| Laptops have a great advantage in terms of | | | | |
| their portability. If you carry a laptop with | | | | However you can improve laptop ergonomics by |
| you, your applications and documents are | | | | adding a standard keyboard. mouse and an |
| always immediately available. With a wireless | | | | external larger display to it when you return |
| modem, your laptop can also access the | | | | to your desk but this means more budget which |
| Internet while on the go, so you can | | | | may not be feasible for everyone. |
| virtually carry your office with you and be | | | | Nonetheless, an external mouse is an |
| more productive. | | | | affordable option and sort of must have if |
| | | | you plan to use the laptop for many hours |
| Desktops score over laptops in price to | | | | everyday. |
| performance ratio. Although laptop prices | | | | |
| have come down while performance has | | | | Cost and reliability |
| increased still most desktops offer a better | | | | |
| price-to-performance ratio. Desktops also | | | | Desktops are approximately 1/2 to 2/3 the |
| hold some ergonomic advantages over laptops | | | | price of a comparable laptop. Although the |
| but when it comes to foot print desktops will | | | | overall prices have declined, price gaps |
| take up considerably more space in your | | | | still exists, largely because of the higher |
| apartment or office. | | | | cost of laptop displays and the added cost of |
| | | | miniaturized technology. Due to their size, |
| So your decision should be based primarily on | | | | laptops require smaller, more intricate |
| how you plan to use your computer and how | | | | components and more tedious labor resulting |
| much budget you can allocate for it. | | | | in more costly upgrades and repairs. |
| | | | |
| Weight, size and portability | | | | Desktop computers can be assembled by one |
| | | | from components but it is not the case for |
| A typical laptop weighs between 2 and 3.5 kg | | | | Laptops and they are still available only |
| but there are "ultralight" models available | | | | from manufacturers. So usually a higher |
| which are also much more expensive. Typically | | | | reliability can be attributed to a laptop |
| the "ultralight" models coming with docking | | | | than an assembled desktop PC. It is a good |
| bay and do not have integrated devices like | | | | idea to check out manufacturer websites as |
| an internal optical (CD/DVD) drive. | | | | well as product review websites to make some |
| | | | research and comparison before actually |
| Whereas a classic desktop computer, with its | | | | choosing one. |
| standalone system unit (CPU), CRT monitor, | | | | |
| and keyboard, can easily weigh 35 Kg. So if | | | | Theft and Security |
| you regularly want to access the contents of | | | | |
| your computer whether at home, office or on | | | | A laptop's small size and portability make it |
| the road, the portability becomes an | | | | more vulnerable to theft and damage. Unless |
| important criterion. Laptops naturally have a | | | | you can lock or secure your laptop, you |
| smaller footprint than desktop computers, | | | | should take it with you wherever you go. It |
| although with the advent of LCD monitors and | | | | is unfortunate that insurance companies in |
| compact tower cases desktop computers' | | | | India do not cover laptops outside the |
| footprint have reduced in recent years. | | | | insured premises and so you have to be always |
| | | | alert about it when you are carrying the |
| Ergonomics | | | | laptop with you. |
| | | | |
| The major downside of portability is | | | | Conclusion |
| ergonomic because the laptop's miniature size | | | | |
| makes its use less comfortable and physically | | | | In summary, Desktops provide powerful |
| taxing. The size of the keys especially in | | | | performance from a fixed location at less |
| "ultralight" models and the pointing devices | | | | cost and generally they are more comfortable |
| generally used such as touchpad are found to | | | | for prolonged use. Laptops provide powerful |
| be highly uncomfortable to many users. On the | | | | performance from virtually anywhere at any |
| contrary, the desktop computer's design has | | | | time and this will cost you roughly one-third |
| evolved over years to ease the comfort of | | | | more. |
| users. | | | | |
| | | | If you want to take advantage of the |
| Desktop's display can be adjusted at eye | | | | portability and increased productivity, then |
| level, and the keyboard allows for proper | | | | the extra expense for laptops may be well |
| positioning of your back, arms, and wrists. | | | | worth it. If portability and the extended |
| These are important concerns, especially when | | | | access it provides are not important, then a |
| you use your computer for prolonged periods | | | | desktop makes more sense. |
| of time. | | | | |