What is the difference between a laptop and a notebook computer?

[Don Rearic]

The title says it all. I assume they have less features and that's why they are less expensive or...what?

 

[Cougar Allen]

When advertisers first started calling computers notebooks it was to make the point that they were smaller and lighter than the large heavy laptops that were all that was available previously, but that was years ago (even in human years -- in computer years, a long time ago). In general advertisers are not very strict about definitions; they call their products whatever name they think will sell....

 

[Cougar Allen]

P.S. It occurs to me you might have meant to ask about "netbooks," a more recent marketing term. Netbooks are not claimed to have as much power as most laptops/notebooks, just to be small and light and cheap and adequate for accessing the net.

In practice some of the computers advertised as netbooks are as powerful as some of the computers that are not, and they're not always smaller, lighter, or cheaper.

I suggest reading all the specs and not just the large print in the ads....

 

[Doug C]

Google is your friend. :thumbup:

Let's look at the notebook computer first.

The Notebook Computer
A standard notebook has the following features:

1. Ultralight. Less weight is better.

2. 4 - 5 hour battery life.

3. No internal floppy drive.

4. Minimal graphics subsystem.

5. No internal DVD or CD system.

6. 12" - 14" TFT screen.

7. Low profile (thin).

8. Integrated modem and network connection.

9. Smallest possible keyboard that retains functionality.

10. Low power consumption Celeron/Centrino or Sempron style processor.

In essence a notebook computer is designed to provide mobile computing that won't break your back yet still offer all the power the mobile users requires for work and some leisure pursuits. This portability normally comes at a price. The level of minituarization involved comes at a cost and high end notebooks can prove to be quite expensive.



The Laptop Computer
Now for the laptop computer. Again look at the name. A laptop is designed to sit on your lap and you can therefore expect it to be quite large and loaded down with features and power. The

The standard laptop computer would have some ,if not all, of the following features:

1. 14" - 17" (widescreen) TFT screen.

2. Nvidia GeForce or ATI Radeon graphics subsystem.

3. Internal DVD-ROM or DVD-RW drive

4. Large full featured keyboard.

5. 3 hour+ battery life.

6. Upgradeable.

7. Integrated modem, network, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities.

8. High quality integrate audio and speaker system.

9. Low power consumption, high performance Intel Centrino style processor.

From reading the above information you'll see that the notebook is the exact opposite of the laptop. Notebooks offer reasonable power and extreme portability. Laptops are designed to be capable of replacing an entire desktop PC if necessary whilst still offering desktop performance in a mobile platform. Hopefully this article has helped clear up the differences between both classes of portable computers. As time and technology moves on the line between laptop and notebook will continue to blur but for right now it's still clearly defined and driven by the demands of the portable computer market.

 

[phaserrifle]

I was told that notebook came into being when it was realised that it wasn't a good idea to use most laptops on your lap. the heat can get quite uncomfortable, and lower your fertility.

course it could all be rubbish

 

[yablanowitz]

My Alienware laptop says in its manual not to set it directly on your lap. Blocking the air inlet ports can cause severe damage. Not to mention that sucker gets hot enough to burn you when you play Doom3 for a few hours. They actually refer to it as a desktop replacement in the literature.

 

[tedwca]

Apple does not make laptop computers, they only make notebook(portable) computers. They run to hot to be used on your lap.

 

[Gollnick]

Laptop was the early term for a portable computer with a keyboard and LCD display that folded for carrying. Notebook was coined for physically
-smaller versions. The netbook generally lacks any removable media and may have a smaller hard drive which may be solid-state. What a legitimate netbook always has is wireless networking. That's the point of netbook; it is used for net-based computing and for working online.

 

[T.K.C.]

I beg to differ about Apple laptops, as I am on one now, and have been for hours; it is sitting on my lap.

 

[ironmike86]

I beg to differ about Apple laptops, as I am on one now, and have been for hours; it is sitting on my lap.

Depends on what you do. Game on it.

 

[NaturalMystic]

Interesting, I've always considered laptop and notebook interchangeable names for the same thing. I didn't realize there were actual defined differences between the two.

 

[Daniel]

Interesting, I've always considered laptop and notebook interchangeable names for the same thing. I didn't realize there were actual defined differences between the two.

They are the same. Unless you are a technology writer trying to justify your existence.

 

[NaturalMystic]

LOL, yeah I thought it might be a cultural thing like hood vs bonnet, trunk vs boot. Just two names for the same thing.
I've always referred to them as laptops, never notebooks.

 

[Josh K]

Apple does not make laptop computers, they only make notebook(portable) computers. They run to hot to be used on your lap.

The people that shell out the cash for a 17" MacBook Pro would probably beg to differ. That thing can (RAM dependent) run Final Cut Pro along with Shake without breaking a sweat.

Depends on what you do. Game on it.

I'm running Unreal 2004, how would I play this on my lap? Still not above 160*F anyways.

 

[tedwca]

160* is warmer than most people want on their laps. I'm not saying that I don't use mine on my lap(I am right now) but that is the average persons thought when using a Macbook Pro on their lap for processor intensive applications.