Netbook or Notebook? What to Buy?

If you are planning to buy a computer (other than a desktop), you might be confronted with the question, "Which one do I buy - a netbook or a notebook?"

First, what is a netbook? A netbook is a type of laptop computer that is smaller and lighter than a regular notebook, but has a slower processor. Traditionally, in terms of the size of the display, netbooks have less than 12 inches of display. Well, this is a very generic definition so I guess it is best to find out how the manufacturer calls its particular product - whether they call it a netbook or a notebook.

However, with the latest developments in computing technology, some features which are originally found only in notebooks are now starting to be seen on netbooks, and vice versa.

Now, as to which one to buy, your choice should be guided by what you are going to use the computer for. If you intend to run "heavy" programs, go for a notebook. But if it's portability you are looking for, the obvious choice is the netbook.

There are so many sites giving more detailed distinctions between the two, but allow me to list down some of the aspects you may want to look into before making a choice:

1. Processor Speed

Netbooks have slower processors than do notebooks. As of today, most netbooks have Intel Atom N280 which is only capable giving 1.66 GHz, which works well on netbooks. On the other hand, notebook computers can have processors capable of more than 2 Ghz. So if you need a computer for photo and video editing, AutoCad, or other programs requiring more powerful processors, avoid buying a netbook. But if you will only use your computer for regular office programs, web browsing, and chatting, netbooks are the perfect choice (watching videos and listening to music are, of course, also possible in netbooks).

2. Display

Needless to say, notebooks have larger displays than netbooks. However, this does not mean that smaller displays are not good. In fact, they work just fine. It all boils down to your preference.

3. Keyboard Size

As with the display, keyboard size on notebooks is better than that found on netbooks - and by better, I meant larger and easier to type on. However, newer netbooks offer good-sized keyboard which people can easily get accustomed to (such as that on Dell Inspiron Mini 10 or Samsung NC10). The choice is up to you. The bottomline is ease and comfort.

4. Storage

A regular netbook in the market today only has 160 GB of storage (hard drive) compared to a much larger size in notebooks. A netbook's 160 GB is ordinarily sufficient for all your office files and music and some videos; but if you expect to save a lot of "big" files over time, 160 GB might not be enough.

5. Memory (RAM)

At present, I have not heard of netbooks that can be equipped with more than 2GB of memory. You won't be needing more than 2GB of RAM for regular office programs and web browsing. Notebooks can have as high as 4GB of RAM (or 8 maybe?).

6. Disc Drive

Netbooks do not have disc drives. However, you can install programs directly from the Internet or by using a USB flash drive.

7. Battery

A lot of netbooks now can run for more than 6 hours on battery on a single charge (Asus EEE PC 1005ha claims 10.5 hours). Notebooks, on the other hand, as they consume more power, can run on battery for maybe up to 5 hours (6-cell battery being the basis). Nevertheless, as I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, there are now features that are appearing both in netbooks and notebooks, which features were originally found only in either of them. Battery life is one of these features. There are now notebooks that can run for about 8 hours or so (Toshiba Portege T130 claims 11 hours of battery life!), as claimed by the manufacturers. Take note, nonetheless, that manufacturers oftentimes quote the maximum number of hours the computer can run on battery - that is, the computer running under maximum battery-saving mode. In real-world situations, however, these claims are higher by, more or less, 2 hours.

8. Portability

Netbooks win in this aspect over notebooks. But, again, this feature is becoming less exclusive in favor of netbooks considering that there are now ultra-light and ultra-thin notebooks in the market, just like MSI X600

There you have it!

As a final note, we cannot categorically say that a netbook is better than a notebook, or the other way around. It will all depend on the purpose the computer is going to serve... or your reason for buying a computer in the first place. Before buying a notebook or a netbook computer, analyze first your needs and choose the one that suits it.

Good luck on buying a netbook or a notebook (or both?)

[I personally recommend ASUS EEE PC 1005ha for a netbook if your primary concern is the length of time you can use the netbook unplugged. It has an excellent battery life by current standards.]

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