Laptop vs. Notebook

[Nelson Bradford]

What's the difference?

Is there any difference between a laptop computer and a notebook computer or are the terms synonymous?

-neb

[Bob Wright]

is that the laptop was a larger portable computer. It preceeded the present notebook computers. While portable computers today are many times referred to as laptops, most of them are technically notebook computers. This isn't suprising since many people still say, "lets get a Coke," when they actually mean soft drink. There is a difference in the size of laptops and notebooks.

[Dave McClung]

There is a difference in the size of laptops and notebooks.

From the several definitions I found when I searched google for the definition of "laptop", there is a lot of confusion. A site sponsored by Dell said that a Notebook computer is generally larger than a laptop. Another site said just the opposite.

From my own experience, the term "laptop" first came into use with the Radio Shack Model 100. At that time, to qualify as a laptop a computer needed to run on batteries and have a built in screen.

As portable computers improved, the term "notebook" was introduced. When it came out, it was used to define a laptop computer that was small enough to fit in a briefcase, like a notebook.

At frist, the notebook computers had a smaller screen than the laptops of the same generation.

For the past several years any difference that previously existed has been blurred. For all practical purposes the term "laptop" and "notebook" are used the same to refer to a computer that runs on batteries and has a built-in flat screen.

[Hal Kreps]

Main Entry: laptop computer
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: portable computer
Synonyms: laptop, microcomputer, minicomputer, notebook computer, palmtop
Source:
Roget's New Millennium™ Thesaurus, First Edition (v 1.1.1)
Copyright © 2005 by Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. All rights reserved.

note•book P Pronunciation Key (n t b k )
n.
1. A book of blank pages for notes.
2. A light, portable computer that is generally thinner than a laptop.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

[Nelson Bradford]

thank you one and all!
-neb