What sets apart notebooks, netbooks, and ultra-mobile PCs?

In early 2008, laptop computers ruled the mobile computing scene. While some alternatives like tablet PCs, advanced PDAs, and a few smartphones could handle basic tasks, laptops became the benchmark for portable computing, with some models nearly as powerful as desktop computers.

By the following year, laptops were facing stiff competition in the mobile computing market. With so many new terms and categories to navigate, consumers found it increasingly challenging to distinguish between laptops, notebooks, netbooks, and ultra-mobile PCs. What’s the distinction? Are these terms interchangeable? Are they clearly defined?

The answer varies depending on who you ask. One person might refer to a specific PC as a netbook, while someone else might call it a notebook. It’s akin to describing a raised landform — some might call it a hill, others a mountain. There’s no universally accepted definition to rely on.

There are general guidelines we can follow. Laptops, notebooks, and netbooks all share the same fundamental design, with size being the key differentiator. This form factor typically includes a screen and a keyboard connected by hinges. In most cases, netbooks are smaller and lighter than notebooks, which are themselves smaller and lighter than laptops. However, there are no strict size or weight categories, so if a computer has an 11-inch (27.9 cm) screen, is it a netbook or a notebook? This often leads to disagreement.

Let's begin with laptops and notebooks. Many people use these terms interchangeably because many modern laptops are smaller and lighter than their earlier versions. As laptop technology advances, manufacturers are able to fit more power into more compact designs, making the notebook format the prevailing standard.

However, some laptops are still too large to be considered notebooks. For example, the Lenovo ThinkPad W700ds features a 17-inch (43.2 cm) main screen and a retractable 10-inch (25.4 cm) secondary screen. It weighs 11 pounds (5 kg) and is 2.1 inches (5.3 cm) thick. Gaming laptops like Toshiba’s Qosmio X305 can also be quite large, weighing 9 pounds and having a 17-inch (43.2 cm) screen. Although portable, carrying these computers around all day would be cumbersome.

Netbooks vs. Notebooks

Notebook computers are lighter than the laptops we looked at in the previous section. They usually have screens ranging from 12 to 17 inches (30.5 to 43.2 centimeters) and weigh around 5 to 6 pounds (2.3 to 2.7 kilograms). Ideally, a notebook computer has the same processing power and features as larger laptop computers. Many manufacturers charge a premium price for the convenience of a small computer that packs a big punch.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X300 is a notebook computer. It has a 13.3-inch (33.8 centimeter) screen and weighs only 3.2 pounds (1.5 kilograms), making it a lightweight in the notebook category. When closed, it measures only .9 inches (2.3 centimeters) thick. It also has many of the features you'd find in a typical laptop computer: a WiFi card, a Bluetooth antenna, a dual-core processor, 1 gigabyte (GB) of RAM and a 64-GB solid-state hard drive. It also has a DVD drive and an integrated Web camera. It comes with the Windows Vista operating system.

Netbook computers are relative newcomers to the computer market. The general definition for a netbook computer is that they are smaller, less powerful and less expensive than notebook computers.

When they first began to get attention in early 2008, netbooks seemed to contradict the popular philosophy in the computer market. For many years, the prevailing strategy for computer consumers was to find the fastest, most powerful computer in their price range. But consumers are beginning to understand that they don't necessarily need a bleeding-edge computer for most of the tasks they perform. And as the Web takes a more prevalent role in computing, the processing requirements for consumer computers become less demanding.

Though people disagree on specific metrics for netbooks, in general they have screens smaller than 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) and weigh only one or two pounds (.5 to .9 kilograms). Typically they cost between $300 and $600. An example is the Asus EEE PC 4G. It weighs two pounds (.9 kilograms) and has a seven-inch (17.8 centimeter) screen. The processor is an Intel Celeron M 353/630 megahertz chip and it has 512 megabytes of RAM. It comes with a 4 GB solid-state hard drive and costs around $400.

Ultra-mobile PCs

This brings us to the ultra-mobile PC (UMPC). Technically, this term is associated with a Microsoft product. It's a tablet device — picture a screen without a physical keyboard. The interface on most UMPCs is a touchscreen controlled with a stylus, along with a set of physical buttons along the edges of the screen. These tablets are light, like netbooks, and typically have small screens ranging from 4 to 7 inches (10.2 to 17.8 cm).

Certain UMPC versions include a full QWERTY keyboard that slides out beneath the screen. Other models rely entirely on the touchscreen. The majority of these devices run on the Windows Vista operating system. While UMPCs are more portable than notebooks, they tend to be pricier than netbooks.

Samsung's Q1UP-XP Ultra Mobile PC is a prime example. It boasts a seven-inch (17.8-centimeter) LCD touchscreen and weighs a mere two pounds (0.9 kilograms). Featuring a split QWERTY keyboard with keys on either side of the display, it also supports WiFi and Bluetooth. The device includes a microphone and can function as a voice-over Internet protocol (VOIP) unit. As of this article's writing, the Q1UP-XP is priced at $1,299.

Some individuals use the term UMPC to refer to all small computer devices, including netbooks. Others use it to differentiate pricier mobile computers from affordable netbooks. For instance, while Apple markets its MacBook Air as a notebook, some argue it doesn't truly belong in that category. The Air is slim enough to fit in a standard manila envelope and features a 13.3-inch (33.8-centimeter) LED backlit screen. However, its processor is less powerful than that of other MacBook models, with limited storage and fewer ports. The starting price for the Air is $1,799.

The Air's design, processing power, and price make it difficult to classify. This is why some journalists label devices as UMPCs if they are portable, yet more powerful and expensive than netbooks. According to this terminology, a netbook is small, budget-friendly, and offers basic processing capabilities. A UMPC, however, is compact, pricier, and typically has a stronger processor than a netbook.

The Future of Mobile Computing

Upcoming products are likely to blur the distinctions between netbooks, notebooks, and UMPCs even more. At CES 2009, Asus unveiled the Eee T91 and T101H, devices that merge the features of tablets and netbooks. These gadgets sport screens mounted on a pivot, enabling you to rotate the display and fold it over the keyboard. A touchscreen interface allows you to use the device as a tablet PC. These models are set for release in 2009, though Asus had not yet disclosed their official pricing at the time of writing.

Smartphones are also poised to add complexity to the mobile computing landscape. As these devices become more advanced, they start to occupy the same space as netbooks. Typically, smartphones range in price from about $199 to over $900. They offer high portability and are highly multifunctional. Developers of smartphone applications may soon begin to integrate more cloud computing features into their products.

At the same time, some netbook manufacturers are teaming up with cell phone carriers to add cellular capabilities to their devices. Some netbooks can connect to 3G, EDGE, and other cellular networks for data transmission. While these network connections are generally slower than WiFi, cellular networks have a more robust infrastructure than WiFi networks.

One thing is clear: mobility is crucial. People desire the ability to access applications and data anytime, anywhere. They may seek a device with a large internal hard drive or prefer a netbook that can connect to a remote data storage service — or they might be unsure of what exactly they need.

While netbooks made up a significant portion of computer sales during the 2008 holiday season, they also experienced a relatively high return rate. This may be because consumers misinterpreted the intended use of netbooks. These devices aren't as powerful as notebooks, laptops, or desktop computers. They also often have smaller keyboards, making extended typing sessions uncomfortable. Moreover, those opting for netbooks running on Linux might struggle with the unfamiliar operating system (OS).

Despite their higher return rates, the popularity of netbooks and other portable computing devices continues to rise. The convenience these devices offer, combined with the current economic climate, suggests that the era of the ultra-powerful and pricey desktop PC may soon come to an end.