| Questions regarding differences between laptops and | | | | graphics chip so it all evens out. |
| netbooks often pop up on different computer related | | | | 3. The battery life. A 15.4" laptop in the $500 price |
| forums often leading to heated discussions and | | | | range often comes with 2-4 hours battery which dips |
| strongly worded opinions. Who is right and what | | | | below 1.5-3 when playing movies or games. On the |
| differences are there? Which one is best? | | | | other hand netbooks that cost $300 often have a |
| I can't say I'm strongly biased towards one or another | | | | battery that lasts for 6-10 hours, enough for a whole |
| group of computers since I personally have and use | | | | day of work. Even under high load they rarely run for |
| both and have used desktop computers extensively | | | | less than 4-5 hours. |
| too, which I hope gives me the experience to call one | | | | 4. The keyboard is often the central point of debates, |
| or another type of notebook good or best for a | | | | and I frankly don't understand why. Comparing the |
| particular job. Here are the five main differences you | | | | keyboard of an Asus 1005 series netbook to a |
| should consider before decide on one or another. | | | | Fujitsu-Siemens pi3540 laptop there is a whole inch of |
| 1. The size. Anyone who has seen a netbook before | | | | difference in favor of the latter. I'm not a fast typist but |
| will agree me on this one, netbooks are small. It can be | | | | I often peak above 65 WPM on my netbook and |
| both a pro and a con, depends on the color of the | | | | make mistakes on the laptop. It's all down to which one |
| glasses you wear. For those who carry their | | | | you're used to, and isn't much of an issue if you |
| computers around a lot small size is a huge plus, for | | | | choose a netbook with a proper set of keys. That's |
| those who run high resolution software it's a bane. | | | | the first thing I check on a netbook, actually. |
| 2. Resolution. The number of pixels is limited to 1024 by | | | | 5. The price. This factor often favors netbooks, which |
| 600 on the small 10.1" screen, which is usually | | | | tend to fall under $400 mark. It would be challenging to |
| mentioned as a drawback. All I can say is that the | | | | find a proper new laptop for that much money and |
| more you use it the more used you'll get to it and will | | | | even then you'd have to fight lower battery life and |
| not even notice it anymore. It's definitely enough to | | | | build quality of the cheap notebook. For that much |
| render websites in their native size and e-mails don't | | | | money you actually get the Cadillac of mini |
| really need even this much. Laptops have larger | | | | ultraportables, and I don't find it hard at all to find one I'd |
| resolution screen but those put extra pressure on the | | | | be comfortable with for $300. |