Laptops Arena

The second most debated question after „Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" may just be „Are there any differences between a laptop and a notebook?".  They were each designed by the following concepts: the laptop is a portable computer and a notebook was made mostly for taking notes. The answer to this questions varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.

So, what are the differences? Let's start with the notebooks. The batteries of a notebook last up to 4 hours longer that those of a laptop. This is what makes them ideal for people that travel a lot. It's also lighter than a laptop. Generally, a notebook has less features than a laptop and that makes it cheaper. However, nowadays, notebook manufacturers tend to enhance notebooks with lots of the characteristics of a laptop and they are more and more expensive, not to mention that they are loosing the main concept of a notebook. Unfortunately, you have no CD or DVD drive incorporated, but you do have a modem and this works out just fine for people who need constant access to the internet.  Other devices may need to be purschased separately and they can be attached externally. The display varies from 12 to 14 inches and the keyboard is smaller than that of a laptop. The power of the processor is lower than that of a laptop and the cooling system may not be so efficient. One other thing that a notebook lacks is a graphic card, mostly because notebooks are not made for gaming. In terms of size, price and performance, the notebook is ranked between a laptop and a PDA.

A laptop has everything a notebook has...and more! The laptop has more features than a notebook and it's ideal for running multi tasks and applications.  They are also a little heavier and the display is at least 14 inches long.  A laptop is far more suitable if you are looking to replace your desktop computer as it can offer you almost everything that a PC has to offer. You also have a CD or DVD drive, integrated speakers  and modem and the best part is that everything is upgradable. If you are not satisfied with an on board graphic card, you can always upgrade (especially if you are a game addict, then you will need the latest in graphics technology to play your favorite games. The main characteristic of a laptop is that it's meant to be a desktop replacement and offer you portability as a bonus. Laptops today can provide you with most of the features you need. Desktop replacement laptops generrally have a wide screen display, larger that 15 inches. Since they are a bit bigger, they are also heavier and not as portable as normal laptops or notebooks. The battery does not last long. In the beginning, when they appeared in the market, laptops were made for certain kinds of people, meant to cover only a small niche on the market. They were manufactured for sales people, accountants and even the military. However, today laptops are better sold than desktops. The top manufacturers are HP, Toshiba, Dell, Apple and the famous Sony Vaio.

In the never ending debate „Laptop vs. Notebook", there are no winners. Choosing between a laptop and a notebook is something that depends strictly on your needs. If you are not keen on using a computer and you need something simple and easy to use, you may want to go with a notebook. It will work just fine if you write frequently or need to use applications that do not require a lot of memory. You can also watch a good movie on your notebook, if you have the necessary space (HDD).

When you are looking to buy a laptop, you may want to do some research before purchasing one. If you know a little bit about laptops and their configurations, you can always check an online store or a specialized website where you can find information about the model name and all of its features, as well as the price. Or you may have, as most of us already do, a friend or relative who is very good with computers and he can give you some tips on the laptop that is most suitable for you. These are two of your choices if you don't trust the sales person in the store, who also knows information about all models in display and they can ask you questions to find out exactly what you need a laptop for and further recommend the most suitable model for you. Beware that some of these people working in computer stores and giving you advice do not always have solid knowledge of IT.

If you are looking to buy a laptop or a notebook or you already have one, here are some tips and tricks you may not know yet: If you are using your laptop or notebook and have an outlet around you, just keep it plugged in without the batteries inside. You can put the batteries back in when travelling or do not have access to a power outlet; this saves you battery life. Another thing that saves power on your battery is the brightness of the display. If your laptop is not plugged in and you want the battery to last longer, just adjust the brightness of the display and you can save some battery life. Always try to choose laptop models that have a longer warranty period to save up some money on repairs. Laptops and notebooks which are more expensive have better features. There are laptops especially designed and equipped for gaming. These laptops have better graphic cards, more Ram memory and more free space, better sound system. However, laptops for gamers are really expensive! You can always buy and upgrade. If you are not satisfied with the current features of your laptop or you cannot afford an expensive one right now, you can buy a cheaper one and upgrade its components.