More Options Than Answers

So you have already had the desktop vs. laptop debate, with yourself, your friends, your spouse, your kids, and everyone else who would hold still. You have chosen laptop. You are sure of your decision and confident that you will find just the right machine for you. The research begins online, and that is when you run into the problem. Now you have been inundated with a whole new set of options. You have run into terms like netbook, notebook, tablet, and laptop. Calm down, take a breath, and before you alienate everyone who is your friend on facebook let me see if I can make things a little clearer.

The best thing to understand is that a lot of these terms have become somewhat interchangeable so there are not black and white definitions that everyone agrees on. Now that I have scared you more let me reassure you there are some standards. Laptops, notebooks and netbooks are all defined as having screens and keyboards attached with hinges. So anything you open and see a screen and keyboard is one of those three things. A tablet is a different creature. This is just a screen, and they mainly run on app style programming. There was a time when tablets even ran on different operating systems than other computers. They are getting more mainstream. They now run on traditional operating systems, however, they still have computing limitations. These are a good option if you run your life with apps, and are addicted to your smart phone. If you are limited in your technological abilities, and just made a confused face when you read the word apps, then this is probably not the machine for you.

Now laptop, notebook, and netbook are differentiated by size going from the biggest to the smallest.   Laptops are traditionally the biggest machines physically as well as having the biggest computing power. This term is still used for the biggest and baddest computing machines. The big gaming machines are still considered laptops. Then we have notebooks which are smaller with a smaller price tag, but the trade off is that they did not have the big computing power. Now, however, unless you are running huge game programs the lines have really blurred. There are lots of machines in mid price ranges that have excellent computing power with exactly the size, screen, and weight you are looking for. Now netbooks are still a different creature, although even this line is starting to blur. Netbooks are much smaller and are not actually meant for full computing functionality. They run on smaller operating systems and do not have the space for large program installations. They were mainly meant for internet and email use at their inception. They do tend to run quite a bit cheaper, so if that is all you intend to do that may be a good way to go.

 Now that I have filled your head with a ton of technical stuff that you don't really understand I am going to tell you again, relax. This is easier than it sounds, and you can do it. The names mean very little. What matters is that you get a machine that does what you need it to do. Make a list of all the things you do on your computer and the programs that you cannot live without. Now go to a computer store that you can trust, or take a computer literate friend with you shopping. Get something that works for you and then give a name you can remember and enjoy, like Ginger or Shadow.