Netbook

Netbooks are low-cost, miniature laptop computers, typically with a screen size of between seven and 10in and a weight of about 1kg.

The term netbook came from the first such devices, which were small, Linux-based and designed for browsing the web over a Wi-Fi connection. The Asus Eee PC was one of the first mass produced netbooks.

However, netbooks soon became larger and more powerful and vendors started to install Windows, partly in response to demand. As a result, netbooks are now largely indistinguishable from laptops.

The chief differences are that netbooks lack a CD or DVD drive, and are typically less powerful than mainstream laptops, using Intel's low-power Atom processors, for example.

Netbooks generally ship with Windows 7 Starter edition which costs the vendor less but is restricted to lower specification hardware.

With tablets entering the mainstream market in 2011, experts believe that netbook sales will start to drop off.

Some network operators offer netbooks free with a data contract and a 3G mobile broadband adapter.