Which Is Best for School: Laptop or Desktop?

February 7, 2012 •Jeremy Teel •General, AIU Online • 4 Comments

Although it probably isn’t written in a rulebook, owning a computer is now all but mandatory to make it through college. If you’re at a traditional campus, doubtless you’ve seen a high percentage of the student population toting laptops around campus and using them in class to take notes (that’s what they should be doing with them, anyway). At online school, a computer becomes even more important to a student.

Laptops have a major advantage over desktops in the arena of portability, but there’s more to it than that. Are you thinking about purchasing a new computer for school? Here’s a quick breakdown of laptops and desktops:

Desktops seem to be headed toward extinction, but don’t count them out just yet. Desktops have:

  • Bigger, higher resolution monitors
  • More comfortable, ergonomically correct keyboards
  • Less likelihood of getting stolen
  • Easier navigation with the benefit of a mouse
  • More storage space and power (a big plus)

Yes, laptops suffer primarily in the storage and power departments, but their portability has made them a big and likely enduring hit over their clunkier, immobile predecessors. Most students are more than willing to give up a little performance for the ability to carry their computers with them for note-taking, sharing information and accessing information anywhere.

This article is presented by AIU. Contact us today if you’re interested in an opportunity to develop knowledge and relevant skills with an industry-current degree program from AIU.

Comments

Ferguson Oluigbo •February 16, 2012 at 10:48 AM

I seriously think laptop is it. At home, at work, on the road, anywhere, your laptop is always close and ready to go to work. Especially at those little precious times when you get those fast disappearing wonderful ideas and need to put them down and get to work. Your laptop is your working companion when you need it and where ever you need it. I am seriously considering doing a degre course at AIU?

Cassandra Frasure •February 08, 2012 at 10:03 AM

Over the past four years, I have owned three laptops and two desktops. I have learned that it is not likely for laptops to last more than a year if they are your primary computer that are continuously being transported from home to school and to various areas around the house. Through continuous transporting, the power cords short out, which can also effect the battery health. There is the higher risk of it being dropped and the screen becoming shattered or having it completely fry out. There is the risk of having the battery overrun from having it plugged in too long. My first desktop, on the other hand, lasted ten years. After having it for four years, I did have to upgrade the graphics card and hard drive to keep up with expanding technologies. Then just last year I gutted it and used the parts in my father in-law's pc. Now, I expect to see the same performance and lifespan out of my new HP. If I do buy another laptop, it will only be for occasions where I absolutely have to go somewhere where a computer is not located. Otherwise, I will just travel with my 600gb external hard drive.

Ken Crosby •February 07, 2012 at 05:42 PM

I agree, I have both though, used laptop for most of AABA at AIU, switched to desk top now in BBA program and I like it better

online colleges •February 07, 2012 at 08:43 AM

As a student and a scholar, I do prefer laptop because I can carry wherever I go and can do my research and homework anytime

What do you think?

 
 
 

Categories

Archives