Should I Buy a Laptop or Desktop Computer?

Laptop computers are becoming increasingly popular and are, in many cases, replacing conventional desktop computers. This is largely due to their increasing performance and decreasing prices. Often, the most compelling reason to purchase a laptop is because of its portability. If most of your work is away from the office, this is crucial. But, even if it's not, nothing beats the convenience of being able to take your computer with you whenever the need arises.

Along with portability, a laptop comes with a smaller footprint on your desk. This is especially appealing to the college student who is sharing precious little space with other roommates.

If you choose a laptop over a desktop, what are you most likely to miss about a desktop?

Only the largest laptops have a separate numerical keypad. If you use the keypad extensively, you may want to consider buying a USB keypad. They are fairly small and will not take up a lot of room in your laptop case.

The touchpad mouse found on most laptops is another difference. It is a big improvement over yesterday's trackball or fingertip pointer, but for some applications it still doesn't perform as well as a standard mouse. An easy fix is to plug in a USB mouse. You can even buy a compact mouse that will take up very little space in your travel bags.

Another adjustment may be getting accustomed to the feel of the keyboard. Since the laptop is more compact, the keys are closer together than the keys on a desktop keyboard. Just like the mouse, an external keyboard is an option. This works especially well if most of your work is done at home on your desk. But, carrying an external keyboard in your travels, may take up too much space.

Unless you're interested in a high-end model, cost is not usually an issue. You can buy an average laptop for about the same price as a typical desktop with an LCD monitor. Servicing a laptop is usually more expensive, though. Because laptop parts are much more specialized than desktop PC parts, your local computer store will not be as likely to have the parts you need in stock. Depending on the service issue, your laptop may also have to be sent back to the manufacturer for repairs. This means the wait time for repairs will be longer than the wait for a desktop PC. If downtime is important to you, check to see if you can get a same-day or next-day replacement warranty with the laptop you are buying.

Data on a laptop is more vulnerable because your laptop can more easily be stolen and is more susceptible to physical damage, such as dropping it, stepping on it, driving over it, spilling coffee on the keyboard, etc. You have several lines of defense against theft. First of all, if you're traveling with your laptop, keep it with you at all times. When it is at home, you may want to secure it to your desk by using a cable lock. If you have sensitive information on it, don't rely on your Windows password to prevent access to your data. It is trivial to either reset the Windows password or bypass the Windows boot process and access the data. If you're carrying sensitive data, consider encrypting it. Should your computer file system be accessed, the files will be unreadable unless the person reading it has your password or can break the encryption, which is not a trivial task.

To protect against physical damage, the best thing you can do is buy a good padded laptop case and keep it in the case whenever you are moving it around. A good backup strategy will protect you from data loss. If you have access to a network, copy your important files to a network directory. A CD/RW drive allows you to copy files to a CD. If your laptop doesn't have a CD/RW drive you can buy an external drive that plugs into your USB port. A USB pen drive works well for small amounts of data. Another option is a USB hard drive.

A common complaint about laptops is battery life. If it's important to you, think smaller and slower. A 12.1 inch screen uses about half as much power as a 17 inch screen. A Pentium M processor uses about half as much power as a Pentium IV. A slower hard drive could also give you an extra 20 minutes of battery life. DVD and CDROM drives are power hogs. Don't use them more than you have to.

For at least the first several sessions, let your battery drain completely before recharging it. Batteries perform best at room temperature. Don't leave your laptop in a hot car or outdoors in extremely cold weather. Remove the battery if you use your laptop primarily at your desk.

Another power-saving tip is to adjust the power settings. If you're using Windows XP Home or Pro, follow these steps: Go to Start > Control Panel > Performance And Maintenance > Power Options. Choose the option to turn the LCD off after several minutes of inactivity, and the hard drive after 15 – 20 of no use. Put the computer into standby after 30 minutes. If these settings are too restrictive, increase them to suit your needs. The LCD screen is a major power drain. You may dim the display to where it is comfortable to view without squinting. The control setting is usually on the keypad and not in the power options. In this case, check the instructions that came with your machine.

Some laptop models allow you to double up with a second battery. This second battery is usually interchangeable with the optical drive. A special high-capacity battery may also be available to purchase. If you're using more than one battery, develop a routine for keeping them all charged, either by switching the battery in your computer when it's fully charged or by using an external charger (not available for all battery models). When buying a battery, generally you get what you pay for. So if battery life is an issue, buy the best quality battery that's available.

Shutting down unnecessary programs can also add to your computing time. If you are not using the wireless connection, turn off the Wi-Fi hardware. Unplug any PC cards or USB peripherals that you're not using. Lastly, reduce the frequency of auto-saves in your word processor so the hard drive can stay idle longer.

In conclusion, the decision has to be made by you, the user. If you travel a lot and need a computer, the laptop is definitely your answer. It’s light-weight and portability are a necessity. Should your computing needs be strictly in the home or office, the desktop may be your best choice, provided you have the space. It’s larger screen and the option of a more powerful video card makes graphic work and games much more enjoyable.

-Ben Glick, Technician