How to Compare Desktop Computers & Laptops
- 1). Assess for what you need the computer. This will help you decide whether a desktop or laptop is more suitable. The portability of a laptop is an advantage for some as it gives you the ability to take the computer with you.
- 2). Evaluate the price difference between laptops and desktops. Laptops or notebook computers are typically more expensive than desktops and may need more repairs due to the constant moving around. Desktops are generally less expensive than laptops and are easier to upgrade essential components such as more speed, adding expansion cards or changing to a larger monitor.
- 3). Consider the location in which you will be using the computer. If you need the computer for certain programs for work, home or school, a laptop may be the ideal option. If you have to transfer small files, a desktop computer, equipped with a USB stick or flash drive, may be better.
- 4). Compare the performance between desktop and laptop computers. Desktop computers tend to have newer technologies than laptops. Typically, desktop computers are equipped with upgrades about 6 months to one year before laptops. Assess how much you are willing to pay for advanced technology before you purchase a computer.
- 5). Study the differences in memory or RAM (Random Access Memory) between laptops and desktops. Desktop PC RAM has consistently evolved over the years and is now known as DDR3, which is used for high data storage. Laptop RAM is comparable, but is known as SO-DIMM, which is designed to be more compact. It may not allow for as quick performance speeds as desktop RAM and is something to consider.
- 6). Distinguish the differences in the hard drives between laptops and desktop computers. Most laptop hard drives operate at 5,400 rounds per minute, while desktops operate at 7,200 rounds per minute. The typical size of a laptop hard drive is 2.5 inches, while it is 3.5 inches for desktops. The portable hard drives generally have smaller capacities, starting as low as 160 Gigabytes and going to 320 Gigabytes. Desktop computers can have over 500 GB of space. This is something to consider; however, even the hard drive space available on laptops takes a long time to fill up and most people never use all the available space, unless you consistently save large files or photos.
- 7). Determine whether or not sound speakers are important to you. Many laptops include internal speakers that make it easy to listen to music, or watch videos or movies on your laptop. On the other hand, many desktops do not include speakers and external speakers may need to be purchased if you wish to have sound on your computer. However, the laptop speakers may not be very loud and desktop speakers are much louder and have a more crisp sound. External speakers can be relatively inexpensive and may cost as little as $15.
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