Netbook vs. Laptop
Which one is right for you?
When it comes to distinguishing between a netbook and a laptop, looks can be deceiving, especially since you can now enjoy the features you’ve come to expect in a standard laptop in ultra-thin and sleek styles. Learn what each of these computers was designed to do so you can pick the one that best fits your needs.
Start by thinking about how you'll use your computer - would you simply like to explore the Internet from anywhere you want? Or do you need to burn CDs/DVDs and watch HD videos? Your answers will help you to decide whether you need a handy netbook or a standard laptop.
What can you do with each?
| Netbook | Laptop | |
|---|---|---|
| Email, chat, IM | v | v |
| Social networking (blog, Facebook) | v | v |
| Surf the Web on the go | v | v |
| Multitask | v | |
| Stream audio/SD video | v | v |
| Create and edit videos, photos | v | |
| Encode music | v | |
| Watch HD movies | v | |
| Play games | Casual Online Games | PC Games |
| Run complex office software | v | |
| Related processor |
|
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I replace my aging laptop with a netbook?
- No. A netbook doesn't have the processing power and functionality you'd need to run many of the applications your current laptop supports, even if it's a few years old. The good news is that today's laptops offer more bang for the buck than ever before. You'll immediately reap the rewards of greater performance, quality and reliability by upgrading your system.
- How can I encourage my kids' emerging interest in computers without unleashing them on the PC I sometimes use for work?
- Computers offer great opportunities for kids to learn and play. Consider adding a netbook as a companion to your main computer. A netbook offers value and ease-of-use so kids can explore the Internet and not interfere with their parents' work.
- Is there any way of knowing for sure if I'm looking at a netbook?
- Yes, if the computer in question is powered by an Intel® Atom™ processor, it is a netbook. Laptops, on the other hand, may use one of a variety of Intel® processors. Appearances can be misleading, too, with many full-featured laptops now available in ultra-thin and light designs.
Netbooks and Laptops in Action
Hitting the Road
Jim is packing for his vacation abroad and wants to travel light. Still, he’d like to be able to email with friends and family, post entries to his blog, browse the Web and listen to a little music. Rather than bringing his full-performance laptop he uses at home, a compact, portable netbook is perfect for staying online while he sees the sights.‡
Must-Have Music
Kevin can’t go anywhere without his music library. All told, he’s got 10 gigs’ worth of music files, and he wants to be able to edit any track, anytime, anywhere. For Kevin, a laptop is the right choice, since it provides ample storage space and the processing power for editing and encoding new music he wants to save.
Household Helper
Kelly’s favorite TV chef demonstrated a recipe that she can’t wait to try herself. Fortunately, all of the chef’s recipes, along with helpful technique videos, are available for free on his website. Kelly can bring her netbook right into the kitchen with her when it’s time to get cooking, making it a perfect companion to the desktop computer in the family room.
Upgrade Your Life
Deborah’s desktop computer is a few years old and starting to show its age. She’d like to replace it with something more compact that she can bring into her office occasionally. With a full-featured laptop, she can run lots of different applications, store tons of digital photos, watch high-definition movies and multitask without any problems.
Inside the Best Laptops
Experience energy-efficient performance and full wireless connectivity with the Intel® Core™2 Duo mobile processor. Become a multitasking master and count on long battery life, plus enjoy outstanding performance when encoding HD videos or running other intensive applications.
Additional Resources
Shop now for Intel-based PCs
Considering a netbook?
Take the Internet along in a compact companion to your PC, powered by the Intel® Atom™ processor.
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Considering a laptop?
Check out your options for full-featured laptops powered by Intel® processors.
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‡ Netbook performance, battery life, power savings, high-definition quality, video playback and functionality, and wireless performance and functionality will vary depending on your specific operating system, hardware, chipset, connection rate, site conditions, and software configurations. Wireless connectivity and some features may require you to purchase additional software, services or external hardware.