Desktop or Laptop?

Do you need to be able to travel with your computer? Take it to class, or move with it from country to country easily? Then you'll need a laptop.

Laptops (also called "notebook" and "portable" computers) tend to be:

• more expensive
• less powerful
• less expandable (cannot add hardware easily)
• can be easily moved, taken to any location

Laptop computers usually include a video-out (to TV) so you can give presentations, or even use the computer as a DVD player; desktop computers sometimes have video-out, but not always. Laptops also commonly have WiFi, and sometimes Bluetooth, built-in. Both are wireless technologies.

Desktop computers are:

• bigger
• cheaper
• more expandable: add-on "cards," also called "expansion cards," can be plugged in inside the computer body. For example, you can add a TV tuner and video capture, special graphics accelerators, or even CPU upgrades. Desktop computers also can take external devices better because they do not need to be moved.
• more powerful: desktop computers have faster processors. These are usually not available in laptops because they run very hot and need a large cooling device with fans.

There are some computers in a middle area, mini-desktops. The Mac Mini is a good example of this. It is small enough to fit in a bag. It can be moved easily, but you need to attach it to a monitor and use heavy cables if you want to use it.