What is the difference between a laptop computer and a notebook computer?

Question

What is the difference between a laptop computer and a notebook computer?

Answer 1

There is no difference. There was apparently a reported case of some person got burnt [yes, your guess is as good as mine] using a laptop. Being the US where everyone is to blame but yourself, sued the company [presumably for medical bills, skin grafts, distress and hurt feelings, but not for stupidity] and won.

All the laptop manufactures then immediately changed the name to a notebook so that it could not be interpreted that it could be used on the lap. As with the good old US of A, you couldn't make it up!

Answer 2

I don't think there's any difference, they're just different names.

Answer 3

I vaguely remember the first Notebooks being advertised and defined as Laptops under 3 lbs

The modern machines are even lighter.

Heh Heh, I've got old Hard Drives on my bookshelf that weigh in at more than 5lbs for only 400 Meg of space.

Answer 4

Notebooks are slimmer

Answer 5

Nothing. Two different names for the same thing.

Answer 6

Laptops were designated as such to signify that you could truly use them on your lap.

Since they have been becoming smaller, lighter and slimmer, they are now referred to as notebook computers.

Answer 7

One and the same

Answer 8

notebook computers are more compact that laptop computers