Laptops Vs. Desktop: Which Is Best for You?
Are you in the market for a new computer right now? If so, you’re going to have the option to choose between either a laptop or desktop.
If you’ve always used a laptop or always used a desktop, you might want to just stick with what you know best. But you might also want to ask yourself the question, “Is a laptop or desktop better?”, and try to answer it prior to pulling the trigger on a new computer.
The laptops vs. desktop debate is a debate that’s been going on for a long time now. There are pros and cons that come along with each option, which is what makes it so challenging to settle on a laptop or desktop computer.
We’re going to do our best to break down the desktop vs. laptop debate today so that you’re able to make the best decision. Check out some of the factors that you’re going to want to consider when you’re thinking about buying a laptop or desktop.
Performance
Do you want to get your hands on a computer that’s going to make it possible for you to do something like play a lot of games? Then you’re going to need to get maximum performance from it.
There are some laptops that are going to be able to deliver the performance that you’re looking for. But generally speaking, laptops don’t often pack the same punch that desktops do.
Laptop manufacturers are all trying to create the lightest and thinnest laptops that they can. As a result, they’re usually not able to jampack a bunch of hardware into their creations. This can limit the performance of laptops.
This isn’t something that you’ll have to worry about when it comes to desktops. They can provide you with all the power that you’ll need to play your favorite games without a problem.
Storage
Are you planning on storing a bunch of things on your computer once you start using it? This is another area in which desktop computers typically fare better than laptops.
Desktop manufacturers are usually able to put bigger hard drives into their computers than laptop manufacturers. It’ll give you an opportunity to store whatever you want on your desktop.
With that being said, there are also a lot of laptops out there that now come with more than enough storage on them. You can also take advantage of your cloud storage options to avoid having to store things on laptop or desktop computers altogether.
But if storage is something that’s important to you, you might want to go with a desktop computer. It should set you up with plenty of storage space for all your programs, documents, photos, videos, and more.
Portability
Desktop computers might win out in terms of performance and storage when compared to laptop computers. But when it comes to portability, desktops are obviously no match for laptops.
In this day and age, there are a lot of people who need to be able to take their laptops almost anywhere. A large percentage of the working population has started to work remotely at least part of the time, so people need to be able to take their computers with them to and from work so that they have them at all times.
It’s not practical to pick up a desktop and take it with you everywhere that you go. But it’s super simple to bring a laptop with you all over the place.
This is the one clear advantage that laptops will always have over desktops. It’s one of the biggest reasons why laptops have become so popular over time.
Assembly
When you crack open the box for a laptop computer, there isn’t a whole lot of setting up that you’ll need to do. You can turn it on and start using it pretty much right away. In most cases, it’ll come with a battery that is at least partially charged, so even that won’t be an issue for you.
The same cannot be said for a desktop computer. When you open up a new desktop, you’re going to have to spend at least 30 minutes or so getting it all set up. You’ll have to find a place to put your tower, position your monitor in the right spot, and hook up things like your keyboard and mouse.
You’ll also have to repeat this process any time that you decide to move your desktop from one location to another. This can make using a desktop computer a huge chore!
If you planning on putting a desktop in one spot and leaving it there forever, you might not mind the initial setup associated with it. But if you don’t like the idea of having to assemble and disassemble your desktop all the time, a laptop is going to be a better option for you.
Flexibility
Laptops have come a really long way over the course of the last decade or two. Today, you can find laptops with touchscreens. You can also find laptops that you can flip and fold in almost any way that you want.
These kinds of design changes have started to provide people with more flexibility than ever before when using their laptops. They’re able to utilize them in new and innovative ways while using them for school or work.
You’re not going to find this kind of flexibility in desktop computers. While some have touchscreens, these types of desktops are few and far between. They’re simply not as versatile and flexible as laptops are right now.
Upgradability
At some point throughout the life of a computer, you might want to upgrade it. You may want to stick a new hard drive into it or beef it up in some other way.
It’s going to be difficult to do this if you have a laptop. Many laptop manufacturers have intentionally made it difficult for people to get into their laptops for the purpose of upgrading them. And even if they are able to get into them, laptops tend to have little to no space for people to put new hard drives and other pieces of hardware.
This is not going to be an issue with a desktop computer. It’s fairly simple to open a desktop up and upgrade it as long as you know what you’re doing. You can add storage to a desktop or make it way faster than it already is by adding new hardware to it if you want.
Battery Life
All laptops come with batteries tucked inside them. These batteries are what allow people to walk around with their laptops and use them anywhere that they want.
There are some laptops that have better batteries than others. They’ll provide people with 12 hours (or more!) of life.
There are other batteries, meanwhile, that will only set people up with a few hours of life. But even still, that’s way more than what people are going to get from their desktops.
In order to use a desktop, you’re going to need to be close enough to an electrical outlet so that you can plug it in. If you’re not, you can forget about being able to use your desktop. This is going to be very limiting and frustrating to some people, and it’s going to give the edge to laptops in this department.
Cost
Are you concerned about how much it’s going to cost you to buy laptops vs. desktop computers? This is a common concern that many people have when they’re purchasing a new computer.
You’re probably going to find that most desktops cost less than laptops. A midrange desktop computer will run you somewhere between $400 and $1,000 while a midrange laptop computer will run you somewhere between $600 and $1,500.
But you should know that there are some laptops that will be every bit as affordable as desktops. You can find great deals on laptops if you’re willing to look for them in the right places.
You shouldn’t let the perceived cost of a laptop stop you from buying one. The answer to the question, “Is a laptop cheaper than a desktop?”, isn’t always going to be “yes.” But if you buy one from the right place, the cost of a laptop could be comparable to the cost of a desktop.
Where Do You Fall On the Laptops Vs. Desktop Debate?
At the end of the day, there are lots of pros and cons for both laptop and desktop computers. It’s why the laptops vs. desktop debate has existed for as long as it has.
Only you can decide which one is going to work best for you. You should consider each of the factors that we’ve discussed here and try to decide which side of the fence you fall on. It’ll help you obtain a computer that’s going to fit your lifestyle and meet all your needs.
Get more advice on buying a new computer by browsing through the other informative articles that have been posted on our blog.
