Should You Buy A Laptop Or A Desktop?

By Author: Rybeka Parsons
Total Articles: 5
Comment this article

Purchasing a new computer is a rare event that comes around about once every five years and can streamline both work and leisure activities and satisfy the geek in you if you're that way inclined. These days however laptops are getting more and more popular and it leaves you with a difficult choice - do you go for a traditional desktop PC or a portable laptop? This is a question that depends on many factors and they both have unique strong points and weak points. Below are a list of questions you should ask yourself that will help you come to a decision and pick the best option for your individual needs.

Do you move around a lot?
Obviously the first and most prominent advantage of a laptop is that you can take them with you. If you do a daily commute on the train, or are often travelling and working away, then a laptop can be incredibly useful allowing you to make the most of that time. This makes them particularly good options for students and business men and women who often work on the go.

Do you own a PDA or smart phone?
Today PDAs and smart phones offer a lot of the options that used to be the ...
... sole domain of computers. If you have a particularly good smart phone or pda such as the blackberry then, a laptop might be slightly less crucial as you will already be able to check e-mails and edit documents on the fly. Decide whether you can do everything you'll need to do with your PDA and whether the small keyboard is going to get in the way of your productivity.

Do you need to be at the top end in terms of performance?
If you're one of those guys or girls who likes to trump everyone else with the most powerful and functional piece of gadgetry then a laptop might not be the choice for you. You could just settle for the highest-end laptop if you have the money (a desktop PC will cost you slightly less for the same specs) though for gamers a top end desktop really can't be beaten. Furthermore you'll be able to upgrade your desktop PC to stay with times by replacing individual modules, while laptops do not share this privilege meaning they'll inevitably date more quickly and require replacing.

Do you enjoy technology as a fashion accessory?
Laptops definitely have a certain ‘cool factor' and it looks quite Bondian to unfold one from a brief case. If you like to carry around the latest technology and look like a business executive, then a laptop is the choice for you.

Do you need your PC built to spec?
It is possible to get laptops built roughly to spec, but it's a fairly arduous and complicated task if you intend to do this yourself and will require a lot of expertise. Putting together your own desktop configuration however is relatively easy, so if you want your computer to be completely unique and designed to perfectly suit your needs a desktop is probably the better option.

Hopefully these points will help you decide between a laptop or a desktop. Author manages launceston computer store and likes to help his customer decide.