The term Netbook was first coined by Intel and has since become synonymous with the small size of the computer. Their screen size is
usually between seven to ten inches compared to a regular laptop which has a minimum screen size of 12 inches. Netbooks do not have a CD/DVD-ROM drive and as a result of this all data has to be either downloaded from the internet or transferred via a USB. Generally speaking they have less power than their larger counterparts however they are sold at a much cheaper price.
Netbooks have become popular in education which is down to their small size and cheap price. Because of their small size they fit easily into a students work area. Despite their compact design they can still offer many features associated with regular size laptops such as the ability to play multi-media files, display photographs and access the internet. You can also use Word and PowerPoint. Netbooks for children where released in 2009 which featured smaller keyboards (the right size for a child's hand) and no DVD player (which meant there was less to break).
One of the main reasons for the popularity of Netbooks is the handy compact size. This is ideal for students who might need to bring their computer to a class for a PowerPoint presentation for instance. Thanks to their long battery life they are also great for taking down notes during lectures. Netbooks are also handy for business people who want to check their emails or perform other web related tasks while out of the office. Their small size is also ideal for people who travel regularly. These are some of the reasons as to why Netbooks are gaining popularity. They obviously have their limitations such as less hard drive space (128GB at best) compared with Notebooks (2TB at the high end of the scale). Netbooks use solid-state storage devices rather than the usual hard drive associated with a regular size laptop.
There is the possibility of a bright future for Netbooks as soon they will be able to handle more than just web surfing. You'll be able to watch high-definition video or manipulate digital images from your camera. Touch screen models are also in the pipeline.