Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Laptop vs Desktop: Which One Should You Get?

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When you’ve already made the decision to buy a computer, you find yourself being met with another important choice to make: laptop or desktop? It can be a little confusing to decide which one is the better fit. It all comes down to choosing which hardware best meets your needs.

There are some key considerations you need to decide on when you’re shopping for a laptop or a desktop. Whatever it is you are picking, either one has their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Check out a brief summary of the two below:

Laptops

Since their invention, laptops have been touted as a portable computer you can carry everywhere you go. It has its own rechargeable battery that can power the device on its own for a few hours which can be useful if you are constantly on the move and you need to work on something while in transit. In order to be portable, they are smaller than most desktop computers, take less space, and less heavy.

Laptop computers have come a long way in the last decade that some have internal components like processors and GPU that can rival the midrange desktop computers of today. The downside is, decent gaming laptops tend to be on the more expensive side. However, their power is still limited because of the way they are built to be compact. High-functioning components need a lot of space and its size is a disadvantage when it comes to heat dissipation so while heavy-duty gaming is possible, it will need an external cooling system or run the risk of overheating and permanent damage.

Furthermore, upgrades can be a bit of a drag with these devices since components are built-in or not removable and if there are, it is only the memory and hard drive that can be taken out. This is another disadvantage when trying to replace malfunctioning or broken parts because there is little to no availability for the parts. If you find yourself charting this path in the near future, check first if it is cheaper to replace your laptop instead of upgrading it because the latter may end up more costly. The screen size is dependent on the size of the laptop but it can be connected to an external display if needed.

When it comes to ease of use, laptops have this on lock. They require little to no installation when brought out of the box so you can just charge it for a specific amount of time then turn it on and then begin to use it. When it comes to accessorizing, laptops are straightforward because you only need a laptop sleep or a hard casing for the device to protect it from bumps and scratches.

Desktops

Desktop computers dwarf laptops in size and unlike the latter, they are bulky and come in many parts. They are designed to stay in one place like in the home or office and because they don’t get much mileage, they are less prone to being damaged in transit. It needs to be plugged in all the time in order for you to use it so while it may not be portable, it is reliable and ergonomic considering it has a big keyboard and proper screen.

They have a large range of prices because you can buy them pre-built or customize them to suit your needs. Since size is not a problem, desktop computers can accommodate a lot more components including the most advanced processors, GPU, motherboard, and many more. Overheating is largely preventable in desktop PCs because the CPU case can accommodate air cooling fans or even a liquid cooling system.

The beauty of building a PC of your own is that you can easily control your budget or oversee which components you can spend more on because there are many budget-friendly alternatives out in the market. Another advantage is having the option of customizing your desktop to have certain specs for work or gaming because this is not available for laptops.

Upgrade and replacement are a breeze since you can take apart parts and replace them easily. A downside is connecting everything together and while it may not require rocket science, it still is extra work needed to make it operational.

The Bottom Line

It all comes down to what you need and prefer. No matter what you choose, it should be able to answer your needs and convenience. With so many available laptops and desktop computers out in the market today, either offer a range of affordable options and you should have no problem finding them.

Are you a laptop or desktop person? Share your perspective in the comment section below.

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