The overall trend in technology has been towards smaller, lighter, portable devices. Because of this, laptops have been outselling desktops for years now.
ExtremeTech.com reports that even laptops are losing market share to smaller devices like smartphones and tablets, however. All of that said, there remain strong arguments for owning a desktop as opposed to a laptop.
In fact, because today’s smartphones enable us to access web, email, social media, music, apps, pictures and a lot of other things you needed an actual computer to access a few years ago, going out and buying an expensive laptop may not necessarily be for everyone. Especially when you consider that desktops are cheaper as Techhive.com notes.
Lightweight, portable and able to run on battery power, laptop computers were designed to liberate users from the desk. Laptops, which can be used at your local coffee shop, on a cross-country flight, or even sitting on the couch, suit the on-the-go lifestyle of many students, professionals and creative types today.
With a laptop, you can access the Internet as well as all your documents, applications, music, pictures and more from literally anywhere.
Unless you’re backpacking your way across the Australian Outback, you can pretty much find a Wi-Fi signal anywhere these days. Which means if you’re laptop is powered up you can get online.
Laptops today are more powerful than they’ve ever been before with the battery life of many new Mac and PC laptops being 10-12 hours, or even longer for some models, according to CNET.
Lightweight and portable, laptops allow you to log on to your device from wherever you may be. They also use less electricity than desktops.
While laptops are admittedly smaller, more compact and at times less comfortable to use then desktops, this can be mitigated by setting up a work space for your laptop with an external monitor, keyboard, mouse and stand. With a powerful enough laptop and the right accessories, it’s just about possible to enjoy the best of both worlds.
While prices have declined, laptops remain on the whole, more expensive than desktops. Smaller laptop displays and the miniaturized technology contained in ultra-light devices like the MacBook Air are simply more expensive to produce than desktop models.
The smaller scale of laptop technology also means they’re usually more expensive in terms of parts and service. And because laptops are used on the go, they’re often more susceptible to suffering damage or just residual wear-and-tear.
Also, while today’s laptops are more powerful than ever, they still can’t provide the amount of RAM and computing power you get from a good desktop. And with today’s smartphones enabling easy access to email, Internet, social media, music, banking and more, you no longer need an expensive laptop computer to remain connected when you’re on the go.
While portability is great, it comes at the expense of ergonomics. The smaller size of a laptop can make it more physically taxing to use. Laptops have smaller screens and can become uncomfortable to use for extended periods of time. Because laptops are small, light and portable, they are also far more susceptible to theft than desktops.
Desktops are stationary computers, designed to be set up and used in a fixed location, such as a desk or workstation in your office or home. Once a desktop is set up, it’s generally left in the same place. While laptops are self-contained, desktops require the use of external accessories such as a monitor, mouse and keyboard.
Although laptops have become cheaper and more powerful, desktops still provide a better price-to-performance ratio, points out PC World. Desktops also provide more options in terms of upgrades, adding more RAM, or changing your hard drive. In most cases, desktops can handle more RAM than laptops. And because desktops can be outfitted with the monitor, mouse and keyboard of your choice, using a desktop computer can be a better ergonomic experience than using a one-size-fits-all laptop.
Having a desktop set up in a dedicated space also makes it easier to further accessorize your computer by adding things like a second monitor and good quality audio speakers.
On the whole, desktops provide a computing experience that is less expensive, more comfortable and more powerful than you would typically get from a laptop.
Also, because desktops require set-up and takedown and are operated from a fixed location in the home or office, they’re less susceptible to theft or damage than laptops, explains USA Today.
Even with the advent of new, small footprint devices like the iMac or the Inspiron One, desktops take up space. Having a desktop means having a desk or dedicated area of some kind to use as a workstation. If you live in a small apartment or a dorm, space is often of a premium and a desktop can eat up valuable square footage.
Unlike using a portable laptop from anywhere, using a desktop means you will always be chained to your desk or workstation. So it’s a good idea to make it as comfortable as possible.
Ultimately the question of whether you should buy a laptop or desktop depends on the kind of user you are. If you’re an on-the-go type who plans on using your computer often, then a laptop is probably the way to go and well worth the extra money.
On the other hand, if you’re someone who plans on doing most of their computing when they’re at home, then opting for a desktop could get you more computing power for less money.
