what is the difference between a laptop, a notebook, and a tablet pc?

Question

I am thinking about getting a laptop for casual web surfing and gaming. I don't plan on getting rid of my desk top pc so I will keep that for printing, photos and what not....I just want a laptop for the mobility. Witch one would be the best for me? Is there anything good for under $1,000.00?

Answer 1

Laptop - Portable (and usable on the go) 'free standing' computer, generally speaking the bulk of all laptops are in this category. A computer that can be used on the lap :)

Notebook - Thinner than a laptop, usually very light - slender. Notebooks are thinner versions of common laptops "Notebook thin" being the idea here. Hardware wise, a laptop or a notebook can be the same, but the distinction is about size (mostly thickness and weight) and asthetics.

*Note, a Notebook is still a laptop, but a laptop (depending on size) might not be considered a Notebook

Tablet PC - Using TabletOS (WindowsXP Tablet Edition) around Notebook size, you can write on the screen with a stylus and are touch screens, also at notebook or smaller size. Also the screens usually spin around completely, so you can hold it "like a tablet" where all you see is the screen -- you don't need a mouse to click, you can use a stylus (pen) and you don't need a keyboard to write, as you can write right on the screen with the stylus, which then translates it to text. (or using an input writing method on the screen, like a PocketPC or PDA input "shorthand" writing)

*Note, a tablet PC is both a notebook and a laptop - but a laptop isn't a tablet PC nor is a notebook one.



Anyway - With a $1,000 range, tablet is pretty much out unless you take a heavy hit on hardware. I wouldn't worry about a distinction between notebook or laptop, for your purposes I would treat them interchangably and find the best deal out there, looking mostly at: Processor speed, hard drive space, memory, screen size.

Answer 2

A laptop and notebook is the same, just semantics. A tablet PC is a much smaller and lighter version of a laptop, usually they don't have CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drives. They are great for traveling and surfing the web on the road.