Fiducial Data International Inc.

So what is the difference between laptop and netbook? A laptop (also called a notebook) is computer which has been designed to be made portable, featuring a screen hinged to a keyboard. A laptop includes a battery for portable power and a touchpad instead of a mouse for input.

Mini laptops (also called a netbook, subnotebook or ultraportables) take these ideas further still, creating a new market above handheld computers, smartphones and personal digital assistants. The primary characteristic of these are smaller size and weight, which are pretty similar to the average diary, as well as costing less than a standard laptop with prices starting at around $249, an excellent solution during the credit crunch!

Mini laptops aren't as powerful as bigger notebook computers, and lack the power for big, demanding programs as well as an optical disc drive - so no CDs or DVDs. Regardless, connectivity is a central focus for netbooks. Internet downloads are quickly catching-up on hard media products, so perhaps it's not such a loss.

In short, the difference between laptop and netbook is that a netbook is smaller, lighter, cheaper (on the whole) and simpler.

New mini laptops are expected to sell in the region of 5.2 million units by the end of 2008, 8 million during 2009 and up to 50 million by 2012 - a ten fold growth. Industry analysts are torn over whether or not subnotebooks will cannibalize the laptop market, some suggesting that a mere 10% market share will be taken. However, in this economic downturn, people will always look for cheaper products and with mini laptops available from $199-399, perhaps there is a big market after all.

So is it game over for the standard laptop and pc? Unlikely; whilst mini laptops can perform dozens of tasks to identical or similar standard of larger computers, they will (for the time being) be limited by battery size, processing power and storage space, the difference between laptop and netbook is pronounced enough not to make the former obsolete.

Furthermore, when using a computer over a prolonged period of time, it would make sense to use a bigger screen and a faster processor of a desktop replacement laptop or a PC, particularly for demanding programs' such as games.

And finally, similarly priced laptops, of varying quality, are available for around $399-600 leading some industry analysts to believe that the consumer focus will be on functionality and not merely size and weight.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, mobile phone manufacturers and providers are tapping into the netbook market with the Samsung NC10, LG X110 and Carphone Warehouse launching the Webbook - a branded laptop made by Elonex. Vodafone has linked arms with Dell with its Inspiron Mini 9, offering 3G mobile broadband contracts. Orange have followed suit with by cosying up with Asus and the Eee PC 901.

The difference between laptops and netbooks may seem very vague, but there is certainly space for both to function. If you've got a laptop, even reading this on one, lift it up. Feel the weight of it. Ask yourself, do I need all this extra space? Would I be better off with something smaller and lighter - if the answers yes, browse around the site.

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