When deciding between purchasing a laptop or a computer, there are a handful of criteria that you need to consider to pick the best fit. Before you dig into the depth of specifications, configurations, built, models, and so on, the big question that you need to answer is – laptop or desktop.
Prior to starting the thorough answer to your question, change your mindset and understand that neither device is superior or better than the other. Both laptops and desktops have their own set of advantages. The choice you make will be the product of your particular needs and preferences for personal, school, or work use.
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What Is the Difference Between the Laptop & Desktop?
A desktop computer is one that is static and rests on a desk in your home or office. It usually comprises multiple parts that include a CPU cabinet, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. They are more customizable and have more life than laptops.
A laptop is a compact and delicate device that has USB inputs on both sides for peripherals. These all-in-one devices are highly portable, and you can take them anywhere. However, laptops are hard to customize and come with limited upgrade options.
Security
Computer hardware needs to be secure to ensure that your personal and organizational data is safe from unauthorized access. Desktops are physically more secure as they are kept at one single location and are hard to be stolen.
On a laptop, you can tweak system settings to create new user on mac and control the way it is used outside the office premises. You can have strict policies in place to regulate usage and protect the devices once they leave the office premises.
Cost Factor
When it comes to buying a desktop computer, you have wider options available, from mid-price range to high-end systems. The starting range is relatively cheap and highly affordable, and you don’t have to compromise with quality or functionality.
Laptops have a decent range of options, but they are limited in comparison to desktops. The price range can be significantly higher for powerful specifications that include higher speed, higher storage, etc. However, the cost of a laptop varies from brand to brand.
Processor
Desktop processors are bigger in size and give considerably higher performance. That’s because desktop computers come with full-size hardware components that are more powerful than their counterparts used in laptops.
Laptops can integrate similar processors to that of desktop computers, but there are noticeable performance factors that differentiate them. Though laptops are handy than desktops, processor speed can be a huge comparison factor.
Internal Storage
Again, desktops can have multiple slots that allow you to install a number of hard disks. This often improves the performance of your computer as the applications won’t lag due to low space availability.
On the contrary, laptop computers are compact and therefore house only one internal storage. Although you can upgrade the memory to higher specifications as per your needs and preferences, it is difficult to add multiple RAMs to the laptops.
Assembly & Set-up
Setting up a desktop takes a few hours as you have to connect and place every single component and peripherals in an organized manner. You need a considerable space or a dedicated desk for your desktop.
Laptops are designed to give more flexibility to users. You do not have to set up any external components. You only need a laptop table, and you are good to go. Moreover, you need to press the power button, and your laptop is up and running in a few seconds.
Portability
Desktops are larger devices designed to be set up and used in a single location. Though you can move desktops from one place to another or shift them from one location to another, you can’t carry them everywhere you go.
Laptops are portable, and you can take them to your school and office or can carry them along while leaving for vacations. They are compact, so you can keep them in your handbag, backpack, or laptop case when on a flight.
Screen Size & Resolution
Laptops of 12-inches or 16-inches screen size offer a nice balance of power and portability. Today’s laptops come with high-resolution screens that offer full HD 1080 display quality. If you invest in a high-end laptop, you can get 4K video quality.
Today’s desktop monitors start at 22-inch and go beyond 32-inch. When purchasing a monitor for your desktop, consider a wider screen with high-definition quality and upsize to the higher dimensions that come into your budget.
When buying a laptop or a desktop, you can even consider a refurbished computer from a certified reseller. This way, you will get the chance to buy a high-end computer at a comparatively lower price.