Confused About Netbooks, Sub-Notebooks, and Ultrathins? This Should Help

There’s been woefully little explanation about netbooks since they exploded into the PC market around a year ago. Sure, Best Buy put together a snazzy presentation about the machines, but for all the hype about netbooks it still seems a lot of people are confused.

It seems that in recent times the distinctions between small computers have been blurred beyond recognition, despite (or perhaps due to) the constant influx of new terms for distinguishing them.

Say you have a tiny computer in your hands. Is it an “ultra-portable, Netbook(C), sub-notebook, handheld, mini-notebook, ultrathin notebook, [or] ULCPC”? Or perhaps an OLPC? The categories are ill-defined, and it doesn’t help that everyone and their brother is fighting about the legality of the term ‘netbook‘. So aside from being unbearably confused, you may soon be a criminal for misnaming your machine!

What’s to be done? Fortunately, Austin Modine at The Register has thrown together an elucidating and altogether hilarious flowchart for your education. Take a look:

I’m sure we’re not the only ones who appreciate some clarity on the matter. We urge you to check out the full article for some commentary on the whole issue, but consider abstaining if you’re not one for saucy language.

Via The Register.