As a student, has it ever occurred to you what would be best: a laptop or a desktop? If you are in the market to hunt for some great computer options, the first thing that would confuse you is whether to buy a laptop or a desktop. 

Each component has its pros and cons, but the choice must be made, so here’s a guide that will help you decide whether you should buy a laptop or a desktop. 

Depending upon the situation or circumstances you have to decide what will be suitable like in your case since you are a student you would need a computer for work, gaming and school. Some students prefer laptops over desktops to carry out all of these activities as it offers convenience to use and carry around.

Why do students need a laptop or a desktop for school/colleges? 

Having a computer is more like a necessity than a luxury when it comes to students. Online studies are the new way of learning, and to deliver end-to-end communication, you will need a sturdy device; in this case, it could be either a laptop or a desktop. 

Students need a laptop or PC for numerous reasons: interacting or attending online lectures and watching coursework videos. For fun, it can be used to watch movies, videos, and gaming. In any recommendation, laptops are more flexible for academics as you can carry them anywhere at any time. 

In contrast, desktops are not practically portable, so it wouldn’t be an ideal choice if you are a student who’s always on the move. 

Desktop Vs. Laptop: What parameters to consider 

When in confusion, it’s always better to consider a handful of parameters to understand what fits best for you. Here are some factors you must consider before choosing between a laptop and a desktop. 

  1. Size: Size is the most significant comparison when you are a student. Bigger the size, the larger the desk space used. Both laptops and desktops come in various sizes, but the ideal size would be between 20- 24 inches. If you are constantly on the run in between lectures, then a laptop looks like a much more substantial option as laptops come in smaller sizes.
  1. Portability: The only thing that could differentiate these personal computers is their portability. Due to the larger size of the PC monitor, it becomes challenging to carry them from one place to another as they are designed to be placed in a single place and not move constantly. I am not saying you cannot move the PC at all; you can; however, the trouble of cable management would be insane. 

On the other hand, laptops are portable due to their small size. Also, there is minimal cable management as compared to desktop setup. You can carry them in your hands, backpack, or even laptop bags; they are best for on-the-go purposes. 

  1. Cost: The cost of any personal computer depends on the type of usage and brand. If you go for high-end PC monitors, it would cost you more money while laptops are on the cheaper side like you can get laptops with SSD and higher configurations within your budget from this website. Meanwhile, there is not only a monitor to consider for a PC, you also have to buy a keyboard, CPU, mouse, etc. all these components add up to the overall cost. Whereas you can easily get laptops under 600 with SSD. Thus, laptops are considerably cheaper than desktop PCs. 
  1. Power usage: Desktop monitors use more power than laptops because they have to power high wattage components, whereas laptops use less power as the components are smaller. Although desktop uses require more power supply, they are highly durable, while laptops are battery-based and frequently recharged. Hence, I would favor desktops rather than laptops in power usage. 

These are some significant factors that you can compare before buying, so you don’t regret it later. Though the above factors point out that the laptop is best for students, we can’t deny desktop isn’t useful. 

For instance, if you are a student who does high-end work like programming, video editing, gaming, then investing in a customized desktop for programming or video editing is recommended.

Laptops vs. Desktops for Students: Pros and Cons 

Pros of Laptop

  1. The biggest advantage is mobility or portability. You can carry it everywhere. 
  2. It has a lightweight design due to compact component sizes. 
  3. Compact in dimensions, including the touchpad and screen. 
  4. Highly stable hardware built-in hardware RAM, HDD, motherboard all work in sync.
  5. Suitable for offline operations. 

Pros of desktop 

  1. Peripherals or components can be configured easily. 
  2. Affordable than AIO devices. 
  3. Upgrading each component is more straightforward because most of the hardware is compatible with other brands’ hardware. 
  4. Superior storage space for huge data files, HD contents, etc. 
  5. Easy to repair 

Cons of Laptop 

  1. Expensive due to advanced features and high-end hardware. 
  2. Sensitive to damage such as spill, fall, or shock. 
  3. Upgrading components become difficult due to less room in the laptop. 
  4. Repairs are expensive due to complexity. 
  5. Heating problems are common in almost every laptop. 

Cons of Desktop

  1. Not portable due to massive size and heavy peripherals. 
  2. Noisy due to continuous running of cooling fans 
  3. It takes up more desk space than laptops 
  4. It does not allow wireless connectivity can only work on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. 
  5. Consumes huge power supply 

Conclusion 

Laptop and desktop have their limitations and benefits, but your personal preference matters the most. Laptops are handy and durable hence are suitable for carrying to the school, college, or cafes, wherein desktops are poor in portability but are great for performance and huge storage space. Choose what suits best for your current and future needs.

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