Laptop or Desktop

[Kazal]

Which is best to go for. I currently have a desktop and need to change it. I was going to go for a laptop providing that you can use Skype with it - not sure. But someone told me it would be better to buy a new hard drive. As I know very little about PC's can someone please advise the fors and againsts?

[ChuckFickens]

Unless you are a hard core gamer then it's going to make little difference between a laptop and a desktop (and if you are a gamer then the difference is only going to be in the high end stuff)

Laptops and desktops are essentially identical in what they can do, the only real difference is in the form they take and only you can decide is you would rather take up a corner of a room with a computer or have something you can tuck away when not needed.

As for buying a new hard drive, not knowing what problems you may have that is making you think about a new computer it's a bit hard to answer, but depending on the age of your computer it's possible that putting a new hard drive in will just result in you having a slow, old computer with a new hard drive. (also depending on if your computer was supplied with a proper recovery CD set you may find it hard to install windows on the new hard drive)

[VHG]

Laptop or Desktop?

A desktop is obviosuly larger, so cannot be moved to other rooms or be used in the garden or even out of the house. So if you want to use the computer "on the move" it has to be a laptop.

However if you are happy to have the computer in one place, then a desktop is better.

You usually get more computing "power" from a desktop than a laptop (for the same money): faster CPU, more memory, larger hard disk etc

The screens are usually larger on a desktop and the keyboard is bigger. It is easier to "upgrade" (change parts) on a desktop, and they are easier to fix.

Laptops do tend to have a shorter life as they can easily be dropped, so a desktop will probably last you longer.

The decision really comes down to what you want to do with it.

It you want it as a "fun" thing to be used on then move then a laptop is best, but you have to accept the smaller keyboard and smaller screen (I am not suggesting you cant do serious work on a laptop).

On a desktop using a large screen and large keyboard tends to be a nicer experience so in that case a desktop is best.

[VHG]

> But someone told me it would be better to buy a new hard drive

I agree with Chuck, buying a new hard drive is no "magic bullett" to fix a computer.

A hard drive is just the device that holds all the "files" on your computer such as Windows, all your programs, all you personal files etc.

It has very little impact on the performance of your PC (a little but not a lot) so buying a new hard drive will not make it go better.

Also if you buy a new hard drive you will have to reinstall Windows and ALL your programs to get it back to the way it was.

You dont say what (if anything) is wrong with your PC, or why someone thinks buying a new hard drive will solve anything.

Skype will run on almost any computer - desktop or laptop.

[RAV1D]

A desktop computer Has larger components and is less compact, There more easy to upgrade,fix,add new stuff to them. they alow air to keep them cooler so they dont overheat. If you have a laptop, theres alot more chance the screen can get damaged, if the keys break you cant just plug in another keybord the same,there more limted to upgrade,and overheat more easy,the adaptor plugs usaly go worn and break as they bend near the plug, Theres alot more reasons to buy a desktop pc before a laptop,laptops are usaly a seccond thing to have after a desktop!