9 Jan 2009

Laptops vs Desktop PCs

A recent Reuters' article asks: "Is it the end of the desktop PC?". I guess it's partly true because almost everyone I know uses a laptop instead of a proper desktop PC. I guess the main reason is that they are so handy - they take up little space and are portable.

However, many are not aware of the health hazards that using a laptop presents. Due to it's portability, a lot of people work with a laptop in awkward positions - lying on the bed, hunched over it on a park bench and so on. The small screens (in majority) and tiny closely set keyboards are not exactly ergonomic either.

In fact it would be wrong to refer to some of them as "laptops" - a few of my friends have ones with massive 17" screens and weigh over 9 lbs. Using them placed on your lap for even half an hour would fry your private parts and might stop the blood circulation on your legs as well.

Personally I prefer my my extremely fast desktop pc, with the ergonomic Microsoft keyboard and wide 22" flat screen monitor. I guess the only disadvantage is that I cannot lug it around with me all the time but then neither do most of my friends using a laptop. Most of them use it as a desktop PC replacement. However, I might go for one of those mini laptops. Right now I have my eye on the Dell Inspiron Mini 9.

What about you? Do you prefer a laptop or a desktop PC?

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I must be old fashioned because I choose the desktop. Yeah laptops arehandy but I still find them more useful for email and internet surfing. If i am working with dreamweaver, photoshop and other programs running, I'll take my loaded desktop thanks.

Anonymous said...

I will always prefer desktops because they are so much easier to upgrade and parts are cheaper for them then laptops. I would like a laptop eventually, when I have the money because it would mean I could watch tv and surf the net.

Anonymous said...

I rarely use my laptop, only if I'm not at home. And I never leavemy home lately :D

Anonymous said...

I prefer using a laptop, simply bcos of my relatively high mobility, and I'm not a PC gamer. Moreover, RAM nowadays is cheap. It's quite affordable to have a lappie with 3GB or 4GB RAM, which translates to a speedy performer.

Anonymous said...

desktops all the way, double the power, half the price, enough said!

Live it Up. said...

I was using a Desktop PC in College . Now , I 'm using a Laptop.I love my Laptop but I would definitely buy a Desktop for a Wider flat Screen monitor and for speed .I think both are complimentary and can't outdo much .

Anonymous said...

ith desktop PC... It's stronger than laptop and scree is much bigger than on lap top :) so i think that's enough for comparing these two

Anonymous said...

If you are a developer then Laptop will be pretty frustrating to work with.

Anonymous said...

I prefer PC over laptop as i like wide screens which laptops cant provide

Anonymous said...

It sucks, because I really like laptops, but your arguments are 100% on, which is why I rarely if ever use mine (and why I got it cheap, just for travel in the first place). You can screw you wrist, shoulders and back up at a desktop bad enough. Most notebook users have no idea what they're doing to themselves.

The other thing is, you can get a really nice beefed up desktop for very little money. If you'll be using it in the same place 85% of the time or more, I'd say get a nice desktop and a cheap and/or refurbished laptop that you'll use just on occasion and traveling. It's worked well for me.

Anonymous said...

Laptop of course, is ceap, portable, and i love it...

Anonymous said...

I would say both are equally important as per work. laptop is good for professionals while desktop is better for students and medium person being of cheaper accessories.

Anonymous said...

I have had a laptop as my primary machine for about 5 years now. I am never going back to a desktop ever again. The graphics cards in the laptops now are sufficient for gaming as well, so I am not lacking at all. In the office, however, there are desktop machines for everyone, and those that travel a lot have laptops as well. (Of course, as head of IT, I have 6 computers, both PCs and MACs, running windows, OS/X and Linux - but my laptop is still my main comp).

L. Venkata Subramaniam said...

Indeed many of us have overlooked the health aspects. As you say we use them sitting and lying in awkward positions. Using them like that for hours together is bound to show in increased back and neck stress.

Anonymous said...

I have both desktop and laptop. I believe people still need desktop. both desktop and laptop have different function. Laptop don't have good graphic card. I cannot play a game that need fast graphic card in my laptop.

Anonymous said...

If I'm working, I prefer to work on a desktop. However, laptops are great when I travel (when I pretend I'm doing work, when I'm actually watching a film =P)

I do find that when I'm working or watching a film, after a while my back/neck just starts to ache.

However, for sheer practicality, I will say I prefer laptops.