Should I buy a desktop or a laptop?
By aendzie
@aendzie (571)
Philippines
July 30, 2008 6:55pm CST
I'm not sure if anybody has already psoted this, but I just wana know what's best for me. I'm planning to buy a computer but my mom said I should buy laptop so my brothers can also borrow it and it's not space consuming. I do agree with her but my friends said, I'd better buy a desktop coz it has expandable memory and laptop easily gets old and new products/ models can get famous at any time. I need a computer for my online clases, so that means I need it to install lessons, call the students through Skype and so on. Should I buy a desktop or a laptop?
6 people like this
37 responses
@hindichinese (748)
• Philippines
31 Jul 08
I think it really depends on your budget and needs. Because when you buy desktop, it is little bit more powerful than laptop, coz, uyou can upgrade it anytime when there are new in the market. If laptop, yes it is more convenient and less space, and portable. But, Even if how new and good your laptop is, It can get sooner be dumped because of the new ones.
But I have a laptop now. LOL 
3 people like this
@hindichinese (748)
• Philippines
31 Jul 08
If you have enough budget then go buy them both. You can use desktop when your at home and the laptop when your going outside.
Enjoy my lot.
1 person likes this
@k4karthik (439)
• India
31 Jul 08
That is fully depends on your requirement and budget. For space consuming even desktop also takes less space nowadays. LCD monitor and small CPU. For borrowing desktop not preferred. Desktop advantage is you can customize the way you expect it to be. That includes Memory, hard disk graphics card everything. Whereas customizing laptops are not that much easy compared to that of desktops. One my friend mentioned earlier laptops initial buying also costly and maintenance also more if that starts giving problem. Think yourself.
@ruby222 (4847)
•
31 Jul 08
I have to be honest and say that a laptop is a far easier way out,but the desk tops seem to be more robust.Whereas the laptop takes a lot of movement and is always being picked up and put down,the desk top remains still,so therefore takes less knocks.I have ha two laptops go wrong,and I hvae had neither of them repaired as the cost was too high!it a decision that only yuo can make,but the desk tops are to my mind the better bargain.
@alkurishy (2068)
• Iraq
31 Jul 08
Well, it is all depends on the money you got, laptops are more expensive but more reliable in using, if you have enough money, so I prefer that you buy a laptop for mobile using.
Have a nice day.
3 people like this
@philjas (1134)
• United States
31 Jul 08
There's a couple of problems with laptops. The keyboard is not really as good as regular keyboard for a desktop. If your a good typist it might drive you crazy trying to type all the time on a laptop keyboard. Also you'd probably want to buy a mouse for it because the little touchpad is annoying to have to use all the time too. Desktops are really more substantial so if it's going to be your only and main computer, a desktop is really better.
2 people like this
@CornishAustin (147)
•
31 Jul 08
Good point: initially I found the laptop keyboard to be a pain, but after a while I really took to the keyboard, especially since it's the soft touch variety. Lack of numerical keypad is also annoying, if you use numericals a lot. It takes a while too to work out the touchpad, even now after a year of using a laptop I still prefer the mouse!
2 people like this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
31 Jul 08
I have been thinking about this too and stopped wanting a laptop (well, would like it but what's the point?) since mobility is the main issue of a laptop and some space issues. Mobility isn't an issue for me, I have no reason to take a laptop with me anywhere. I have tested the keyboards and they are so hard to do - so close together, I am a good typise and it is hard to keep hands and fingers together like that, but I guess you'd get used to it. I'd have to have a mouse as that touchpad thing is very touchy and hard to control. you can only move your thumb or finger just ever so slightly - not a normal thing to do. But again, guess you could get used to it. ANd it is limited as to being able to have access to more than one drive at a time, but as far as I can see - if it takes so long to "get used" to everything, and the mobility and space is not an issue, why waste your time "getting used" to it. Just get a desk top. They have the flat screens now, and the tower can go behind things, so all you have is nearly same as you'd have with a laptop. This is what talked me out of wanting, or thinking I needed, a laptop! But I didn't know about the number pad not being on a laptop keyboard. I use that anytime there are numbers involved as I am a calculator person when I do it by touch so that'd be again something to get used to to having to use the numbers above the keyboard when I need them.
1 person likes this
@jss113 (38)
• United States
31 Jul 08
laptop is definitely the way to go because it is the easiest, simplest and most practical. you can take it anywhere you go that will be good if you need to study at the library or something. you cant beat the space savings that the laptop provides you and it is great to take with you on trips like on the airplane and in the car for a road trip.
2 people like this
@se7enthbird (8307)
• Philippines
31 Jul 08
if your brothers need to use also the computer it is better yet to buy a desktop. for laptops are for personal use only. you might be shock if your brother brings the laptop out with him and you have nothing to use. if you want to travel and bring your documents with you then it is okay to buy a laptop, but if you need to share it with others i think it is wiser to buy a desktop.
@bigtom1 (1573)
•
31 Jul 08
I would go for laptops but after considering the situation you are in i took a pause. I think nowadays you can get some laptops with some good memory as well! But in your case i think what you should buy should suit the purpose you are buying it for rather than what you want so go for the desktop.
2 people like this
@aendzie (571)
• Philippines
31 Jul 08
thanks for the response. You're right,that's why I include my reasons there so to know if you guys would choose laptop or desktop, as for me, I am really considering the desktop but I have a small house, lol..and I don't live with my brothers, so oh shoot..guess I have to buy two computers...lol
1 person likes this
@ABJones (34)
• United States
31 Jul 08
I think a desktop would be better you can interchange hardrives and memory when you run out and have more space. You also don't have to worry about droping it or haveing it stolen. My friend has a laptop and its a pain to lug around all the time and he is always bumping it into things.
2 people like this
@fahadfaiz (31)
•
31 Jul 08
well both desktop and laptops have their own advantages and disadvantages.
it really depends on ure situation
if u wantt a privacy and portability then laptop is good,,laptop is also good cuz u can use it any where..no wires and you dont have to sit in one place.for gaming i would recommend desktop because after every 2-3 months games require more graphics and you can easily upgrade your graphics card in the desktop. how ever you cant do it in the laptop.
laptop is a bit expensive.
But i would definelty recommend laptop.Laptop is good. The most important thing is that you get privacy.
2 people like this
@rubicstrue (38)
• United States
31 Jul 08
Expense and hardware aside, I think the best choice for you is a laptop. From your description, I'm assuming that you are a student and that you will take more classes in the future. In that case, a laptop is a great investment because you can bring it to your classes, take notes, and carry it around to show people your files.
As for Skype and online classes, most laptops today have an included webcam and microphone. This is better than a desktop, where you have to dish out an extra 30-50 bucks for the two necessities.
@babiegyrlva (5)
• United States
31 Jul 08
Well I was doing the same thing with the online classes and I brought a laptop because I do alot of traveling so its easier for me to take it right along with me in my bag. I have a Dell Xp. The one before that was a Dell Desktop with Vista and I got a virus on that somehow and nothing would get it off I had to get rid of the computer in the end.
2 people like this
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
31 Jul 08
it actually depends on your lifestyle. if just online classes, it means that you just stay at home, right? then, a desk top is a lot better. you're right, desktops can be upgraded anytime you want to while laptop can't. but if you are a traveller and wanna be connected to the net all the time, then, laptop's better for you.
anne
@venkygec (783)
• India
31 Jul 08
Well! It depends... but still i would recommend you to buy a desktop... as we can easily upgrade a desktop than a laptop... A desktop costs less than a laptop...
Since you are not using it for any business work or so... you dont actually need a laptop... laptops are for people who are not at home the whole day...
@duttmyneni (198)
• India
31 Jul 08
Don't worry about the expandable memory and all, you can even expand memory of your laptop too but it will be expensive then a desktop to upgrade. you said that you need it just for online classes so there is no need for large memory for you. If you buy a laptop you can take it here and there. You said that it will be useful for your brothers, then my suggestion is to go for laptop. If you buy a laptop you and your brothers can you it. If you are thinking about the space consumption, there are desktop that occupy less space that of your TFT screen. So many models that occupy less space where the cpu can be mounted to your tft screen. Choose wisely while buying and i hope happy shopping
2 people like this
@ramangill (1479)
• India
31 Jul 08
Well you actually need to see what are your requirements.
if you spend most of ur time at home or at any other stationary place.
then i wud say to buy a Desktop becoz u can get more in less price and u can disassemble most of its parts and can buy newer upgraded ones in future and u can assemble these parts easily.
but if u move to many places, then go for a lapy.
bye
PEACE.
2 people like this
@dhevasena (144)
•
31 Jul 08
Well it depends what you will be using the laptop for and whether to need to be mobile with it. If you need extra memory i guess you can buy a laptop and get a portable harddrive to go with it. A laptop is mobile and you can work on it wherever you want in your home or even outside. I would prefer a laptop!
2 people like this
@moneyman1 (24)
• United States
31 Jul 08
well are you in it for the portability or the performance? a Laptop is great to take around but they perform a lot different than desktops. even if it is the same spec as a desktop it will be a little slower because of how small the parts are etc.. don't get me wrong though I have a laptop at my house and I love it. i can take it anywhere.
2 people like this
