We are living in an age which likes to name everything. Naming is caring. It helps us identify, refer, describe, symbolize, and most importantly, organize. No wonder then there are almost a dozen different names for different types of gadgets, including laptops. However, most people get lost in the terminologies when looking to purchase a new laptop.
There are laptops, and there are similar-looking notebooks and ultrabooks. Then there’s another new term for a pretty similar-looking machine – Chromebook. Which is which? How do you differentiate? Most importantly, how do you know you need a laptop and not an ultrabook? In this article, we explain the key differences to clear the air (and hopefully your work table) once and for all.
Differences between Laptops, Notebooks, Ultrabooks, and Netbooks
Let’s break down all the differences
Terminology and Basics
What is a laptop? A laptop is a portable computer. Well, everybody knows that. Initially, the idea of a laptop was to create a portable computer – with a built-in keyboard, mouse, and display – that you can use on your lap. That is why the first laptops were pretty massive. Sure, you can use them on your laptop, but their bigger screens and keyboards made them hard to handle.
What is a notebook? A Notebook vs. laptop is smaller and much more lightweight. The first notebook ever produced was NEC UltraLife, introduced in 1989. In comparison, when we look at laptop vs. notebook, the new invention was geared more towards personal needs rather than business requirements. Featuring a clamshell case, the notebook earned its name from the very object often found in every student’s backpack.
What is an Ultrabook? Well, ultrabooks gained fame towards the end of 2011. Intel introduced the term as a marketing gimmick to differentiate modern, sleeker, and faster laptops from notebooks and compete with Apple’s Macbooks. Featuring powerful components like superfast SSD and features such as Intel Rapid Start, ultrabooks are geared towards mobile professionals.
Lastly, Chromebooks can be considered successors of netbooks. Netbooks were small and inexpensive laptops offering basic internet functionality. They were sold from 2007 to 2013. A Chromebook, on the other hand, is a laptop running on the Linux-based Chrome OS. Popularized in 2018, Chromebooks are designed to rely on web apps for tasks with the help of Google’s Chrome browser. Today, the best Chromebooks are also running Android and full-fledged Linux programs. Hence, Chromebook vs. laptop battle will be interesting to follow in the future.
Price Tag
Best Laptops for home and all-around use come at a price ranging from 100 USD to 3,500 USD. On the other hand, notebooks are quite inexpensive, with a price tag between 150 USD to 1000 USD. Ultrabooks are just expensive notebooks, costing anywhere from 500 USD to 1000 USD. The last of the bunch, Chromebooks, range in price from 100 USD to 1000 USD. However, our favorite best Chromebooks fall mostly in the 400 to 700 USD price range.
Two main variables should be taken into account when determining the cost of your choice. First, what screen size do you want? And second, how much processing power do you require? These two elements greatly affect the price of purchasing a Laptop, Ultrabook, Notebook, or Chromebook.
Portability
Nowadays, laptops are getting lighter and thinner to give you the real essence of portability. Still, depending on the manufacturer you go for, laptops range anywhere from 10 to 18 inches in size. Moreover, they can be as lightweight as 3 lbs to as heavy as 10 lbs.
Notebooks are manufactured to be sleeker – not necessarily smaller – than laptops. They have a screen size of 15 inches or less and typically weigh less than 5 lbs. As for thickness, notebooks can be as thick as 3 inches. Because of their smaller size, notebooks are easy to fit in briefcases, backpacks, purses, etc.
Some brands have also introduced a combination of laptops and tablets in a bid to make laptops more portable. These best two in one laptops blend a laptop’s utility with a tablet’s convenience of carrying them anywhere you want. With these machines, you can simply remove the touch screen display and use them as a tablet.
As for notebooks, any notebook can be considered an ultrabook if it is less than 1.5cm in thickness. While there is no weight limit, most of them weigh anywhere from 3 to 4.5lbs in weight. Moreover, they mostly come with a 13 or 14 inches display. They are lightweight and easy to carry anywhere along.
Chromebooks are the smallest of the bunch. Hence they are most portable. Generally, 11 or 12 inches is the standard display size for Chromebooks. However, there are some 13 inches Chromebooks in the market as well. These tiny computers weigh 3 lbs or less.
Performance and Power
Regardless of the title you use, a PC’s power and performance are determined by the internal components. Which CPU is it using? What is the RAM? Is there any GPU? What type of hard disk does it utilize? How many ports and which type? These and other similar features determine how much performance you can get out of your machine.
All modern computers come jacked with enough processing power and adequate display to provide decent performance. For instance, even the best Linux laptops on a budget offer a novice more than enough processing power. Generally speaking, the higher the price tag of a laptop or notebook, the more features you get in the package.
As laptops tend to lie on the higher end of the price spectrum, they have better-integrated features and more performance power. Standard Notebooks and Chromebooks, on the other hand, come with little features, giving you enough processing power to just complete the task at hand without any hassle or without providing extra bells and whistles.
However, Ultrabooks come with an impressive CPU, RAM, GPU, SSD, long battery life, etc., to give you the best performance possible in a compact package. Therefore, the battle of performance is not between ultrabook vs. laptop. Rather, their snappy performance makes them a formidable opponent when it comes to the battle between ultrabook Vs. MacBook.
Functionality
Today, a typical laptop (and Ultrabook) packs 1TB of SSD (instead of HDD) and 8 GB of RAM (DDR4 or better). On the contrary, a standard notebook boasts at least 512GB of HDD and 2 to 4GB of RAM (DDR4 or better) capacity. Chromebooks are different. A typical Chromebook will have 2 to 4 GB of RAM and 32GB to 64GB of Flash memory (or eMMC).
This huge difference caters to different industries and consumer groups. For instance, consumers with high-performance computing needs for a particular profession or business find their suitable candidate in a high-end laptop or ultrabook. Conversely, people who use their PC just to surf the internet, work with office documents or watch cartoons find a simple notebook or Chromebook more suitable.
However, with all that power comes a weak battery. Laptops are notorious for having a weak battery life. A typical laptop will last anywhere from 6 to 8 hours, depending on your usage. Ultrabooks are the same. Even the best ultrabook today will give you around 5 to 7 hours of performance. That’s because higher processing sucks more power from the battery.
No wonder then Notebooks and Chromebooks have better battery performance. A good notebook can last up to 14 hours unplugged. In contrast, some models mentioned in our best Chromebooks for 2021 list can perform for 15 hours straight without needing a recharge. As these machines perform basic tasks, their power consumption is limited.
Makers and Top Brands
Now that you have a complete understanding of laptops, notebooks, ultrabooks, and Chromebooks, your next question will probably be, “where can I buy it? We have the answer right here. Knowing which companies manufacture which laptop type – in your hunt for a laptop – can also help you narrow down your options.
You are good to go if you have one of these:
Best laptop brands
- Dell
- HP
- Apple
- Lenovo
- ASUS
- Microsoft
Best notebook brands
- HP
- Lenovo
- Dell
- Acer
- ASUS
- MSI
Best Ultrabook brands
- Dell
- HP
- Lenovo
- ASUS
- LG
- SAMSUNG
Best Chromebook brands
- ACER
- Lenovo
- HP
- Samsung
- ASUS
Final Thoughts
All things considered, laptops, notebooks, ultrabooks, and Chromebooks are as much alike as they differ. Never judge a laptop by its design alone. It’s the integrated technology and specifications that set them apart from one another. The lines between these laptop types are already very blurred. As time progresses and technology moves further away from labels, we may see more and more hybrids. To meet everyday life’s growing high-performance computing needs, expect to see more super sleek, super lightweight, and super awesome laptops. So, keep your eyes peeled, and don’t forget to read relevant articles on LinuxHint to stay up to date. Adios!
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