Why You Need a Laptop

Obviously Adam Osborne was right: Computers need to be portable! The question should really be: Why buy a desktop computer that’s stuck in one spot all the time?

Naturally, a desktop computer is more powerful, expandable, and cheaper than a laptop. But you can’t take it with you! Well, you could, but by hauling all that desktop stuff around you’d really look like a dork.

On the other hand, it’s impossible to look like a dork with a laptop. Imagine yourself sitting in that trendy coffee shop, sipping some overpriced caffeinated beverage while pouring over your e-mail and chatting on a cell phone — that’s hip! That’s so five-minutes-from-now!

Seriously, you want a laptop for one of the following reasons:

As your main computer

Why dither over saving money with a desktop when you really want the portability of a laptop?

A desktop computer cannot pretend to be a laptop, but a laptop can certainly fake being a desktop: You can use a full-sized keyboard and monitor with your laptop. You can also connect any number of popular desktop peripherals such as a printer, scanner, external hard drive, and so on. But, unlike a desktop system, you’re free to disconnect the laptop and take it with you whenever you want.

As a space-saving computer system

Unlike desktops, you don’t have to build a shrine to your laptop computer — that is, you don’t need a computer desk. If space is tight in your house, apartment, or dorm room, keep the laptop on the shelf or in a drawer. Then set it up on the kitchen table or coffee table when you’re ready to work. Forget about the constant mess and clutter that orbits the typical desktop computer station. Viva Adam Osborne!

As a second computer

Why buy a second desktop computer when you can get a laptop and enjoy not only the presence of a second computer but the ability to make that computer system portable? Further, you can network the two computers together, allowing them to share the Internet connection, printers, as well as data and files. But you still have the luxury of having one system that’s portable.

As your on-the-road computer

Laptops let you take your work on the road. After a few moments of synch (transferring current files between your desktop and laptop, covered in Chapter 14), you’re off and running to anywhere you like (though being in direct, bright sunlight can make it difficult to see the laptop screen).

When you return from your “road warrior” trip, you perform another synch, and both computers are all caught up for the day.

Laptops let you escape the confines of your office and do work anywhere you like for a few hours. Or if there is power at your location, you can plug in and work all day.

The laptop lets you take your work with you when you travel. It lets you experience the reality of using a computer on an airplane (which isn’t as sexy as it sounds).

Why You Don’t Need a Laptop

Laptops are not cheap. They’re also expensive to fix. They can easily get stolen. The battery life never lives up to the printed specifications. It’s tough to get work done on a jet or in a café because people either look over your shoulder or ask you questions about the laptop. Ack! But those are minor quibbles.

Thanks to their light weight, long battery life, and increasing computing power, laptops make an ideal computer for just about anyone. If you don’t own a laptop today, you will someday.

Taking that laptop off to school

Once upon a time, your fellow students just knew that you were a computer geek when you hauled up your ancient “microcomputer” for installation in your dorm room. Today, they just know you’re a geek if you don’t have a laptop. (In fact, laptops are cool; desktop computers are very five minutes ago on college campuses.)

Laptops allow you to bring a full-powered computer with you anywhere on campus. You can get work done in your dorm just as easily as you can in the library or anywhere else your feet take you.

Most colleges and universities provide a laptop requirements sheet that tells you which type of hardware you should look for when purchasing a laptop for school. (But before you go, please refer to Chapter 17 on laptop security.)