Expert guide: what's the difference between laptops, netbooks and tablets?

Portables have been outselling desktop computers for years and it's not hard to see why. Gadget appeal aside, they take up less room, are relatively inexpensive and even an entry level model will easily handle the basic web browsing, video, music and word processing functions we require on a day to day basis.

It's also now easy to get a new computer for 'free' by signing up for a mobile broadband contract, which if nothing else can be a way to get a relatively inexpensive deal and spread the cost over 18 or 24 months, instead of paying for your machine up front. But if you've been shopping around for such a bargain, you may have been left somewhat baffled by the choice.

Portable computers used to come in one flavour, now you've got to decide between a laptop, netbook or tablet. Lucky for you Broadband Genie is here to help, eh?

What is a netbook?

We'll start with netbooks, since they're hugely popular and the type of portable PC most often included in mobile broadband bundles.

A netbook is a very small, very light laptop computer. While a typical laptop has a 13 to 17-inch display, netbook's are between 7 and 10 inches and weigh very little (a Samsung NC10, for example, is about 1.3kg). Netbooks became massively popular a few years ago with the launch of the 7-inch Asus EeePC, though this was more to do with its sub-£200 price tag.

Tiny laptops weren't new when the EeePC appeared, but they usually cost over £1,000 so the chance to pick one up for such a low cost was too good to miss. Prices now are a little higher with a brand name likely to set you back £250-300. However, it's worth keeping an eye out for special offers as you can get them in sales for £199 or less.

The compact dimensions mean that netbooks barely make a dent in a bag and the battery life can be outstanding, with many models running for eight hours or more off a full charge. This is the main draw of a netbook – you have a computer running a proper operating system that can last the entire day.

The small size is also a downside, though. Keyboard and display are cramped so it can be uncomfortable to use for long periods. They also run slower than standard size laptops, ruling out any games with 3D graphics, demanding applications and sometimes high definition video. And don't forget that netbooks do not generally include DVD drives.

The good...

• Compact size and light weight
• Low price
• Long battery life

The bad...

• Small display
• Cramped keyboard
• Slow performance

Laptops, or notebooks if you prefer

What's the difference between a laptop and a notebook? Depends who you ask. Some will say notebooks are slimmer and lighter, but for our purposes a laptop/notebook is any portable PC that's not a netbook. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, from ultra-thin 12 and 13 inch models up to unwieldy 20 inch juggernauts like the ridiculously impractical Dell XPS M2010.

Compared to a netbook a laptop is much more comfortable to use for long periods thanks to the larger screen and keyboard and you can do a lot more with them. The components used are often comparable to desktop PC hardware, if not identical on bigger laptops, so gaming, video editing and other power-hungry tasks are easily possible.

You may hear the term 'desktop replacement' bandied about when talking about larger notebook PCs, that's an easier way of saying that a laptop is too heavy to be carried around and the battery will last about half an hour. Assuming you don't need anything portable then desktop replacements are worth considering as an alternative to desktops since they don't need as much room but can still be just as powerful. Plus you can pack them away in a cupboard.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are ultra-portable laptops, which are a hybrid of netbook and laptop and where the line between the two gets a little fuzzy. Ultra-portables may be like the Apple MacBook Air, incredibly slim but missing key features like an optical drive. Some, like the Samsung Q320, can be a bit chunkier but include DVD drive, dual core processor and lots of other goodies.

For most people a 15 (ish) inch laptop will provide a good middle ground. They are cheap (often included in mobile broadband deals) and small enough to cart in a rucksack or laptop case yet still have enough features to replace the desktop PC at home. Just remember that the battery may only last a few hours, so have a spare to hand or remember to bring your power cable.

The good...

• Huge variety of sizes and features
• Powerful components
• Can replace a desktop PC

The bad...

• Battery life shorter than a netbook
• Can be large and heavy
• Often too hot to be used on your lap, despite the name

Touchscreen tablets

Tablet PCs are laptops centred around a touchscreen interface which are designed to be more practical than laptops in some situations, such as ebook reading or surfing the net in bed. Go back a year and we wouldn't even be mentioning them, because until recently they were a niche product, but then Apple came along and did its usual thing of revolutionising the market and suddenly tablets are in the news again.

You can buy a tablet PC running Windows now, but what you'll get is an expensive convertible laptop with a screen that swivels down over the keyboard. It's not going to work like the Apple iPad and will cost a lot more, too. The iPad is the first tablet with mass market appeal but given the enormous fuss (and accompanying sales) it will not be the last.

The iPad is an Apple netbook without a keyboard and we can expect the same 'slate' form factor from competing manufacturers. So if you primarily want a netbook or laptop for mobile web surfing and entertainment, and aren't too bothered about computing power or getting a lot of work done, this is the way to go. The pros and cons of the iPad have been endlessly debated for many months now so we won't go into them here. If you're not sure the iPad is for you we'd recommend giving it a few months to see what else shows up because by the end of the year there'll be a flood of similar products on the market and you'll be spoilt for choice.

The good...

• Touchscreen interface
• Great for entertainment and web browsing
• Easy to use anywhere
• Very portable

The bad...

• Not usually very powerful
• Convertible tablets are pricey and awkward
• Touchscreens not ideal for typing