RSS Feeds: What's a Nettop Computer?
Until I saw an article which announced the Lenovo IdeaCenter Q110, I didn't even know nettops existed. After quick research, I found that the word nettop is a portmanteau (a word blended from two words) of Internet and desktop, much like the word netbook is a portmanteau of Internet and notebook.
Like netbooks, nettops are designed to be in smaller form factors and consume fewer resources than their big brothers, the desktop computers.
Differences
Unlike netbooks, nettops do not include a monitor. After all, they're not designed to be portable. Also unlike netbooks, some nettops actually include optical drives.
Of course, the size is another difference. A nettop is smaller than a standard desktop computer, whether it's a horizontal or tower case. Nettops use far less power than regular desktop computers and the processors are less powerful.
The standard desktop computer tower can be opened and parts can be replaced by consumers (possibly voiding warranties unless the warranties have already expired). It's pretty easy to find parts to fit the case, from the motherboard to the hard disk drive. Since nettops are more "congested", it seems the average consumer won't find it as easy to replace parts for.
Similarities
Standard desktop computers vary widely in prices, from the low-end for the average home computer user to the high-end gamer. It seems that the nettops are more similar in pricing to that of netbooks than they are to regular desktops.
Other than having most of the same ports available, there isn't much else to be similar.
Manufacturers
It appears the manufacturers supporting the production of netbooks (and mini laptops, if you know the difference) are the same manufactures supporting the production of nettop computers. Frankly, I haven't investigated whether I would even buy a nettop yet because I still have a desktop computer which hasn't skipped a beat since I bought it two years ago. I suspect I wouldn't because I need the horsepower to run several applications at once.
Whether you buy a netbook or a nettop doesn't seem to matter at this point. The lower prices will eventually push more computers into consumer homes and laptop bags. People who were sitting on fence as to whether to join the 21st century and buy a home or portable computer are now more likely to do so.
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