Computers have become a basic appliance in many households. Computer and the internetwork back to back to help you with work and research, your kids with their school assignments, and the whole family with entertainment. So the question goes: which one is better, a desktop or a laptop?
Both have really the same functions in terms of basic software capacities, but there are a few factors to consider before deciding which one is best for you. Allow us to help you make that decision.
Desktop Pros:
- Desktops relatively have a longer lifespan than laptops – hardware or software comparatively. Mostly, this is due to the power supply of both types, where desktops are directly connected to power while laptops mostly operate on batteries. With this, the battery life of laptops may have limits. WiFi connection also makes laptops prone to software issues and can easily catch viruses.
- You may notice that gaming systems prefer desktops more than laptops and this is due to a few factors. For one, desktops can be easily upgraded to higher resolution and definition specs to carry out gaming technologies that require higher specs. Another thing is that these upgrades, although may also be done with laptops, are relatively cheaper when it comes to desktops.
Because a desktop has more parts as compared to a laptop, it also means that desktops have more upgradeable parts that can be bought for better functionality of the gadget. From mouse to keyboards to hard drives, desktop parts can be interchangeable that can best suit your taste.
- If you are the type who mostly stays at home or does not bring out gadgets that much, this can be the perfect set up for you.
Desktop Cons:
- Desktops, as it is designed, are not portable. They may be moved around the house or transferred around, but not in a convenient way as laptops can be. A desktop consists of several basic parts for it to fully function and in most cases, requires a computer desk for comfortable use. This means, more often than they are, desktops can only stay in one place for longer periods of time.
- Because of its nature of use, desktops require a constant power supply for it to be turned on. This means it should always be connected to power when you use it, unlike laptops that can operate on battery life for a few hours. This also means desktops may not be used in the event of power outages unless you have a power supply which may still be limited.
Laptop Pros:
- The best and most sellable feature of a laptop is because this type of computer is portable and can even be fit in your purse. You can carry it around with you and transfer to any part of the house without much effort.
- A laptop can come in many shapes, sizes, and designs. It can even be externally designed that may best suit your taste. If you prefer a design that represents you, laptop stickers are also available.
- Softwares and software upgrades are relatively easier on laptops, mostly because the applications that can run on this type of computer may have lower resolutions and specs as compared to desktops. This makes it user-friendly and software updates can be as simple as a few clicks, which can be done by all ages.
- External storage can help you protect your files and organize them at your convenience. With a laptop, you can connect devices of external storage anytime and also remove it anytime.
Younger generations prefer laptops because of its light and portable feature. Nowadays, laptops are also getting more and more upgrades that can make it compete with the best features of a desktop.
Laptop Cons:
- In terms of memory and storage, laptops have smaller memory capacities than that of desktops. If you have many files or store large files, apps, and such on your computer, this may not be the best option for you. Even when you have external storage devices, it would be much convenient to have the files within the device itself, accessible anytime.
- Laptops have a lower lifespan as compared to desktops mostly because it is more prone to viruses, battery life issues and hardware problems brought about by it being portable.
Although some apps, resolution-related and high-def features of laptops can be upgradable, as with desktops, it is much expensive when done with laptops because of its limited capacity – at least for now.
Both options have their pros and cons and it’s really up to your list of needs to decide which one is best for you. If the budget permits, and if you have more than one user at home, you might want to consider buying one of each.
