Today’s technological transformation of computers has availed a lot. The latest   are the handheld and notebook computers. These are small and portable just like the laptops but the difference lies in what they have to offer. Despite the two being mobile devices, they also have a lot that differentiate them from each other.

A handheld is a portable computer that is small enough to be held in one’s hand. Although extremely convenient to carry, handheld computers have not replaced notebook computers because of their miniature keyboards and a display screen with touch input. In the case of the personal digital assistant (PDA), the input and output are combined into a touch-screen interface.

The most popular hand-held computers are those that are specifically designed to provide personal information manager (PIM) functions, such as a calendar and address book. Some manufacturers are trying to solve the small keyboard problem by replacing the keyboard with an electronic pen. However, these pen-based devices rely on handwriting recognition technologies, which are still in their infancy.

Notebook computers also weigh less and are small enough to fit easily in a briefcase. Notebooks are also more compact laptops that are designed for surfing on the internet and basic word processing.

The quality of notebook display screens varies considerably. Many notebook display screens are limited to Video Graphics Array (VGA) resolution. Active-matrix screens produce very sharp images, but they do not refresh as rapidly as full-size monitors.

In terms of computing power, modern notebook computers are nearly equivalent to personal computers. They have the same Central Processor Units (CPU), memory capacity, and disk drives. However, all this power in a small package is expensive.

Notebook computers come with battery packs that enable you to run them without plugging them in. However, the batteries need to be recharged every few hours.

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