the difference

[snappy78]

what's the difference between a netbook and a laptop

[sn�gged]

If you want a fully functioning portable PC, get a notebook/laptop.

If you need a smaller machine for emailing/web browsing and not much else, get a netbook.

[vehelpfulguy]

As has been said, a laptop (sometimes known as a notebook) is a full "PC" that normally runs Windows, and has a CD/DVD player. Screen size is usually 14" or above.

A netbook is a smaller device with a screen size 8" or so.

Some run Windows but others run a different operating system called Linux.

The cases are not normally big enough to have CD/DVD drives in them.

Some of them (all of them?) use a "solid state" hard disk (no moving parts)

I guess a netbook is part way between a hand held PDA and a laptop.

Small enough to carry round, but large enought to actually work with.