Believe it or not, laptops used to be a rare sight. But at this point, they’ve been with us for so long that many people take them for granted. While they used to be the preserve of business people with the resources to buy one, the price of laptops has gone down so much that they’re fairly universal. Laptops have also become more user friendly over the years, and websites like Fancy Appliance are designed to help you pick out a laptop based on your lifestyle and needs.
Although a lot of progress has been made in the laptop space, technology has also advanced to bring us more options. After at least a decade of being the predominant form of computer, it’s fair to wonder if they should still be the default choice for a new computer. A lot of consumers are now wondering if a laptop is the right option for them, considering the advancements in phones and tablets.
Pros
- Laptops were a significant step towards mobile devices. By comparison, desktops were and remain cumbersome, stationary, and need to be plugged into a power source to work. Laptops, on the other hand, are light, operate on batteries, and can be used anywhere.
- The mobility of laptops have made them even more critical in a highly connected world. Laptops can connect to the internet almost anywhere with the ubiquity of Wi-Fi and mobile hotspots. Desktops, on the other hand, are limited to home or office settings.
- Advancements in technology have made laptops just as powerful and high-performing as desktops, for the most part. This parity is especially the case for people who commonly just browse the internet and use mostly web-based applications.
- The screen size and higher specs of laptops has made them a better device than mobile devices such as phones and tablets. They’re also more powerful, generally, compared to phones and tablets, though the gap is closing fast.
Cons
- A laptop’s mobility also increases its vulnerability. Since it is being lifted and carried to multiple locations, it can be lost, dropped, exposed to extreme weather, or be accidentally damaged. It’s not as easy to forget or accidentally damage a desktop since it’s stationary.
- Most users have trouble with battery maintenance and end up damaging it. Even if a user treats their laptop battery well, over time, the battery loses its efficacy. Without a battery, a laptop essentially becomes a desktop, a stationery computer that cannot be easily taken anywhere.
- Most components in a laptop are built-in and not easily removable. Often, the only components that a user can upgrade on a laptop, if at all, are the memory and the hard drive. Furthermore, laptop components are rarely compatible with each other. For example, a battery of one laptop is unlikely to be compatible with another brand of laptop.
- Since components are not easily removable, laptops are difficult to maintain and repair. While you can take your machine in for laptop repairs, it might be inconvenient to have a professional look at your machine whenever something goes wrong.
- Laptops are smaller versions of desktops, and that can become problematic in terms of delivering the same level of user experience. This can be seen in issues like a smaller screen size or a smaller keyboard. If someone uses their computer for more intensive applications, like editing photos or video, a laptop may not be up to the task.
- Size does matter. Although they are smaller than desktops, laptops are larger than mobile devices that can easily fit in pockets or purses.
- Laptops are usually more expensive than comparable desktops, mostly because the tech has to be miniaturized to fit into a laptop. Laptops also come with additional component costs just to match some functionalities of a desktop, like an external hard drive, mouse, display, or a separate keyboard.
So, should all that tech be dropped on your lap?
Looking at these pros and cons of owning a laptop should enable you to weigh your technology needs. While a laptop can offer a lot of things, it doesn’t do everything. Then again, no form factor does. Every technology has its limitations, but the versatility and performance of laptops have made them an enduring presence in our lives.