A NetBook as the term says is a smaller version of a Note‘Book’ with the primary function to aid browsing the ‘Net’.
The key features of a NetBook which distinguishes from NoteBook is that -
- Its having a low powered x86 compatible processor (which is compatible with standard PC/Notebook OS)
- Its smaller in size (Not more than 10 inches in screen size).
- Lesser memory and hard disk capacity (There is a lot of improvement in this area)
- Low priced (starts under 200$).
- Can run web browsers and light weight applications (but not a complete replacement for a NoteBook)
- Have wireless connectivity – as its main purpose is web browsing
- Light in weight – starts close to a Kg
Evolution of the term NetBook
Psion PLC – a consumer hardware company headquarters in London, registered trademark ‘NETBOOK’ in various territories back in 1996 to be used for their product, but discontinued them in 2003. So that was the first time the term netbook was used by someone.
Later intel referred the term netbook to be used in the place of smaller laptops built mostly on their intel atom processors.
In short you can take netbook as a device which function somewhat in between a mobile phone and laptop in terms of the intended use of Net Surfing.
In a mobile phone the screen size is a big limitation for web browsing along with other software compatibility issues such as flash content, javascript etc. This has been overcome by the evolution of netbook which is a notebook primarily designed for web browsing.
Is NetBook only for Web Browsing?
Well, may be the initial netbook models were, but not the new ones. New netbook models have grown considerably from being a device which has only web browsing capabilities. Considerable research and developments are going on in the direction where some day in future Netbook will be replacing notebooks !
Some of the NetBook manufacturers
ASUStek has come up with a wide variety of netbooks including the much sought out ASUS EeePC 1000HE model with upto 9.5 hours battery backup.
Acer is the next close contender in providing netbooks which can nearly match a notebook.
I am not impressive by the developments made by Dell and HP in this area so far with respect to the feature and price of the betbooks released by them, but thisng have only started !
Samsung, MSI and LG are among the remaining well known netbook manufacturers.
