Netbook vs. Laptop: Which is Best For Me?

I’m an on-the-go kind of person. I love jumping on a plane for an adventure with nothing but a small carry-on bag and my purse. I am also embarrassingly dependent on my computer; whether at home or lounging around on vacation, you’ll usually find a laptop across my knees. I was recently in the market for a new computer, but instead of paying full price for a new laptop, I opted instead to spend only $300 on a 10 inch ASUS cobalt-blue netbook. The low price was enticing, but what really sold me was the size. Small enough to be carried from room to room balanced easily on the palm of one hand, the tiny netbook was the perfect companion for my always-moving lifestyle.

A friend cautioned me that I might not be satisfied with my purchase. “They don’t have much computing power,” he warned. “No DVD drive, and not a lot of memory. The small screen can also get annoying.” My response in defense of the netbook: “but it fits in my purse!” "Lives in my purse" may have been a more apt description, as I frequently take it with me to coffee shops, board meetings, or even the other side of the United States. It only weighs a few pounds and the battery lasts for 8 hours. Laptops are convenient, but the portability of the netbook is almost unmatched.

netbooks (Photo credit: osde8info)

However, my friend’s cautions against the netbook were not unfounded. My relationship with my netbook, though rosy in the beginning, has had its rough patches. The lack of an optical drive means I can’t easily install software, watch DVDs, or play CDs. Netbooks are not as powerful as laptops unless you spend a considerable amount, so I have been frequently frustrated with slowness, and sometimes non-responsiveness, when I have too many programs running at the same time. The small screen also makes watching YouTube videos less visually exciting than on my old laptop.

Image via Wikipedia

If you love a large screen, want a fast computing experience, and can’t live without extras like a DVD drive, (and have the $500 to $1500 to spend), you are probably better off sticking with a laptop. If portability is your main goal and you mostly use your computer for basics like word processing and the internet, then you will be perfectly happy with a netbook. I still have my old laptop, which lives at my home while my netbook travels around with me. Since the two serve such different functions, you may even be happiest like I am--with one of each!

Austin computer shop in Western Australia offer great prices on all things computers. Checkout their laptop sale to save money on a new high performance laptop computer. Rest assured in the knowledge that every Austin store also has an in-store service center and offer free lifetime phone support on purchases.