To jumpstart the discussion about notebooks and laptops, the first general thing that you have to know about them is that there is a subtle difference in their sizes.  Many people would consider that the word notebook is just a synonym of the laptop (and vice versa) but many experts would say a notebook is a much smaller version of laptop (and vice versa). The netbooks have their own distinct set of sizes and specifications so there is no way that consumers will confuse them with laptops or notebooks, two types of mobile computing devices that predate the netbook generation.

The controversial part lies on the fact that many gadget experts would strongly promote that there is really no difference between the notebook and laptop.  The word ‘laptop’ was first established in the many consumer electronic markets than ‘notebook’.  The word notebook came only a little later, spearheaded by health experts who say the word ‘laptop’ promotes using the mobile computing device ‘on the lap’ – which is said to be not advisable because the laptop may radiate heat on the lap.  Many well established consumer electronic companies supported what seems like a ‘name change’ because of product liability and health care issues.

Laptops and notebooks are both improvised, innovative versions of the old desktop computer designs.  However, for those people who are still convinced that there is a difference between these two interchangeable terms, the following below are some of the distinctive differences that they can share.

• Notebooks are much smaller than laptops.  Notebooks are often referred to as “smaller versions of laptops.” Laptops are said to have larger screen sizes than notebooks.
• In terms of weight, it is said that laptops are heavy duty ones and much more bulky than notebooks.  Notebooks essentially are lighter and thinner in designs.
• In terms of performance, it is widely believed that laptops have higher quality performance and processing efficiency.  But this is highly debatable because of the differences in brands and trademarks.
• Notebooks have greater battery life than laptops, mainly because of the notebook’s smaller size and limited performance.
• Notebooks are generally cheaper and much more affordable than laptops.  (Although the price may relatively depend on the brand or model).
• Notebooks have lesser features than laptops, especially in terms of software applications.

The most important factor to consider is the webcam’s pixel count – make sure that it’s not so low that it affects the quality of the picture, but not too high either so as not to congest the speed of your processor.  If you have DSL or broadband connection, this would be perfect for any webcam for laptop, as webcams could only go as  fast as your internet connection goes.  You also may want to consider the external appearance and the size, but at the end of the day, pixel count and internet connection speed are the two most important things to consider.  Also advisable would be having at least 512 MB RAM, a 1 GHz processor and ample free space on your hard drive.

However, when using your webcam, make sure that your computer has the best anti-virus or anti-spyware software available.  Viruses, malware and spyware are so commonplace in the Internet, and the number of known Internet threats grows larger by the day.  But having the right ant-virus program is just half the battle – be wary when meeting new acquaintances online or accepting random webcam chats, because this may very well lead to aforementioned virus and spyware threats, and cause sometimes irreparable damage to your computer’s files.

Feel free to shop around online for expert recommendations on the best webcam for laptop, and make sure to consider all factors and not just the price or external appearance before making your final decision.  That way you could have the best communication experience possible, may it be for personal or for business use.