Whether you have a netbook or a laptop or even both you may have decided it’s time to make a decision and just stick by one of the two types of computer. Which is the best option? Understanding the difference between the two is the best place to start when making your decision.

Netbooks

Netbooks have been developed to be small and lightweight and super-portable and bridge the gap between tablets and laptops. They usually have a screen size of between 7” and 13” and tend to weigh less than 1kg. They usually offer long battery life of up to 10 hours and this makes them perfect for keeping on your person whilst out and about. They’re ideal for using whilst out and about, in coffee shops and on campus if you’re studying. Netbooks provide enough power for browsing the web and using the majority of Microsoft Office programmes. They also have provide sufficient data storage for most regular users.

Netbooks don’t have a DVD or CD drive as standard so file transfer will need to be via USB memory drives or through the use of an external drive. Keyboards occasionally cause problems for some too as they’re rather small.

The key plus points of the netbook are that they are lightweight and small and provide long battery life. The negatives tends to be to do with size too with some people having difficulty with keyboards. Netbooks also don’t tend to be powerful enough for watching films or serious gaming.

Laptops

Laptops cover a wide range of different machines and are extremely versatile. They give you a whole range of functions from watching television to working to playing games. Your laptop replaces a whole range of other household items from the TV to the CD player when you’re on the go.

Laptops tend to have screen sizes between 13” and 17” and therefore provide clearer, larger visuals than netbooks. They also tend to have full size or near full size keyboards which makes typing easier. This is a great additional function if you spend a lot of time typing up reports or proposals. Laptops are also essential if you have to use particularly processor heavy software such as is needed for design work or of course for playing games.

The main benefits of laptops are their power and the fact they have an inbuilt DVD drive. The problems mainly come in the form of their increased weight and the fact that their battery life is only about 2-3 hours when unplugged.

To make the decision you need to think about your needs. Are they business or personal or both? Do you have a small budget? Do you have both computers at the moment but need to sell one? If you use your computer for business then perhaps it makes sense to sell the netbook. If you use your computer occasionally for personal and studying needs then maybe a netbook is all you need.

If you’re looking for a single machine to meet your needs then keep these points in mind before choosing.