Notebook VS Laptop- Where to draw the line?
Thanks to the ever propelling technology, we always have something ingenious, something fanciful and remarkable in our hands; be it a smartphone, or a tablet, or a notebook. However, the downside of an incessantly accelerating technology is that, it comes up with some really uncanny names for those out-of-the-box concepts. Tablets, Notebooks, Netbooks, Laptops; the line between them is diminishing and the core concept behind each is widely misunderstood.
For example, consider notebooks and laptops. Most people think they are alike (which of course, they are not!), while some are unable to decipher what would suit them more-Notebook or Laptop? We are going to help you recover from that dilemma, but first let’s understand the crux of both these terms.
VS
Laptop: A computer which weighs around 2-18 pounds (nearly 1-8 kilos) and is extremely portable can be termed as laptop. Look at it this way, Laptop is a condensed version of your personal computer. Everything your personal computer amalgamates; it can be incorporated into your laptop, essentially making it a portable computer (PC). The size and the weight have been reduced to the extent, where it can be easily fit into your lap, sufficing to its name, ‘Lap’top.
Some of the key features of a Laptop are:
- Condensed version of PC; supports high-end processors and delivers extreme performance.
- Support for integration of external hardware.
- Every component essentially in a personal computer like DVD ROM, Graphics card, Hard-drive, etc. are part of a laptop.
- They have an in-built cooling system.
- Battery comes with a sufficient power back-up, but deteriorates with time.
Some of the exquisite laptops come from brands like HP, Dell, Lenovo and many more. Have a glimpse at one of the latest laptops available on the market here.
Notebook: A laptop which weighs less than 6 pounds and can easily fit into a bag pack can be termed as a Notebook. Hence, to put in simple terms, a Notebook eminently is a more condensed version of Laptop. The weight has been reduced to enable commutability and the size has been reduced to reinstate portability.
Some of the key features of a Notebook are:
- Lightweight, portable.
- Have inferior processing capacity as compared to Laptops, solely because of the size and weight constraints.
- No DVD drive.
- No flexibility of add-on hardware.
- Less power implies more battery backup.
- The most significant being, the lack of a cooling system. Assumedly, notebooks do not get as hot as laptop and manufactures believe, thereby, they do not need a cooling system.
Popular brands include Sony, Toshiba, and Dell. In case, you wish to have a look at the latest notebook available in the market, you can check this notebook from Toshiba.
However, before you decide on buying a notebook or laptop:
- Buy a laptop only if you do not commute much, do not have portability issues and work on development of high-end applications. Precisely, buy a laptop for the performance factor, only and only if you are ready to compromise with its bulkiness, dimensions and battery-levels.
- Buy a notebook, if you are looking for something which is portable, lightweight and do not care much about performance, as your needs are pretty basic and substantial. However, you won’t be able to upgrade your parts or attach an external hard-disk. You won’t be able to run high-end applications and play a CD/DVD. The plus points would be easy commutability, more battery, cheaper rate and diminutive size.
A more advanced concept is already into market, called the Netbook. Besides, as processing power increases, the line between Notebook and Laptop gets diminishing. A Notebook essentially delivers the performance unequivocal to a laptop. To take mere advantage of this situation, many laptop brands are marketing their range of mediocre laptops as Notebooks.
Henceforth, conclusively, for the aforementioned comparison between the two, we draw the line between performance and portability. Assess your needs, requirements, expectations, and budget and go for either of them. Both the choices are justifiable and rational, from an individual’s perspective.
