Weight, size, and portability are often the most commonly cited reasons for why people purchase laptops over desktops. A standard modern laptop weighs between 4 and 9 pounds, and can easily be carried in a bag wherever you go.
But what do people actually use their laptops for? A large majority fall into one of the following categories: music production, video and film editing, word processing, gaming, or passive entertainment—activities that when broken down into more general categories, can be better accomplished using others devices.
For portability , tablets are best
Tablets are generally cheaper than laptops, lighter in weight, designed for portability and being on the move, and can complete the majority of functions a laptop user would need to perform while traveling. Additionally, they have an improved battery life, apps are often cheaper than PC software, and tablets have features like touch input, motion sensors, GPS data, and built-in cameras.
If you’re traveling and need to be productive, you can purchase a plug-in keyboard for your tablet and use one of the countless office apps available in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
In 2015, 332 million more tablets were sold than desktops and laptops combined (323 million); growth will only continue, and 406 million tablets are expected to be sold by 2017 versus 319 million desktops and laptops.
For productivity , desktops are best
If you intend to get a large amount of work done, you’re likely to do so from either your home or office, and should use a desktop. Here’s why:
Desktops are more cost-effective than laptops, primarily because the miniaturized laptop components have higher prices. With a desktop, you get more power for the same price.
Many laptops place a strain on your back, neck, and wrists because the keyboards are smaller and you end up hunched over the screen. On a desktop, the monitor is at eye level and you can opt for whatever keyboard is most comfortable to you.
No laptop can compare to the size of a desktop monitor, meaning more windows on a screen and less app switching. Desktops also have an advantage when it comes to overheating as they possess better air ventilation; upgrading desktops is simpler, as it’s easier to add components, and they make a perfect device for gamers.
For entertainment , choose digital media players
When it comes to streaming films, TV shows, and music, digital media players a significantly better alternative to any laptop. Yes, you can access Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube on your laptop, but the video will either be on a small screen or you’ll have to configure HDMI cables and balance your laptop to view it on the TV.
Of the media player devices available, the Roku with a desktop is the best solution. With Miracast support, you can wirelessly stream your desktop screen to your TV from the Roku. Using the native Plex app, you can view your entire video library on your TV; Roku offers thousands of private channels that exceed the content available for access on a laptop. The device also has apps for Netflix, Amazon Video, Google Play, Spotify, and Hulu, making it easy to use all of your on-demand subscription services.
For data , a network storage drive is best
Since it’s rare to find someone who only owns a single device, the thought of keeping all personal media on one tool is outdated. It makes backing up data more complicated than it should be, it fragments collections, makes managing files much harder, and it means you can’t access exactly what you want whenever.
With a Network Attached Server (NAS) device, you can access files saved on any tool via the Internet, allowing for a centralized location for all personal media. It provides a method to share printers, scanners, and cameras; many use Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) technology to create automatic back-ups.
And if you’re tech-savvy enough, you can set up your NAS for remote FTP access, meaning complete access to all your files and data from anywhere.
What do you think? Would you ditch your laptop for the aforementioned devices?
Source: MakeUseOf
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