Laptop or PC?

Answer 1

When deciding which is better for you, you must first have some idea what you are going to use the computer for. Both options have pros and cons to them, and unlike laptops of old, the new ones can be equally as powerful as a desktop.

Laptop Pros:
1) Flexibility - Can be used where and when you want because it offers power by battery or a/c power cord
2) Depending on manufacturer and specifications, a laptop can be as powerful as a desktop.
3) Like Desktop PCs laptops can benefit from external storage devices to expand on limited built in storage capacities.

Laptop Cons:
1) Once assembled - has limited expansion capabilities, if you didn't get it when purchased, about the only upgrade options left are adding more memory, maybe replacing the optical drive with something new, or replacing the hard drive to something slightly larger. Lastly while you can use external devices that connect via USB or other connections, actual data transfer speeds will be considerably reduced when compared to a built in hard drive using a SATA connection.
2) If your initial configuration didn't include a graphics adaptor with dedicated graphics memory, you are stuck using onboard graphics that shares part or all of it's video graphics memory from your system memory pool. Many programs and games might work with onboard graphics but many also state that onboard graphics engines are not supported or recommended.
3) Internal Hard drive storage, because most laptops use a physically smaller sized hard drive, their storage capacities are much more limited in storage capabilities, usually capping out around 250gigs.
4) Typically laptops are designed to be fully equipped at creation with a goal or use intent pre-determined, thus they remain slightly inflexible when your needs or desires change from the original intent.
5) People with larger hands can sometimes find it difficult to type using a laptop's keyboard especially if the unit was designed to be compact and has a case with a screen size under 15 inches, though you can always plug in a USB connected keyboard and/or mouse to offset built in features and their respective limitations.

Desktop Pros:
1) Can be built to fit a budget at time of creation, and can offer the user a chance to add on more later as money or need comes along.
2) Desktops offer more expandability through built in expansion slots on the motherboard whether PCI, PCI-Express, SATA, IDE, or others.
3) Desktops offer increased internal storage capacities over laptops in that desktop's can usually handle more built in hard drives and because they can use either the standard sized hard drives or smaller versions designed for laptops they can increase they potential storage capacities far beyond that of a laptop. Traditional hard drives for desktop computers even now offer upto 1 terabyte of storage on a single drive.
4) Desktops offer a large range of available addon graphics cards with dedicated processors and graphics memory capacities.
5) Desktops offer the ability to install multiple optical drives allowing people to copy straight from one disk to another without having to download the contents to the computer first.
6) Even low end desktop computers generally offer more expandibility than laptops.

Desktop Cons:
1) Less likely to be moved around after initial setup, people aren't going to cart a desktop into a classroom to take notes on then move it back to their residence for other uses.
2) Desktops typically cannot be used to their fullest designs while running on battery power like a laptop can, desktops primarily are designed to run on a/c power.
3) Lastly because of design, even the smallest compact desktop will take up much more space to setup and use than a laptop which is by design to be all inclusive and compact.

All this being said, you as the intended user must really decide which is a better choice for you as you know where, when, and how you intend to use the computer. If you are a student or travel alot and want the ability to use your computer on the go, then a laptop is a better choice, if you don't need to take your computer with you regularly, or you plan to get something you can afford now and expand later, then a desktop might be a better choice.

Answer 2

It depends what you want and how much you can afford. A PC is alot cheaper, you can get all the storage space you want and almost any software will run on it. However, they are more vulnerable to viruses etc and they start to deteriate and become slower. A Mac however is brilliant for photo and video editing, they work perfectly with ipods etc, their fast performance lasts and they don't get viruses easily. However, they are rather expensive and many windows programs won't run on them unless you install a parallel desktop. If you've got the money go for a Mac, they have lots of advanced features and better performance than a pc. And if you have the windows xp/vista software then you can load that on and switch between mac and pc. However, you can get a decent quality pc that will last you a few years without the fuss of buying software that will run on it.

Answer 3

Performance: PC

Cost: PC

Upgradability: PC

Mobility: Laptop


Depending on how important mobility is to you, the answer is very clear. Most people will be very happy with a PC, while others will be much better off with laptops due to the requirements of your working/gaming environment (for example, if you want to go to a LAN party, its a real pain in the *** to set up a full-weight tower)

Answer 4

it depends on your needs. there are good laptops that almost as fast as the desktops. laptops has the ability of being "mobile" while desktops don't. the diff. between, is that most laptops ends its upgrades. well, aside for the RAM (random access memory) the speed will be fixed. not like in desktops whereas you can upgrade the video cards, processors or almost everything. so ask yourself, what am i going to use the computer for? Laptops = mobility and desktops PC = performance and upgrades.

Knapp Ramirez
Product Support Personnel
Fujitsu-Siemens Computers
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Answer 5

Depends what you want....
Laptops are much more convenient and compact but they have drawbacks. You can't easily upgrade a laptop. You also can't get the same power in a laptop that you can get in a desktop. Also, laptops are pricier.
Desktops can be upgraded more easily and cost less but they aren't mobile and don't run on batteries. It really depends on your situation is and what you really want.

Answer 6

didn't want any other info in there? Is this for you? Are you wondering which would be better a notebook / desktop?

Well without this, I'll give my 2cents. I own a custom built PC by me and a Sony notebook and an Ibook. I prefer both.

Its all preference though. Do you want to be mobile with it? Or just stationary?

Answer 7

Most laptops today are as powerful as desktops, so i would pay the extra money on a powerful laptop to have a portable, and more convenient desktop ;)

Hope this helps & good luck,

Answer 8

You get more bang for your $ with a desktop PC.

You need to decide if mobility is worth the extra $.

Answer 9

depends on what u are gonna use it for
basically laptops are used for mobility

Answer 10

PC