Notebook or laptop - recommendations please

TakeCare · 03-09-2010, 22:56

Could someone explain ( in plain english please

) what the difference is between notebook and laptop.

I am looking to buy one for my daughter and no idea what I should be looking at. Would like advice here 1st instead of going in to a shop and looking as 'thick'

Budget up to £350, possibly stretch to £400 but only at a push.

She uses likes of facebook/Msn, needs WORD too.

Thanks in advance.

Kingofthedead4 · 03-09-2010, 22:58

Notebook's are basically for business, and internet, they have small processing power compared to laptops, and the screen is smaller. Laptops can be used for gaming and business and internet.

TakeCare · 03-09-2010, 23:02

Thanks for that. Any recommendations?

jb66 · 03-09-2010, 23:09

If she is typing then you'll be better with a laptop for the larger keyboard

Hom3r · 03-09-2010, 23:10

Also netbooks have no CD/DVD drive.

What is it going to be used for?

I have both.

1. Acer Aspire 5680, with a dedicated 256MB of video RAM.

2. Samsung NC-10. I bought a SE-S084C DVD-RW drive to go with it.

Kingofthedead4 · 03-09-2010, 23:12

I would always have a laptop, just so you have the option of watching DVD's and other things.

LondonRoad · 03-09-2010, 23:12

There's quite a good spec notebook in Aldi from Sunday:

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers...uys3_15471.htm

jb66 · 03-09-2010, 23:14

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.207-2571.aspx

Seems good value

Kingofthedead4 · 03-09-2010, 23:18

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/toshib...25216-pdt.html

is a nice one.

LondonRoad · 03-09-2010, 23:22

it's notebook or laptop the OP is asking about. It's netbooks that tend to have no dvd drives/burners and smaller keyboards.

03-09-2010, 23:30

Notebook & laptop tend to refer to the same type of machine.

The other term often used is 'netbook' - which usually refers to a machine designed to be ultra portable - as in small & light, but which usually has several compromises in respect of the 'guts' of the machine such as the processor, hard disk & graphics.
Netbooks will usually not have an optical (CD/DVD) drive fitted.

Going back to the laptop/notebook type of machine, most will do the minimum required within your budget.

What you want to look out for when making a choice, in my opinion, is things like battery life, screen size/resolution & included software.

You mentioned 'Word' as a requirement - if your daughter is a student she should be able to get the 'home & student' edition of Microsoft Office, which is relatively inexpensive & includes 'Word' - failing that there is a free option called OpenOffice which is downloadable & compatible with most of the programs & functions in the Microsoft suite. Then there are other Office suites available, such as Corel Office, which again are compatible with Microsoft Word, etc, in that they can save files in 'word' format.

- don't rely on Microsoft 'Works' which is actually less compatible with Microsoft Office than the free OpenOffice option.

Hom3r · 03-09-2010, 23:31

I have used my Netbook for several things

1. I have installed the MS Office 2007 H&S suite on it.

2. Web surfing.

3. Listen to Music

4. Watched DVDs, using a USB DVD drive, and ripping a DVD to a USB HDD (via my main laptop and DVD rip).

5. playing some games (OK not super duper stuff) just some of those puzzle search and find stuff.

03-09-2010, 23:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by LondonRoad

There's quite a good spec notebook in Aldi from Sunday:

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers...uys3_15471.htm

I have a Medion/Akoya Notebook I bought last year from Aldi with a slightly lower specification (core 2 duo not i3, 16" screen not 17.3", 320GB hard disk, not 500GB) & it has been brilliant - personally I would recommend spending that bit extra over the OP's budget for the machine you've linked to, especially given the free 3 year warranty.

Atomic22 · 10-09-2010, 21:05

i bought one of the kids an asus laptop for xmas, it lasted 6 weeks until it decided not to work anymore, i took it back and got a full refund, but the weird thing was when the woman at the shop gave it the once over and gave me the "have you tried switching it on and off again" and "are you sure the battery isnt flat" routine she asked if i used it plugged in to the mains, yes says i - its better than flattening my battery when i have electricity "they are not designed to be used like that" she says. then amazed me by saying have you been using it on your lap? erm yeh thats why its called a laptop "you are not meant to do that as they get too hot - they are called notebooks now"
hmmmm
i had to laff

LondonRoad · 10-09-2010, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atomic22

i bought one of the kids an asus laptop for xmas, it lasted 6 weeks until it decided not to work anymore, i took it back and got a full refund, but the weird thing was when the woman at the shop gave it the once over and gave me the "have you tried switching it on and off again" and "are you sure the battery isnt flat" routine she asked if i used it plugged in to the mains, yes says i - its better than flattening my battery when i have electricity "they are not designed to be used like that" she says. then amazed me by saying have you been using it on your lap? erm yeh thats why its called a laptop "you are not meant to do that as they get too hot - they are called notebooks now"
hmmmm
i had to laff

I was really disappointed when I went to the notedancing club last night.