Desktop vs Laptop

Greetings and welcome to El Toro's Tech Blog! I wish to apologize to my readers for the long hiatus. A lot of things have been taking place in my life where I haven't been able to be available to post any new entries. Now that things are a bit more settled I hope to be able to bring to you what I do best.

I tend to get a lot of my friends asking me "Hey I am going to be getting a new computer soon and I wanted to know if you think I should get a desktop or a laptop". People tend to wonder which one is better for them to get. Most people even assume they should be getting one thing, when in fact they may just need the other. So, what is the best thing to get? Here I hope to accomplish the following for my readers:

1. Provide a better understanding what a desktop and a laptop is


2. What are the benefits of having a desktop vs having a laptop


3. What works better in what type of situation


4. My final thoughts

In the end, I do hope you will be able to find this information useful and help make your decision the best one for your needs. For the sake of making the blog a bit easier to relate to, I will be speaking mainly about Microsoft Windows computers, with a mention of Apple.

DESKTOPS COMPUTERS

My teacher gave me one of the best definitions on what a desktop computer was without using technical lingo and I remember it to this very day. A desktop computer is a "huge box with a tv screen, keyboard and mouse that will allow you to do multiple tasks and view it on the screen". I look back at what she said to me and I laugh, because it is essentially just that. A machine that a regular person can use to write letters and email them, browse the internet, talk with friends overseas without having to pay for long distance. We sure have come a long way from having "a huge box with a tv screen". Desktop computers come in various shapes, sizes and makes, and each desktop has different configurations, specifications and support. Without going into too much technical detail, you can pretty much walk into any computer/electronic store and purchase a desktop and set it up at home pretty easily. While there are many makes of a desktop, there are 2 types of desktop you can get:

• Windows Desktop computer


• Apple Desktop computer.

Apple is its sole creator of the hardware for its desktop computers and it will have its own operating system, Apple Mac OS. Windows desktop computers, on the other hand, is a Microsoft product and has Microsoft Windows installed on it. What makes Windows different from Mac OS is that Mac OS can only be installed(LEGALLY) on a Mac computer and Mac hardware. But with Windows, you can install it on any type of hardware (ex: Dell, HP, Toshiba, Acer, Asus, Sony, etc). You could install Windows on Mac hardware but to do that is almost as taking the engine of a Ferrari and putting it into a VW buggy ... it wouldn't make sense.

Desktop computers are not meant to be portable. I mean, really, do you want to lug around a computer, a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse? You tend to see desktops in places such as the office, public libraries, hotels, internet cafes, banks, even some touch screen vending machines, like in the case of some New Yorkers, the MTA Metro Card machines (it uses a compact version of Microsoft Windows). Most businesses use Microsoft Windows and have Windows Desktops computers.

Laptop Computers

The same teacher who told me how to define a desktop told me this and I am not even kidding (my teacher was a riot LOL). The laptop is essentially a very smaller, "squished down" version of a desktop and its more portable. You could take it a step further and say laptops are also space savers.

There are also several types of laptops you can get but the 2 most common ones out in the market today are:

• Windows Laptops (Dell, Acer, Asus, Toshiba, Lenovo, etc)


• Apple Laptops (Macbook, Macbook Air, Macbook Pro)

Because laptops are meant to be portable, they tend to be more expensive because the parts are smaller than your average desktop. They can do just the same as a regular desktop can do. It is just a question of how much you are willing to fork out and if you plan on being mobile or not.

Now that I have explained what each device is, lets put together some pros and cons about each.

Desktops
Pros	Cons
More Bang for your Buck - you can get better graphics, monitors, processors on a desktop without paying too much money	"Isn’t going anywhere" - This means, you don’t have the luxury of saying "Hey, I need to finish this presentation on the train, let me take my computer with me. You need to sit at your desk and do your work there.
Easier to use - with a desktop, you can get a large monitor/screen, a good size keyboard and mouse for comfort.
Upgrading is Easy - because of the size of the desktop, there is room to easily add and remove components
Easy to keep track of - let’s face it, unless someone breaks into your place, you can clearly see who would be walking out the door with a large monitor and desktop.
Hard Drive Space - you can get a lot of space for your files and not pay too much money for it.
Memory - You can get a lot of memory capacity for your desktop and not pay too much for it

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Laptops
Pros	Cons
Mobility - you can easily pick up the laptop and go from your bedroom to the living room and still keep working on that document or presentation.	Less bang for more buck - you can find a fairly decent laptop with the specs you want but once you start wanting more memory, better video, larger display or anything extra, the price of the laptop goes up significantly. This is due to the fact the parts are way smaller and more expensive.
Most laptops have internal WiFi cards so you can go anywhere there is a WiFi connection and get back online at any time. This also includes your home WiFi!	Maintenance - unlike a desktop where you can open it up and see the parts easily, laptop parts are smaller and therefore more expensive. Most people tend to hire a professional if they wanted to upgrade their space or memory.
Power - If you lose power for any reason, you still can work on your laptop because it runs on its own battery (when fully charged).	"It can walk easily" - someone can easily pick up the laptop and steal it without you knowing it. You practically need to have it attached to your hip at all times.

Final Thoughts: This is now a choice you need to make on your own. Only you will know your needs when it comes down to a desktop or a laptop. I strongly suggest you do your research no matter what you decide to get. Ask around, talk to people, Google is your best resource on getting good and accurate reviews. Don't ask a salesperson because in the long run, they want to make a sale so they will mostly tell you what you want to hear. If you wish to ask me, I can certainly give you recommendations based on the questions I ask you but in the long haul, it is your decision.
Until next time, be safe! =)