Laptop vs. PC

It's time to sack up and buy a computer. After dreaming about RAM the night before you head over to your local computer store only to be befuddled at the very first question the clerk asks you, "Do you want a laptop or desktop?"


Now I trust most of you wouldn't actually go to the store before taking this question into consideration, that's why you are reading this. But the point remains, before you can decide what kind of computer you want (Dell, Mac, Hewlett Packard etc.), you first need to consider whether you want the portability of a laptop or dexterity of a PC.




Before I go any further, let me admit my bias by saying I love my laptop. But prior to explaining my choice to go portable (and its infinite wisdom), let's take a look at the downside of laptops and the superior qualities a stationary computer provides. As with all purchasing decisions, there are pros and cons to whatever you choose, and what has worked beautifully for me might not work for others depending on the situation.

The Argument Against Laptops

Price per computing power is usually the first consideration, in which case a desktop is a much better choice. Laptops are more expensive then their PC counterparts, sometimes twice as much. The reason for this is the design aspect of a laptop. The same components are squeezed into a small space and the price for that convenience is pushed onto the consumer.


This design doesn't just affect space for the guts of your computer, but the keyboard and screen too. Typing on a smaller keyboard takes practice. Some people never really feel comfortable and this interferers with their entire computer experience. Also, the screen of a laptop is not as large or high in quality as a desktop. If you want to use your computer to watch DVDs or you're an avid gamer, gazing at a small screen with low response time for long periods can be annoying and even detrimental to your eyes.