| Should I buy a cheap laptop or a cheap desktop? | | | | Portability |
| You may find yourself asking that question many | | | | Portability is why everyone wants a laptop these |
| times while shopping for a computer. This guide | | | | days. Because of their size and weight, it is easier |
| offers you the pros and cons of owning a laptop | | | | to carry a laptop around as opposed to a desktop |
| versus a desktop pc. | | | | pc. |
| Processing speed | | | | Screen Display |
| Comparing processing speeds, laptops usually lag | | | | Everyone buy laptop for their portability so |
| behind their desktop counterparts. With the rapid | | | | laptops usually do not come with screens as big |
| advance in microchip technology, the gap between | | | | as their desktop counterparts. The screen |
| them will become smaller. | | | | technology used is usually not as good as those |
| Wireless | | | | used by desktop pc. Furthermore with a desktop |
| Most laptops especially those with Intel mobile | | | | pc, you can always upgrade to a bigger and |
| chips come with wireless capability out of the box. | | | | better screen whereas for laptop you are stuck |
| This means you can get online from any location | | | | with the same screen display for the whole |
| at home easily without ugly wires if you have a | | | | lifespan of the laptop. |
| wireless network setup at home. Desktop pcs do | | | | Upgradeability |
| not typically provide this capability out of the box | | | | Laptops do not offer many upgrade options. You |
| although that may change in the near future. | | | | can only upgrade memory and hard disk. With a |
| Memory | | | | desktop you can upgrade almost anything and |
| Memory chip tends to be more expensive in | | | | only limited by the motherboard. This means a |
| Laptop than desktop pcs. If you buy a laptop with | | | | cheap desktop pc offers a longer lifespan than a |
| less than 512MB ram, be prepare to pay more for | | | | laptop. |
| memory upgrades than you have to with a | | | | So whether you should buy a cheap laptop or a |
| desktop pc. | | | | cheap desktop, ask yourself what are your |
| Graphics Display | | | | needs? If you want to be able to use a computer |
| Because of the size of a laptop, most business or | | | | wherever you go, then you are looking at a |
| entry level laptop use integrated graphics with | | | | laptop to fulfill your needs. However if you do not |
| limited ram. This means most laptops even some | | | | require the portability of a laptop, play a lot of 3D |
| expensive ones cannot run graphics intensive | | | | games, graphic intensive applications, if you care |
| applications or 3d games as well as a desktop pc. | | | | about upgradeability to prolong the lifespan of |
| With a desktop pc, you can buy a dedicated | | | | your investment, then desktop pc is a smarter |
| graphics card just to serve a graphics intensive | | | | choice for you. |
| application. | | | | |