On TV and in the movies, often you see someone whip out a notebook and perform work on the spot.

Does that mean that Notebook Computers are the computers to get? or can a Tower Computer

Lets review some aspects of computers and you decide which one is best for your needs.

Myth #1: Portable computers cost more

so unless you really have the need for one, you get a lot more for your money with a regular desktop PC.

The major thing is portability and accessibility. If you need access to information or to take action right now,  then get a laptop. (“Laptop,” “portable,” and “notebook” all refer to the same thing, by the way). Otherwise, a desktop computer is a better buy, and better economically.

However they take up more space and you have to come back to it to get work done.

The Price Difference is only the Beginning

You might wonder why laptops cost more than desktop computers with comparable features and power.

It is largely because it’s more expensive to manufacture laptops and their parts, because of their small size. For portable computers such as notebooks, factors such as compactness, the amount of heat they generate, their weight, and power consumption are more essential than they are for desktops.

Also their processing power and memory are factors that add to their manufacturing costs.

Myth #2: Notebooks don’t have a lot of space

While notebooks are certainly compact, a desktop computer with a flat panel monitor can take up almost as little space, depending on the box configuration.

While called a “desktop” computer, the computer itself is most often kept on the floor. That leaves just the monitor, keyboard and mouse on the desk, which is really very similar in footprint to a moderately sized notebook computer.

A major way to further reduce the space taken up by a desktop computer is get a keyboard drawer to hide the keyboard and mouse. That way, they slide out of the way under the top of the desk when they aren’t needed. Thus saving space and giving you more room to work.

Be Mindful of Ergonomics

Comfort and ease of use can mean everything to your computer experience. Ergonomics is the science of designing and arranging things so that people can interact with them more comfortably and safely.

The elementary ergonomic principals for computer use tell us that:

1) the keyboard should be as close to your lap level as possible (assuming you touch-type), and your mouse at a close reach also.

2) the monitor should be about arm’s length in front of you, and your wrists in a natural position over your keyboard.

3) the top of the monitor should be at about your eye level.  When possible use a stand to hold the notebook at an ideal angle. That ways its easier to read and doesn’t strain your neck looking down at the screen.

It is obvious then, that a desktop computer is much better ergonomically than a notebook is.

For prolonged use,  you’re much better off with a desktop computer. However you may find that a notebook with the right sizing to your hands and lap may serve you well and provide mobility where a desktop will not.

Remember Usability

Another aspect of ergonomics to consider is usability.

Because of size constraints, laptops have less scalability than desktop PCs. Desktops can be updated upgraded and enhanced. Whereas a notebook is only as good as what it was bought having built into it. There is only so much you can change on a notebook. You can add memory, both RAM and Hard Drive capacity, but only to certain limit.

Also you can’t change the monitor size.

Desktops all you need to do is swap out your smaller monitor for a larger one. No other additional parts or cables required, its truly plug-and-play when it comes to desktop monitors.

The same goes for keyboards, mice, printers, scanners and the lot.

Notebooks you have to buy with those features built in, and the more you want the higher the price. But for many on the go or those who like having their information and programs at arms reach anywhere, the cost of a notebook is worth the trade-off of not having to come back to home or the office to get those needed files.

Myth#3: Notebooks are hard to see what your working on

Computer monitors can be set at different resolutions.

In other words, you can change the fineness of the image on the screen. The range is typically 1024×768 — that is 1024 pixel across and 768 pixels up and down — to 1900×1600, or even higher.  The higher the resolution the clearer your pictures and movies will look to you.

The most common resolutions today for desktop computers are 1024×768 and 1280×1024 however the more costly notebooks have bigger screens and better graphics cards.

Also screen resolution has to work with your screen size. If you have a 15″ monitor or smaller then 1024×768 is about as big a resolution you can use. Whereas a screen of 17″ up to 32″ can have resolutions much higher, meaning you can fit more windows and files on the screen.

Something They Don’t Tell You

Laptop displays have a native resolution. You can adjust the setting, but then the images and text don’t look good if you go higher than recommended. While people tend to think that bigger numbers are better, a higher screen resolution may not work as well for you. It may make everything too small to see comfortably.

Remember, the laptop’s screen is commonly smaller that a desktop’s. While a typical desktop computer screen is 17″ or so, a laptop’s is usually in the range of 14″ to 15.” That makes a large difference in what you can view at one time. Make sure you can see everything clearly before choosing a high-resolution laptop.

Conclusions

Notebooks:

Pros - they are light, portable, and have many of the same capacities of desktops without all the cords and accessories.

Cons – they cost 2-3 times more than a desktop, are limited by built in features such as screen and keyboard size. They aren’t easily upgraded. However these are some of the selling points for buying a notebook. They do what you bought it to do.

Desktops:

Pros -They are more affordable and come with many great features out of the box, speed, screen size and ergonomic design of keyboard and monitor has made desktops a great starter to those new to computing.

get one here

Cons – They are bulky, take up much more power, have tons of cords and accessories to plug in. You have to come back to it to get work done, and they are difficult to move around, even in the same room.

My suggestion is to consider what you do that requires a computer.

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Just to get work and emails now and then, get a desktop. If you are an avid internet users, are on the go with work and home, and like the ability to have all your information at arms reach, get a notebook.