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