You might’ve thought the PC was dead, but the onset of working from home and everyone spending more time indoors revived the market, and it’s likely here to stay.
If you’re looking to upgrade your device soon, then you might be asking the question: laptop or desktop? Though each offers plenty of advantages, they both also come with their own drawbacks that should be carefully considered. Luckily, we’re here to take you through all of them.
Read on to learn everything you need to know to make your decision.
Budget
This is a big factor for a lot of buyers, and it’s something that’s likely to make or break your decision.
Desktops are generally going to offer you more power for less money, but they often require additional accessories to even use, making them more expensive. Laptops, on the other hand, are all-in-one devices that can be turned into a desktop if you work from home a lot.
PCs are also a lot easier to upgrade, though, and the upkeep costs aren’t usually as high. If one component goes out, then you can just replace that one thing. If something goes out on your laptop, it isn’t always just a quick fix.
Desktops Tend to Last Longer
With that being said, desktops also tend to last longer than laptops do. This could be due to how easily you can replace one component at a time, but it’s also smart to consider the fact that you’re not traveling with a desktop PC like you are with a laptop.
Laptops go through a lot throughout their life, especially if you’re a professional on the go or a student that takes their laptop everywhere. Their ventilation also isn’t quite as good as a desktop’s, making them more susceptible to overheating and failing components.
How Easily Can You Upgrade and Customize?
One of the biggest desktop advantages is just how easily you can upgrade and customize your setup — especially if you opt to build your own. Plenty of PCs come equipped with RGB lights and colored cooling fans. Clear display cases make it simple to set everything up and make the most out of your home workspace, and you can even place knick-knacks inside if you put them in properly.
That shouldn’t take away from the fact that there are some beautiful laptops available on the market today, and a lot of them can compare to desktops when it comes to their capabilities. Also, you can always add peripherals to your home laptop setup that come with RGB or other features you’d want to see in a desktop setup.
Do You Travel a Lot?
What desktops can’t do, though, is travel easily.
While some all-in-one desktops can unplug from the wall and be taken around the house, that doesn’t mean they’re good for traveling to different places. One of the biggest laptop advantages is being able to pack it away easily and use it when you’re on the go.
Some laptops are small enough to fit inside a purse or backpack, making them perfect for classes or coffee shop meetings.
If you only tend to work from home, then this feature might not matter for you, but if you’re on the go and need something that travels as easily as you do, then you might not be able to avoid having a laptop on hand.
Consider Size
The other thing to consider with different types of computers is the size. Even if you do spend most of your time working from home, it’s worth considering whether a desktop PC is going to take up too much space if you don’t have a lot of it. Mini PCs are an option, but you still have to consider the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and any other thing you might need to go along with it.
If all you have is a small desk space to work from, then purchasing a laptop with a nice stand and a small keyboard to use with it might be your best option.
If portability isn’t your priority, though, then having a big monitor to complete tasks at might be exactly the thing you’re looking for. If you’ve always had smaller screens and finally have the space you’d like to spread out and take up room, then investing in a decent desktop setup for yourself might be well worth it.
It’s all going to depend on you, what you’re looking for, and whether or not you want a space to spend your days at, or a laptop that you can carry around the house with you.
Ease of Use
Laptops are going to be a lot easier to set up and use than a desktop could ever dream of being. They also require less power to use, so charging them is as simple as finding an outlet and plugging it in. Also, if you experience a power outage, you’re not going to lose the task you were working on due to the computer shutting down.
Desktops, however, are notoriously easier to fix and repair than laptops are. They’re also cheaper to maintain for long periods of time, and they’re a lot easier to clean when the time comes.
A lot of times, you have to take your laptop to a professional to have it cleaned or fixed, while you can often purchase special tools and supplies to clean your PC to just DIY at home.
How Much Power Do You Need?
Another huge thing to consider: how much power do you need to get out of your computer?
Desktops used to be notoriously more powerful than laptops, but these days, many laptop models actually offer impressive specs that are comparable to most desktops. They’re also likely to come with a larger price tag than a desktop will, and they’re going to come in larger sizes (15 to 16 inches) which can affect their portability.
That doesn’t mean desktops aren’t going to come with powerful processors, though. They’re also going to come with more memory and a lot more local storage than a laptop would.
Also, if you find yourself running out of memory on a desktop, buying more memory and replacing the component is a lot simpler than it would ever be on a laptop.
Whether you get a desktop or a laptop, the Intel Evo Platform is a powerful tool built to help you get work done, and provide a lag-free gaming experience in your downtime.
What Are You Using the Computer For?
To know how much power you’re going to need from your computer, you need to know what you use it for the most.
If you game a lot and run editing software all day, then you’re going to need something that can handle high amounts of processing without compromising on things like speed and frame rates. If all you really need it for is writing programs, watching movies, or browsing social media, then going with something a bit smaller and less powerful might be fine for you.
Desktops are, typically, going to be better for those who need high-powered tech, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get away with using a laptop.
Same Parts, Smaller Package
Something else to note when you’re comparing these two options is the parts that come with them. While you might have a laptop and a desktop with the same parts, that doesn’t mean they’re going to run at the same speed.
Laptops are going to come equipped with smaller processors and components than desktops do, and that means they’re not going to be as powerful or speedy as a desktop might be.
Meet in the Middle
If you have the means, you can always opt to purchase a decent desktop and a laptop for situations where you need access to both. You’ll be able to save money if you go for a cheaper laptop, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be sacrificing power.
Even if you do sacrifice power, how often are you going to be using the laptop? If it’s only a few times a month when you decide to work outside your home, then the difference might not even be enough to notice. With this option, you give yourself access to the best of both worlds.
So, Laptop or Desktop?
Now that we’ve gone through a few of the basics, your decision might be clear. The question still remains, though, laptop or desktop? Each option comes with its pros and drawbacks, but ultimately, the answer is going to depend on you and your overall needs.
Be sure to sit down and get specific about your situation before making any big decisions, and don’t feel pressured by anyone else to go one way or the other. You’re going to be the one using this machine the most anyway.
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