lojack is something police can use to track your vehicle as soon as it leaves without your permission while you as the owner doesn't even know where it's installed on your vehicle. It'll probably feel good to catch a thief for a laptop because chances are he'll have it with him in his house. Regards, Takuya


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