Computers come in a variety of types and sizes and one of the choices you will need to make is whether to go for a desktop, all-in-one, laptop, or tablet device
Below I will explain the differences between these devices and give you plenty of information to help you make a decision
Factors that determine which type of device you should buy are:-
•Where you wish to use the computer?
•Whether you need it to be portable so you can use it in various locations?
•How much space you have for the computer?
•What you use the computer for i.e. basic internet browsing, sending emails or more processor/memory intensive tasks such as video editing, gaming, office work?
•Is it just for your use or the whole family?
Description
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A desktop computer consists of the main computer unit (tower), a screen (monitor) and a wired or wireless keyboard and mouse
The main tower comes in various different sizes depending on make/model chosen, and you can choose a monitor size to suit your requirements (ranging from 17" to 28"+)
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Pros
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A desktop model is often a lot more powerful than a laptop of the equivalent price
Less likely to get damaged as stays in one place so not likely to be knocked/dropped etc like a laptop
Hardware repairs are usually cheaper as components standard across models
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Cons
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More space required for all the components
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Usage
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Internet/Email
Home Office
Viewing Photos/Videos
Editing Photos/Videos
Family Use
Gaming
Data Storage
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Guide Price
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£300 - £1500 depending on specification
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Comments
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If the PC is for home use for all the family, I would always recommend choosing a desktop computer
It is worth remembering that when comparing laptops and desktops directly by price that you will get a lot more power for your money with a desktop PC
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Description
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An all-in-one device is where the main computer tower and the screen are combined into one unit, and usually comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse
Available in various screen sizes ranging from 21" - 28"
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Pros
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Takes up less space than a standard desktop computer
Most models come with a touchscreen display so you can control certain functions simply by touching the screen
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Cons
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Not usually upgradeable, so make sure it has all the features/connections you require as adding a connection or additional components afterwards may not be possible
Generally expensive to repair if any internal components fail
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Usage
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Internet/Email
Home Office
Viewing Photos/Videos
Editing Photos/Videos
Family Use
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Guide Price
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£400 - £1200
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Comments
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I would avoid these devices where possible as not only are they a lot of money compared to an equivalent desktop, but can be costly to repair if any hardware faults develop
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Description
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A general purpose laptop computer can perform most if not all the tasks of a desktop computer (depending on model/spec purchased)
Sometimes referred too as everyday, all rounder or day-to-day laptops
Available in various screen sizes ranging from 14" - 17"+
Some models have touch screen displays
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Pros
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Portable
Less space required
Some models have a CD/DVD drive, but this is less likely nowadays as software / music / videos come as downloads rather on CD/DVD discs
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Cons
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More prone to being dropped/knocked which could cause damage to screen or hard disk
The larger the screen the heavier the laptop
Not usually upgradeable, so make sure it has all the features/connections you require as adding a connection or additional components afterwards may not be possible
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Usage
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Internet/Email
Home Office
Viewing Photos/Videos
Editing Photos/Videos (depending on model/spec)
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Guide Price
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£300 - £500
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Comments
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Great choice if you want the portability of a laptop computer rather than being tied to a desk with a desktop
If buying a laptop bear in mind that it should not be constantly plugged into the mains, as like any device with a rechargeable battery they need to be drained and charged regularly to preserve the life of the battery
Also make sure it is used on a solid surface so that the air vents are not blocked - I regularly see damaged laptops which have been used on bedding or laps where the air vents have been blocked causing them to overheat. This often results in expensive or unrepairable damage to the internal components - I suggest you use it on a table or if using it on your lap then use some sort of tray
Some much lower spec laptops are described as light-use - I would avoid these models as they are usually extremely low spec, slow and not worth the saving in cost
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Description
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High Performance laptops are a lot thinner/lightweight then a standard laptop and most models come with a touch screen display
They can also be referred to as ultrabook or ultra mobile
They are usually much faster due to higher specification processors (CPU's) and more memory (RAM)
Available in various screen sizes ranging from 10" - 15"
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Pros
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Long battery life
Very portable
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Cons
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Don't come with a built in CD/DVD drive
Expensive
Often expensive to repair if hardware faults develop due to design (sealed units, specialist components)
Not usually upgradeable, so make sure it has all the features/connections you require as adding a connection or additional components afterwards may not be possible
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Usage
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Internet/Email
Home Office
Viewing Photos/Videos
Advanced Photos/Video Editing
Development
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Guide Price
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£600 - £1300
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Comments
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Great choice if you want the portability of a laptop computer with the power of a desktop computer
If buying a laptop bear in mind that it should not be constantly plugged into the mains, as like any device with a rechargeable battery they need to be drained and charged regularly to preserve the life of the battery
Also make sure it is used on a solid surface so that the air vents are not blocked - I regularly see damaged laptops which have been used on bedding or laps where the air vents have been blocked causing them to overheat. This often results in expensive or unrepairable damage to the internal components - I suggest you use it on a table or if using it on your lap then use some sort of tray
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Description
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These devices are a combination of a laptop and a tablet and come with keyboards than can either be removed or swiveled round so that device can be used both as a laptop or a tablet
Available in various screen sizes ranging from 10" - 15"
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Pros
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Very portable
Gives you benefits of having a tablet and a laptop
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Cons
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Don't come with a built in CD/DVD drive
Often expensive to repair if hardware faults develop due to design (sealed units, specialist components)
Not usually upgradeable, so make sure it has all the features/connections you require as adding a connection or additional components afterwards may not be possible
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Usage
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Internet/Email
Basic Home Office
Viewing Photos/Videos
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Guide Price
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£200 - £1000
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Comments
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Great choice if you want portability and the ease of use of a tablet, but also need the ability to type using a proper keyboard
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Description
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Unlike a conventional laptop's keyboard and touch-pad, tablets are very easy to use because you navigate through all your content by simply tapping, swiping, flicking and pinching your fingertips (some models also come with a stylus which you can use to select items from menus, draw and even write on the touch screen)
Various operating systems available on tablets including Windows 10/11, Android and Apple iOS
Available in various screen sizes ranging from 7" - 14"
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Pros
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Very portable
Long battery life
Some models also have optional covers that open to provide basic keyboard functionality
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Cons
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Most tablets do not have a large amount of storage space, assuming you will instead be storing most of your documents/photos etc online in the cloud
Tablets do not come with a built-in CD/DVD drive, but if required you can buy an external drive to connect via USB (except for Apple iPad), but as most content is downloadable nowadays CD/DVD's are used less anyway
Can be expensive to repair if dropped and screen is broken/cracked as most models are sealed units
Not usually upgradeable, so make sure it has all the features/connections you require (i.e. FireWire , HDMI etc) as adding a connection afterwards may not be possible
Some tablet models do not have USB ports (for connecting USB devices such as printers, hard drives, memory sticks etc) or memory card slots (for accessing camera photos from SD cards) so please bear this in mind when purchasing a device as depending on what you need it for this could be an issue
Text can be difficult to read on some of the smaller size tablets i.e. 7/8" so bear this in mind if you wear glasses or struggle with smaller font sizes
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Usage
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Internet/Email
Home Office (depending on model/spec)
Viewing Photos/Videos
Editing Photos/Videos (depending on model/spec)
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Guide Price
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£50 - £1500
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Comments
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Great choice for portability and for basic usage, or as a second device to use in conjunction with your desktop/laptop
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