Before you choose a computer, take a moment and consider why you are buying a computer. For instance, if you are very mobile, like a student going from your house to the library, you might want to purchase a laptop. Even further, if you will be traveling a bit you will want specifically a lighter laptop. If you play video games constantly, get a computer with a good video card for the best game resolution. If you have children, buy a child-friendly, easy to use computer.
So, consider the uses you will require and realize these will determine the price of a computer. A desktop can be purchased for under $500, but if you need more features or a faster computer, you’ll need to spend more money. This section will help you to determine what type of computer is right for you.
Laptops
It used to be that people bought both a laptop and a desktop, but now more and more depend on just a laptop as the smaller technology has basically caught up to the performance of that used in desktops, and the prices have decreased. Here are some pros and cons to consider when purchasing a laptop.
Types of Laptops
- Desktop Replacement: Larger and more powerful, it can replace the bulky desktop you might have at home but certainly not the ideal laptop for mobility purposes.
- The Convertible: A variety of forms, but most come with a display that swivels, and allows you to write with a special pen directly on the computer screen.
- The Ultralite, Ultraslim, or Ultraportable Laptop: Made for portability: lightweight, thin, and energy efficient. Most provide an extended battery life for travelers.
- The Slate or Tablet: Thin, and looks like a clipboard or journal. Uses a special electronic pen to write on its surface, and it translates your handwriting into typed words. Many times these laptops do not have much beyond the word processing capabilities of a PC.
Laptop Pros
- Laptops are portable. You can work at school, at work, during meetings, as a passenger in a car, or in a coffee shop.
- Wireless internet is increasingly available in popular locations, meaning that with a laptop you can survive without purchasing internet for your home or can do work outside of the office.
- Basic laptops continually become cheaper as smaller components become easier to make. Nicer laptops are still a serious investment.
- Laptops come in all shapes and sizes, from a small book to a large atlas, with the weight to match.
- Laptops no longer lag behind desktops in their capacity and functionality.
Laptop Cons
- More compact components (i.e. keyboard, screen, mouse) that may be difficult to see or use.
- You are limited to the battery life of the computer, which varies. Consider purchasing an extra battery if you use your laptop without access to an outlet frequently.
- Laptops are easy to steal. So be careful where you leave a laptop!
- Laptops are, on average, more expensive than the comparable desktop.
- It is more expensive to upgrade and repair a laptop.
Desktops
A desktop computer is the typical home computer. The features are separate: monitor (screen), tower, mouse, speakers, etc., instead of an all-in-one like with a laptop. Desktops tend to be larger and a bit more user friendly. The attached screen, keyboard or mouse can be customized as you desire with the newest smallest, or largest, technology available.
Exceptions are the innovative desktops by Apple Computers. One has eliminated the tower by incorporating all those components into the screen, leaving only the mouse, keyboard to be attached (and any superfluous additional components). The second is the tower design, but shrunk down into an extremely small size, thus making easier the difficulty of finding a place on, or near, a desk to store a traditional tower.
Desktop Pros
- Desktops tend to cost less than comparable laptops because the components are not as small. You can get a decent desktop for around $500.
- It’s relatively easy and cheap to upgrade a desktop. Parts are more accessible than a laptop, and there’s more room to add on additional components.
- The desktop is best for family use. It can hold plenty of memory for video games and pictures, and can act as a spare DVD or CD player.
- Desktops usually need fewer repairs.
Desktop Cons
- The desktop is large, bulky, and difficult to move around, although they continue to decrease in size.
- It is more difficult to lug in a desktop to get fixed.
- Desktops have poor resale value.