There seems to be a general amount of confusion regarding what exactly a "notebook" is in comparison to other kinds of portable computers. Unlike netbooks, which are a recent emerging kind of portable PC with a distinctly different role to play, notebooks have been around for a while and are now almost indistinguishable from standard laptops. The two terms are, in fact, often used as synonyms today.
The term "notebook" was first used in 1989 to describe a slightly smaller form of laptop that was, incidentally, the size of a typical A4 paper notebook (the first two being the NEC UltraLite and the Compaq LTE line of notebooks). The notebook was popularized by the IBM ThinkPad in the early 90's. Laptops before then (and many since) generally have larger dimensions for things like increased screen size or to include additional components within the system.
For years after this initial introduction, the term "notebook" was common vernacular for these smaller laptops, which became really popular among businessmen and students for their light weight and more discreet size. The reduced size, however, came with a price.
Notebooks essentially traded ease of use and comfort for raw processing power, as the smaller portables generally contain weaker, more power efficient chips within their framework. This created a slight segmentation of the market, as notebooks made good companions but poor replacements for desktops, whereas the more powerful laptops can equal all but the most powerful desktops on the market. This remains somewhat true even today, years after notebooks have lost their original A4 size in favor of physical sizes that make them more or less indistinguishable to the more general laptops.
This does me that notebooks are, for all intents and purposes, "between" laptops and the new netbooks that have emerged in the last few years. Netbooks are now the lowest denominator in all respects, from prices to hardware capabilities, but then that is what they were designed for. The inherent limits of netbooks keep them from completely overshadowing notebooks (and laptops in general), but they are the attractive option for people low on funds in need of a computer, and this will likely prove more true as technology improves and prices fall, allowing for even more powerful netbooks in the future.
With notebooks and laptops becoming more similar and converging on the same territory, it is possible that within a few years there will not be any difference between them at all, and that netbooks will come to be the new notebooks of the 21st century.
In closing, we would like to mention that there is one distinction between laptops and notebooks that is actually increasing at the present time: touchscreen functionality. At present, the percentage of notebooks with a built in touchscreen is rising quite rapidly. While there are laptops with touchscreen support, the function is, at least for the moment, a notebook thing.
The term "notebook" was first used in 1989 to describe a slightly smaller form of laptop that was, incidentally, the size of a typical A4 paper notebook (the first two being the NEC UltraLite and the Compaq LTE line of notebooks). The notebook was popularized by the IBM ThinkPad in the early 90's. Laptops before then (and many since) generally have larger dimensions for things like increased screen size or to include additional components within the system.
For years after this initial introduction, the term "notebook" was common vernacular for these smaller laptops, which became really popular among businessmen and students for their light weight and more discreet size. The reduced size, however, came with a price.
Notebooks essentially traded ease of use and comfort for raw processing power, as the smaller portables generally contain weaker, more power efficient chips within their framework. This created a slight segmentation of the market, as notebooks made good companions but poor replacements for desktops, whereas the more powerful laptops can equal all but the most powerful desktops on the market. This remains somewhat true even today, years after notebooks have lost their original A4 size in favor of physical sizes that make them more or less indistinguishable to the more general laptops.
This does me that notebooks are, for all intents and purposes, "between" laptops and the new netbooks that have emerged in the last few years. Netbooks are now the lowest denominator in all respects, from prices to hardware capabilities, but then that is what they were designed for. The inherent limits of netbooks keep them from completely overshadowing notebooks (and laptops in general), but they are the attractive option for people low on funds in need of a computer, and this will likely prove more true as technology improves and prices fall, allowing for even more powerful netbooks in the future.
With notebooks and laptops becoming more similar and converging on the same territory, it is possible that within a few years there will not be any difference between them at all, and that netbooks will come to be the new notebooks of the 21st century.
In closing, we would like to mention that there is one distinction between laptops and notebooks that is actually increasing at the present time: touchscreen functionality. At present, the percentage of notebooks with a built in touchscreen is rising quite rapidly. While there are laptops with touchscreen support, the function is, at least for the moment, a notebook thing.
About the Author:
Matthew Kerridge is an expert in electronic products. If you want further information about laptops or are looking for notebooks please visit http://www.ebuyer.com
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