Notebooks, netbooks, laptops, computers…these are all very familiar names. Aren’t they? But sometimes we wonder what exactly a notebook computer is or what is the difference between a laptop and a notebook?

Well where netbooks were born only a few years ago, notebooks and laptops have been around for decades. The term notebook was coined around year 1989 that describes emerging lines of smaller laptops and was about the size of a A4 paper notebook. Laptops on the other hand were usually wider, taller and thicker.

If you’re a wireless network fan, you’ll also realize that most notebooks have wireless network support by default. Many laptops also have a much wider screen to allow enjoyment of multimedia and games.

Here’s a personal scoop of the top 5 thin and light notebooks out in the market right now.

Toshiba Satellite M45-S3511

Powered by an Intel Pentium M 740 (1.73 GHz) processor and 512 MB of RAM, the Toshiba Satellite M45-S3511 is well suited for both home and office use. It also comes with a widescreen display, a speedy 8x DVD+/-RW burner and a huge 100 GB hard drive. A very nice notebook that is highly recommended.