The Pros and Cons of Owning a Laptop

The age-old question of whether you should get a laptop or stick to a desktop computer continues to pose problems to some people. Since there are so many different options, picking a computer nowadays is not as easy. Ultimately, though, the choice comes down to you. If you are not too familiar with computers and would like to know more, consider the pros and cons of laptops.

Pros

• Portability

Let’s start with an obvious one. Portability is the reason why laptops are so popular. Be it leisure or work, traveling with a computer is a must for quite a few people. And it is not like you can just take a desktop computer with you that easily.

Besides, it is not just about traveling. You have the freedom to use a laptop from virtually anywhere you want. Place it on your lap and get to work or entertain yourself.

• Relatively Low Prices

It is no secret that prices play a significant role when we have to decide whether we want to purchase something or not.

When it comes to computer prices, laptops are certainly cheaper overall unless you are willing to spend money for one of those gaming laptops. For gaming, a desktop computer or a console makes more sense.

• Mobile and Wi-Fi Internet

If you have a PC, you will not have an option to connect to mobile internet hotspots that easily. Meanwhile, a laptop owner can take advantage of the feature using Bluetooth.

For example, imagine that your internet at home goes down and you still need to use the computer for work. No internet means multiple problems.

• Light Weight

Light weight means that you are flexible to carry a laptop and relocate without putting in too much effort. Perhaps there is another person living with you, and they would like to take a laptop to their room. If so, it should not be a problem because laptops are compact and are portable.

• Cable Management

When comparing desktop computers to laptops, cable management sticks out quite a lot. Other than the usual cables, a PC owner also has to use a mouse and keyboard, and the two add extra cables.

Meanwhile, laptops only have a couple of cables. Sure, you could argue that some people use an external mouse sometimes, but you can find a wireless model and not worry about solving cable issues.

Cons

• Outdated Hardware

By outdated hardware, we do not mean purchasing a second-hand laptop that has old specs. No, the issue here is that after you purchase a laptop, its hardware will likely become obsolete sooner than you expect, meaning you will need to upgrade it. Besides, more often than not, the hardware is integrated, and upgrading or replacing certain parts is more or less impossible.

• Customization Limits

Customization is not something that most people will think about, but it is still something to consider. When you look at modern desktop computers, they come with various lighting effects, nice-looking cases, and so on. The same is not really a thing for laptop bodies. At best, you could put some stickers on it or order a custom paint job, but do not expect the same capabilities as desktop computers have.

• A Small Screen

Even though modern laptops have somewhat decent screen sizes, they are still not as good as those you can find on desktop computer monitors. It depends on what you use the laptop for, but most forms of entertainment, like gaming or watching media, are more enjoyable with a larger screen.

• The need to charge the battery

Charging a battery is quite annoying at times. If you are at home and have access to an outlet all the time, it should not be an issue. However, if you are traveling with a laptop, finding an outlet might not always be easy. Not to mention that you might forget about charging the battery and realize it too late while using the laptop.

• Lackluster Available Storage

When it comes to the overall storage, laptops are pretty lackluster. It is worth noting that the recent trend of solid-state drives over hard drives is also one of the reasons why this issue is so prominent. You could work on the drive’s maintenance to clean it up regularly and not encounter storage issues. However, it is still a bothersome issue.

• Dust That Accumulates Inside

The dust that accumulates inside the laptop will lead to overheating and loud noises. Using the laptop becomes a chore. Some people get a sense of anxiety and start to think about how long it will take for the laptop to stop working. Also, a loud noise is distracting when you need to focus on your work or studies.

CONCLUSION

All in all, the pros and cons in this article should give you a general feeling of what you can expect from a laptop. If you are on the fence about getting a desktop computer and a laptop, consider what a laptop has to offer and figure out whether it would make sense to get one for yourself.

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