Space Technology

By: Rhea Juliet
In this fast-changing technological world, sometimes you are faced with some difficult choices. For instance, your current computer has matured to the ripe old age of six months and has been deemed obsolete. Now it's time to purchase a new computer and the question is, "Should I buy a laptop or a desktop?" But just because laptops are the new craze, it does not mean that you should run right out and get one.

There are many arguments in favor of both the laptop and the desktop PC. Let's start with the laptop. Even if you don't see yourself taking a PC with you when you leave the house, and even if you don't feel the desperate need to check your email and surf the Web wherever you are, a laptop might still be a great option. Laptops are a great option when you want to take your PC anywhere including in and around your house.

Desktop PCs take up space. Even though they're getting smaller and sleeker, the laptop takes the gold medal for being an obtrusive-free zone. Because it's a completely self-contained unit, you don't have to deal with a separate monitor, CPU, and the extra cords to power them. With a laptop PC you've got one power cord, and that's only when you need to recharge. Plus, if you get one with a wireless adapter built in (along with an accompanying wireless network in your home or community) you can connect to the Internet without being leashed to the wall. You can even get a wireless printer that communicates with your laptop via magical infrared (IR), WiFi, or Bluetooth technology.

A wireless laptop is only as good as the battery that powers it. If you're sitting in your garden, bed, kitchen, or even in an obscure café in Paris, or wherever, you don't want to be interrupted after only an hour by that terrible "low battery... doomsday approaching" warning. You want time to enjoy your wire-free life. And with advancements in battery, hardware, and software technology (yes, software can drain your battery too) and with more powerful processors that run cooler, you can get as many as five hours from your laptop (well, some of them, you'll want to check with the manufacturer). Plenty of time to get things done without plugging in.

Of course, the main benefit of a laptop is the portability. This can be a huge benefit, allowing you to take your computer to and from work, on planes, on camping trips, and practically anywhere else. Along with this benefit comes a large drawback. It is just as easy for someone else to walk off with it as it is for you. Laptops are stolen at an alarming rate, because they are just so easy to steal. And when that computer is stolen, not only do you lose the value of the computer, but also all of your valuable data. Yes, the laptop used to be a less powerful option than a desktop PC. However, it's been gaining serious ground. Thanks to mainstream computing going the way of multi-core processor technologies, real people like us can have the same type of computing power that big businesses have. Although the laptop hasn't beaten the performance available in the most powerful desktop PC, it's getting close... Real close.

Desktops are a great option if you want to pay a little less and get a little more. Although it appears that we've been on the laptop bandwagon, there are areas where a desktop PC trumps its wireless counterpart. Here's one. If you're looking for a PC that can scream through multimedia downloads (think music, movies, and that massive vacation video that Aunt Lucy sent before realizing it was 30 MB) a desktop PC can really provide major bang for the buck.

When you're looking for mega performance features in a reasonably priced package, the desktop PC could be the right solution for you. With a larger tower or "box," the manufacturer has a lot more space to work with and can pack in a great deal more, truly awesome, technologies. For instance, any great new processor that comes out favors the desktop PC first.

Dual-core processors? Desktop then laptop. Quad-core processors? Desktop and almost laptops, they're not flooding the market yet, but they're out there.With a desktop PC the entertainment world is your massively entertaining oyster. From your favorite DVDs to music collections to the latest hottest PC game titles, the desktop PC can be your gateway to sheer bliss. Because it can handle more powerful technologies you can experience your multimedia with amazing clarity and with no lag time. You can also purchase multiple large hard drives and CD/DVD-ROM drives and still have space for upgrades.

Now let's talk about those future upgrades. You can upgrade to a greater extent with a desktop than you can with a laptop. Again, check with your manufacturer on the specific PC you're looking at, but with a desktop you've got greater latitude for adding more cool stuff. You can make it stronger, better, faster! Things you may want to add include additional random access memory (RAM) to help your computer address files lightening fast, a better video card, the processor, if you simply cannot live without the latest and greatest technology.

Desktop versus Laptop