Should I buy a desktop or laptop?

This is an older post back from a couple of years ago that I decided to dust off and add a little more information to it. Nothing better to do during a snow storm on an early Saturday afternoon!

Should I buy a desktop or laptop? That is the question. As a matter of fact, that is the first question you should ask yourself when shopping around for a new computer as discussed in a previous article, Buying a New Computer. The answer to this question depends on your intended use of the PC. The purpose of this article is not to sway you one way or the other, it is meant to educate you in order to make a sound decision and introduce the pros and cons of each choice.<!–more–>

I know a lot of people who don’t even think about it, they immediately make up their mind to shop for a laptop and never consider a desktop. The reason given the most when asked why they plan to purchase a laptop instead of a desktop is because they want the mobility that a laptop offers. They want to be able to sit on their bed and possibly watch a movie on the laptop or maybe they want to work on some email while watching the football game on TV while sitting in their favorite chair.  Maybe they want to read an eBook out on the deck on a nice afternoon. The point is, they would rather not have to go to a fixed location where the family computer is located in order to access it. There are other advantages such as taking their laptop with them when they leave home. You can’t do that with a desktop.

These are all valid reasons for wanting to purchase a laptop. However, there may be times when purchasing a desktop over a laptop makes more sense. Considering that desktops are normally much less expensive than laptops, it may make financial sense to purchase a desktop instead. You can normally buy a desktop that is more powerful, with more memory, larger disk capacity, better graphics and much better sound quality than a comparable laptop. Not only that, but when bundled with flat screen LED or LCD monitors and/or printers, you will almost certainly be getting more for your money. Check out the two Amazon affiliate links on this page. These are two computers with somewhat similar processing power. The desktop comes with 2 GB of additional RAM and double the disk space and it is still less expensive than the laptop listed here. Of course you will need to factor in a monitor, keyboard and mouse for the desktop if you do not already own these peripherals.

Here are some questions you need to ask yourself when trying to decide, laptop or desktop?

Who is the computer for?
If the computer is to be the family computer which is to be shared by everyone, then consider buying a desktop. If the computer is for a child in school, then most likely a laptop will offer more flexibility. Also, if the computer is for someone older, you must consider that the smaller screen and keyboard may pose a problem for some folks in which case a full sized keyboard and large monitor may be in order. Please note that you can connect laptops to larger screens and keyboards easily buy purchasing a docking station or the equivalent connectors.

Do you need to be mobile?
This is easy, if you need to move around or take the computer with you, then the obvious answer is to purchase a laptop. However, the computer will never leave the house and can be shared among all members of the household, then a desktop is probably the answer.

Is money an option?
Laptops are more expensive than desktops. If you are in need of other peripherals such as a large LCD monitor or a new printer, you may be able to bundle this together. These bundles are more common with desktops.

Desktop Pros

• You get more for your money. Desktop components such as disk drives and memory are cheaper than laptop components.
• Desktops tend to physically last longer than laptops. Once reason for this is that desktop normally aren’t dropped, stolen or lost since they are stationary as opposed to mobile.
• Bundling large flat screens, printers, or other peripherals can further save you money. Store are more likely to offer these packages with desktop purchases.

Desktop Cons

• Lack of mobility. You can’t take your desktop to work, school or move it about the house freely.

Laptop Pros

• Mobility. Take your laptop anywhere you want to go.
• Ownership. A laptop is yours and you can use it for anything you want for as long as you want. You do not have to worry about sharing time with others.

Laptop Cons

• More expensive than desktops.
• Less sturdier than desktops just due to the mobility factor. Hinges, screen cages and even keyboards have a high probability of wearing out quicker on a laptop than on a desktop.

Here is a great link for non-computer folks looking to purchase a laptop, How to buy a laptop for the regular person, by Jeremy Moskowitz. Jeremy put a lot of thought and detail into this article and I can definitely see it helping folks who might be a little less savvy when it comes to computers. We are interested in what you think, leave a comment. Thank you!