People are always “on the go” these days, and the convenience of a laptop fits into our busy schedules. So it makes sense that, according to various analyst reports, more people around the world are choosing to buy laptops over desktops. With the current popularity of netbooks, tablets, and digital media players also replacing Internet browsers and miniature computers, why should one buy a desktop over a laptop?
1. Cost and power
Despite many finding the amount of power in a laptop that can be bought for a reasonable price incredible, desktop computers are still cheaper than their portable brethren. Generally speaking, for the same amount of money you can buy a desktop with a faster processor, more memory, more hard drive space, and generally faster components. Desktop computers may support newer technology first, such as multicore processors, which offer greater speed when you multitask. Most desktop computers, due to the size of their case, can offer more ports, such as additional USB and media readers.
2. Dedicated graphics card
Many laptops, except for high-end models, come with either an integrated graphics card and/or one that uses shared memory, taking up part of the laptop’s RAM for use in graphics processing. However, most vendor desktops include separate graphics cards with dedicated video memory. This results in faster graphics and video speeds vital for modern gaming, computer-aided design (CAD), and video editing. Additionally, these graphics cards can handle higher resolutions, allowing you to display more on-screen information simultaneously with a larger monitor. Desktop computers also support additional graphics cards for multi-monitor support, although USB VGA adapters can be purchased for laptops that support limited screen resolution.
3. Ease of updating
Depending on a laptop’s design, it can be relatively easy to upgrade memory and RAM, usually just requiring a screwdriver and a bit of time (and careful hands). Plus, via USB, you can upgrade or add other features, like a dedicated sound card for surround sound. However, upgrading other components can be difficult or impossible without a specialized team and a great deal of knowledge.
However, with desktop computers you may find upgrading components much easier. You can trade in graphics and sound cards, as well as the motherboard and CPU if you have the money, time, and know-how. Depending on the size of the case, desktop computers may support additional internal hard drives for additional storage. If you need more power to drive additional components, replace the power supply or have a computer technician do it. Cooling systems can be installed if the CPU or graphics card gets too hot, or if you want to go over the limit and overclock your system (run it faster than the computer manufacturer recommends). Plus, you can even remove all the components and put them in a whole new box.
4. Use as servers
Desktop computers are better suited to function as servers, such as those that stream media over a home network. Since many desktop computers have room for expansion, you can add a greater amount of hard drive space with internal drives than with laptops, possibly at a lower cost. Plus, you can swap out hard drives and controllers from IDE or SATA to SCSI, providing faster speeds when using multiple drives—essential when files on your server are being accessed by many people simultaneously.
Although laptops offer portability, essential for those who need to work outside the home or office, there are still many reasons to use desktop computers. Gaming, video editing, and computer-aided design are among the many tasks that require the added speed and graphic capabilities that desktop computers offer. Desktop computers allow for a wider and easier range of upgrade options, providing access to newer technologies than have been shrunk to fit on a laptop. Also, desktop computers are better as servers, such as media servers, due to their higher speed and expandability. While laptops allow you to write letters and access the Internet on the go, when you’re not traveling, a desktop computer may be the best choice for your entertainment, multimedia, and business needs.
