Chromebook vs. Netbook vs. Laptop: Which one is right for you? ~ Tecca.com

With portable computing options taking on a life of their own, consumers have some hard choices to make when it comes to buying a new notebook. Traditionally grouped together as notebooks are 2 subcategories most people are already familiar with, laptops and netbooks. Recently, however, Google threw another competitor into the marketplace with the addition of the Chromebook.
So which one is right for you? Let's take a look at the pros and cons to help you make your decision.

What is a Chromebook?
Named for its operating system, Google Chrome OS, the Chromebook is the latest portable computer in the notebook realm to hit the market. Soon to be offered by Acer and Samsung, the Chromebook integrates seamlessly with everything Google, from Gmail to Google Docs. Storage is in the cloud, so you'll never lose a file again.


Major selling points for the Chromebook are its 8-second boot time and instant resume from standby. Combine that with a lengthy 8-hour battery life, and you can understand why some think the Chromebook can compete with tablets currently on the market. The Chromebook also comes with a solid state disk drive, so there are no moving parts inside, which means less of an opportunity for the disk drive to crash.
Connectivity with a Chromebook is a breeze. Built-in wifi is easily configured for your home network or public access points on the fly. If you're willing to pay the additional cost, Chromebooks are also available with 3G access to Verizon's network. They come with a paltry 100MB per month of data access, but this can be a lifesaver in a pinch. Pay-as-you-go plans range from a 24-hour unlimited pass to monthly usage up to 2GB. And with the starting cost of a Chromebook coming in at around $500, its 3G connectivity may be its best value-added feature.

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