What is the difference between a netbook and a laptop

When choosing an electronics, an inexperienced user may get confused in the names. Especially when a laptop is purchased. We came to the store and see the names of devices on the price tags: netbook, laptop. Only at first glance is it the same thing. What parameters differ in these models, we will talk about their advantages and disadvantages in our material.

Netbook what is it

The term refers to a mobile device with a keyboard, its purpose is surfing the Internet, watching videos (standard quality) on the road, solving common problems in office programs, reading electronic books. It has a small weight and compact dimensions.

There is the possibility of installation and compatibility with Windows, Linux.

Important! To purchase a quality product, it is better to pay attention to well-known manufacturers (Asus, Samsung, etc.), as its stable operation and long service life are guaranteed.

Advantages and disadvantages

The device has key advantages:

1. Compact size, making it convenient to take on the road, use in the car, carry around the apartment, put in a bag and work in any environment.
2. Weight does not exceed 1.5 kg.
3. Operating systems provide low power consumption, which saves battery consumption. You can work up to 8 hours without recharging.
4. The hard drive (if any) has a reduced sensitivity to vibration, does not create noise and reduces power consumption.
5. RAM in inexpensive products has a modest size - up to 2 GB, but it is enough to perform manipulations on the device.
6. Support for wireless interfaces.
7. Affordable price. Standard models without technical frills can be purchased for 9-10 thousand.

Disadvantages:

1. Display with a reduced diagonal (average 10 inches), which makes it inconvenient to work with large images or tables.
2. Technological filling. It can be Intel Atom, AMD, VIA. In terms of speed and other properties, they are inferior to laptop processors. Including they do not work with applications that require computer resources.
3. The minimum number of connectors for external connections (card reader, output for display and audio, meets HDMI). This can be a problem when using an additional keyboard and other devices when there are not enough ports.
4. The miniature size of the keys, their close proximity complicates and slows down the print speed. There are models without function buttons, this also creates difficulties for the user. The keyboard is difficult to clean from dust and dirt.
5. There is no optical drive, no space is provided for it inside the model. However, the use of, for example, removable will solve this problem.
6. The size of the hard disk, limited to 160 GB, with low speed, in the cheapest devices it is replaced by a minimum-capacity SSD.
7. There is no video card that supports modern games. The graphical interface is limited, and the most expensive devices will hardly ensure the speed and stability of the new applications for photo processing, editing and other complex tasks.
8. There is no cooling of the system, which can lead to overload of the processor, reducing its performance.
9. The modernization of components is fraught with difficulties; in case of failure of any parts, expensive repairs will be required.

Laptop what is it

This is the name of a portable PC, in the case of which there is a standard set of components (display, input and output devices), which has a battery life. It differs in the breadth of tasks and a variety of built-in tools.

The lineup has the simplest devices, including only the necessary functionality, and models that can compete with powerful stationary computers. Accordingly, their price can vary tens of times.

Advantages and disadvantages

Technical equipment and capabilities in different models can vary significantly.

The most advanced laptops have a maximum of features:

1. Large displays (up to 17 inches and above), with maximum resolution.
2. Touch screen, presence along with a touchpad keyboard.
3. A video card that supports modern games.
4. Increased pixel density (affects the clarity of the image).
5. New processors with up to 6 cores, high performance.
6. The size of RAM up to 32 GB with the availability of its increase.
7. Hard drive up to 1 TB and SSD (drive without moving parts) within 500 GB.
8. Ability to work in complex and resource-demanding programs while maintaining speed and efficiency,
9. Protection against mechanical stress and moisture.
10. The cost of such devices reaches 200 thousand rubles and higher, corresponding to the ratio of "price plus quality".

On a note. Laptops lose their mobile qualities when increasing the diagonal of the screen.

The disadvantages mainly relate to models in the lower price segment; they are usually absent:

On a note. The weight of the product varies up to 5 kg, which may make it difficult to carry it frequently. If maximum mobility is required, pay attention to this option when choosing.

1. HDD disk.
2. Video card to support games and 3 D graphics.
3. Characterized by low performance, a minimum number of connectors.
4. The common disadvantages of all laptops can be considered a higher cost (including in comparison with stationary PCs), the difficulty of upgrading and replacing components. In some devices it is impossible to install a different operating system, since the manufacturer did not provide for their support.
5. The number of connectors does not always correspond to the owner’s requests, especially if you need to connect many external devices. In this case, you have to spend money on a special external USB HUB component, which has 4 connectors.
6. In case of breakdowns, an expensive repair will be required, since some parts of the device will be technically difficult to replace.

Important! In all, even expensive models, there is no optical drive. There is no cooling system, which can lead to overheating due to accumulating dust and failure. You can buy cooling pads, which will require additional costs.

The main differences between a netbook and a laptop

We follow the above characteristics on the example of specific devices in the budget segment, and compare them with each other.

Netbook Irbis NB105 has the following parameters:

• 10.1-inch display
• resolution 1280x800, standard WXGA;
• the number of pixels per inch 149 ppi;
• 4-core Intel Atom chip;
• Windows 10
• RAM 2 GB;
• drives (SSD) 32 GB;
• built-in video camera, microphone;
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth;
• USB, mini HDMI, 3.5 jack;
• 5600 mAh battery

The average price is 9,000 rubles.

Notebook Prestigio Smartbook 141 C2 is equipped with the following features:

• screen 14.1 inches, 1920 × 1080, FullHD;
• pixel density 156 ppi;
• 2-core Intel Celeron processor;
• Windows 10
• RAM 3 GB;
• built-in camera, microphone;
• wireless Internet;
• USB, mini HDMI, 3.5 jack;
• 5000 mAh battery;
• weight 1.5 kg.

The cost is within 13 thousand rubles.

Differences:

This laptop is superior to its counterpart in terms of screen size and resolution, speed and processor efficiency, and RAM size. The manufacturer estimated these advantages at 4 thousand rubles.

Now compare the devices in the expensive segment.

Netbook Acer Aspire 1 A111-31-C8RS:

• display 11.6 inches, 1366x768, HD, 135 ppi;
• 2-core Intel Celeron processor;
• Windows 10
• RAM 4 GB;
• SSD 32 GB;
• built-in camera, microphone, stereo speakers;
• support for wireless networks;
• USB, mini HDMI, 3.5 jack;
• 4810 mAh battery;
• weight 1.2 kg;
• Kensington Castle (prevents theft of the device).

The average price is 20,000 rubles.

Notebook Lenovo IdeaPad 320-15IAP has the following options:

• screen 15.6 inches, 1366x768, HD, 101 ppi;
• 2-core Intel Celeron processor;
• DOS operating system
• RAM 4 GB;
• a cell for a memory card (together with the main chip it can double the value);
• 500 GB HDD
• built-in camera, microphone, advanced acoustics;
• memory card support;
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth;
• USB, mini HDMI, 3.5 jack;
• 4000 mAh battery;
• weight 2.2 kg.

Cost within 20 thousand rubles.

The laptop shows an advantage in the size of the display, has a cell for expanding RAM, and also wins significantly due to the presence of a hard drive. However, the DOS system will not appeal to all users who are accustomed to working in devices running Windows.

A netbook stands out with a large number of pixels per inch, battery capacity.

On a note. The same cost makes buying a laptop more practical and profitable.

So, let's conclude, what's the difference

The netbook is suitable for solving simple problems, finding online people who need such a compact assistant. As the price rises, its advantages begin to decrease in comparison with the laptop.

A budget laptop will allow you to watch movies, listen to music, play simple browser-based applications on the Internet. With him you can be in bed or sit on the couch. It can be called a mobile version of the PC.

Expensive brands are suitable for those who need high performance, the ability to play the latest games and work in demanding applications. However, such options significantly lose their mobility, so it’s worth considering: whether to buy a full-fledged stationary PC for the same money?

What type of device to choose, the reader will decide for himself. Devices are presented in stores for the most demanding tastes. It all depends on financial capabilities, preferences and the required functionality.