I get calls regularly from clients asking me to supply them with a new laptop. My first question is, “Why do you want a laptop?”  There seems to be an across the board move to buying laptops by default, rather than desktop computers, but why? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
If you need to move the computer on a regular basis then a laptop would be the obvious choice. However, if you almost never move the computer from your desk then a desktop is a much, much better option. A computer relies on air to cool the processor, which can get extremely hot. The limited amount of cooling air able to flow through a laptop means that, by design, they will deliberately run more slowly than the equivalent desktop; simply to keep the heat down.
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Lift up your laptop and look underneath. That is almost certainly where the air intake holes are placed – and yet they get blocked as soon as you use the laptop on your, err, lap. Or the duvet. Bad news. (Use a laptop on a tray instead, just to allow that all important air to flow.)
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The laptop screen is probably a lot smaller than the monitor that you would use with a desktop. Maybe 15.6″ (the standard laptop screen size) as opposed to a monitor of 22″ or 24″, (the default sizes we supply.) That’s a lot of eye strain if you use the computer all day long.
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 Battery life will limit the usefulness of a laptop. Not only due to the need to ensure that it is sufficiently charged if you are out and about, but also the overall life of the battery, which may need replacing every 2-3 years.
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Repairs or upgrades are more easily, and so more cheaply, carried out on desktop PCs.
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A laptop is in much greater danger of being dropped, lost or stolen.
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Laptops are, obviously, so much smaller. This can be useful even if you are not moving the computer around a lot as they take up much less desk space. When you do need to carry a laptop the light weight is a real benefit.
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A desktop is useless in a power cut, whereas the laptop may have sufficient battery power to get you through a few hours.
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You can, of course, add monitors, keyboard and mouse to a laptop and use it just like a desktop in the office or home; and also have the flexibility of transporting it elsewhere.
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A business grade desktop, complete with keyboard, mouse & monitor is likely to cost about £650.00 (inc VAT), whereas the equivalent spec of laptop could be £775.00. And the desktop will last longer.
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Call for free advice on whether you really do need that sexy new laptop, or if you’d be much better off with a desktop PC. |
