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

What laptop would you reccomend? Whats the difference between a notebook and a laptop?

• I have a macbook which I love but am starting a postgrad law course in September that has a lot of online tutorials unfortunately i've been told the software is not compatible with macs. I've not used a microsoft computer in years and haven't got a clue whats good etc. I'll only be using it for doing my online college work and maybe writing essays no gaming or anything like that. There are system requirements: Processor: Intel Pentium 4 1800 MHZ or greater RAM memory: 512 MB or above (1GB recommended) Audio Card: 16 bit soundcard and speakers or headphones Graphic Card: 128 MB Video RAM or above (recommended) Players Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP SP2 (recommended) Internet: Cable/DSL broadband connection to the internet Browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 or above Media Player: Microsoft Windows Media Player Version 9 or above Flash Player: Macromedia Flash Player 9 Document Reader: Adobe Acrobat Reader 5 or above (7 recommended) Imagine these are all pretty standard but am pretty clueless! Don't want to break the bank as I'll still be using my macbook for anything unrelated to college. I know i don't want a netbook as i'll need a cd drive to load office etc but what is a notebook seems pretty much another name for laptop or is there a difference as they seem cheaper? Thanks

• Answer:

  the names notebook and laptop are interchangeable. As you said, the specs are pretty standard and will be exceeded by any new notebook picked up at Best Buy, Staples, Office Depot, Sam's Club, wherever. Tiger has Toshiba's LS5014 right now for $499 - pretty solid specs for an entry level second PC.