Laptop vs Netbook: Which is Best for College Students?

Laptop or netbook, or neither, is the question many students will find themselves considering with the advances in mobile broadband. For many the versatility of a portable device is priceless; assignments can be completed anywhere, class notes delivered straight to file, etc... The need for a PC has become obsolete as external drives provide sufficient extra storage for mobile devices and of course because modems no longer have to be plugged into the wall.

Netbooks for Students

Netbooks are great little machines for students who need a portable device to surf the net and write college papers at a great price. Today’s netbook offers a reasonable keyboard and screen but is much lighter in weight and size than a laptop. They also have internet access for online program use and external drive ports so data can be stored externally if drive space is limiting. These features address many of the problems faced in the past by netbook users.

Laptops for Students

Netbooks are not made for processor and memory intensive tasks such as video editing, 3D rendering, and gaming. A heftier model would be better suited in these cases, such as the Inspiron series from Dell, which are also affordable.

Although almost any old laptop will enable a student to perform basic office tasks and access the internet, a clear advantage is the speed and reliability offered by newer models. Laptops also have the advantages of greater storage space, which are great for uploading and storing large volumes of information, but they are generally bigger, heavier and they suck up more power (which equal less battery time). When looking for a student laptop, just keep the weight in mind if you'll be carrying it around between classes - a 17" screen is great to look at, but it will quickly turn into a "luggable!"

Netbook Pros

• lightweight, easy to carry
• small dimensions
• easy to use
• great for just emailing and writing college papers
• very cheap
• perfect for most online classes

Netbook Cons

• small keyboard my be difficult to use
• cannot use for 3D, video editing, or gaming
• small screen can make browsing the web difficult, lots of scrolling

Laptop Pros

• larger screen, easier to read and surf the web
• higher caliber models can handle intensive processes, such as gaming
• more expandable hardware options

Laptop Cons

• more expensive
• heavier, depending on the screen size
• often have less battery life
• can be bulky to carry around and use in class