Netbooks were once uncharitably described as ‘low-cost computers’. No one’s complaining. They’ve become the fastest growing segment among personal computers (PCs) in India. PCs include netbooks, notebooks, laptops, desktops and tablets.

Between June 2008 and July 2009, 97,480 netbooks were sold. A year on, it had shot up to 335,018, according to research firm IDC . That’s a 243% increase. Compare this with other PC categories. Desktop sales in the same period slowed, from 5.1 million to 5.7 million, a mere 11% increase. However, shipments of notebook PCs marked a 43% increase, from 2.1 m to 3 m.

Netbooks are smaller and lighter than laptops. Their screen is roughly 10 inches compared to the 15-inch laptop. They don’t have a CD/DVD drive. This may seem a disadvantage but connectivity ports can link to devices like a DVD player or external hard disk.

At Rs 15,000, netbooks are roughly half the price of regular laptops. They are not as powerful and cannot run heavy applications. But a netbook is ideal if you need a PC for no more than browsing the internet, using simple applications and watching a video.

How do netbooks compare with tablets? Tablets are lighter, more portable and just as useful. However, they can be hard to type on and are at least twice the price of a netbook. Lenovo’s Li insists tablets will not affect netbook sales.

It could be a different story as tablet prices fall. Carolina Milanesi, vice-president at Gartner , a research firm, says, “As the average prices of tablets drop below $300 (Rs 15,000) over the next two years, mini notebooks (netbooks) will suffer the most.”

NETBOOKS VS LAPTOPS

SCREEN SIZE

Netbook: Roughly 10 inches, smaller keyboard. Good for simple tasks such as emailing , browsing the internet, light entertainment

Laptop: Larger screen, can do complex and graphics-intensive tasks

BATTERY LIFE

Netbook: 7 to 8 hours on average

Laptop: 3 to 4 hours on average

AVERAGE WEIGHT

Netbook: 1.2 kg, can be carried in a regular bag

Laptop: 2.72 kg, needs a specialized case

PRICE

Netbook: Between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000

Laptop: Double the netbook