Should I buy a Laptop or Desktop Computer?
In this guide I will be discussing the advantages, and disadvantages for both a laptop, and a desktop computer. There are a lot of differences between a laptop and a desktop computer, but even though they are completely different, the process of choosing between one of them can still be a difficult one.
The first thing to consider is what you're going to use it for. You can check out this guide to get a better understanding of the difference between the three main categories computers fall into. After you've chosen the category, you can decide between a laptop and a desktop computer.
The Difference
The most obvious difference between the two is that a laptop is portable and a desktop computer is not. You'll be able to carry around your laptop wherever you go, because it has an all-in-one design which contains everything for a computer to be fully functional, such as the screen, keyboard, and touchpad(replacement for mouse). And as a power source it uses a battery, thus making it a portable computer. A desktop computer on the other hand needs an external monitor, keyboard, mouse, and a power outlet to be fully functional, thus making it a stationary computer.
Another factor to weigh in is that a desktop computer can be easily upgraded if you ever wish to do so, but a laptop will not be so easy. Modern laptops are getting thinner, and with that it becomes harder to disassemble. You will most probably have to send your laptop in to a computer repair shop if you want to upgrade, or repair it. That won't really matter if you're buying a brand new one, since the parts should all be up-to-date with current standards. You will, however, still be sacrificing performance for portability, but it's negligible.
Overheating is also a huge problem for a number of computers, and laptops seem to be more prone to this. The reason for this is that laptops are more compact, thus creating a much more heated environment. Desktop computers on the other hand have more space, and in turn allows for better air flow. It is also possible to install an extra fan for a desktop computer if heating ever becomes a problem. For a laptop you would have to buy an external cooling pad. I will, however, note that overheating generally only happens when dust accumulates on the inside of the computer, or when it is being pushed to its limit with power-hungry programs such as games.
The price tag is a huge factor to consider as well. Laptops are, in most cases, much more expensive than desktop computers. As mentioned earlier, a laptop has an all-in-one design which makes it far more expensive. Generally speaking, the parts for laptops are also more expensive. You can compare a desktop computer with a laptop of the same performance, and you'll most likely pay far less for the desktop computer. It is important to remember that you'll still need an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse with a desktop computer for it to be fully functional, but even then it should cost less. At the end of the day you'll be paying extra for portability, and that's undoubtedly a big selling point for laptops.
In conclusion, the choice between a laptop and a desktop computer will depend on your budget and what you want to do with it. For a home computer, I'll suggest using a desktop computer since it will be used by everyone in the house, so not being able to move it around may actually be a good thing. For business purposes, I'll suggest a laptop so that you can take it with you and work from anywhere you want. And for gaming enthusiasts, I'll suggest using a desktop computer, simply because you'll be able to get the most performance out of it.
