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Desktop

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Something that is portable and lightweight sounds like it would be a better option to have over a bulky, desk-required tower. But if you don't have a computer and you don't have an extremely specific reason for needing it to be travel-friendly, a desktop PC would be the more practical choice.

With buying a desktop PC you will need a desk, however, ironically you will have more freedom than only having a laptop. Especially if this is your first computer, you will eventually want or need to make some hardware upgrades. A bigger hard drive capacity, new or dual monitors, more RAM (memory), a DVD burner, a better sound card, and a better graphics card are among the more popular upgrades most people have performed within the first year, and even more so, the same purchasing date (veteran PC owners that already know what they want). When you are a new computer owner, you probably have no idea what you are getting into. You knew you wanted to type letters and e-mail and join the community online, but you didn't know that you were going to get addicted to that video game your co-workers have been talking about for the last year-and-a-half that requires a mid-to-high priced video card and sound card and triple the RAM just to be able to play it. Or worse yet, Microsoft announces a new Windows OS and you are just shy of being obsolete. Time to upgrade!

You've heard the saying, "A computer is obsolete the minute you buy it" (anonymous), and you probably chuckled. It is a little stretched, but not by much. Every three month's has been agreed upon for the life span of new technology before it becomes obsolete. And if your only computer is a laptop, you are in for some bad news. First off, you are just plain stuck with the screen size (while you are mobile), unless you plug it into a monitor (desk required). The mouse for a laptop is smaller than a normal one for travel purposes. Its ok I guess; I can get used to it. But I'd rather use the one that isn't half the size of my hand (desk, table, or flat-lap required). But the most uncomfortable change with a laptop is the keyboard. It's scrunched up. If you plan on typing for any considerable amount of time, it's recommended that you either have an ergonomically corrected keyboard or some copper bands to relieve the pain from carpal tunnel (desk, table, or good health insurance required).

When you take a step back, the laptop is slowly becoming a desktop computer with, somewhat comfort-limited, portability

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