From eniac to palmtops computers have come a long way. Today computers are no more a luxury gadget but an indispensable resource. It’s a common sight to see professionals, amateurs, students from all walks of life carrying a laptop and most of the houses are now equipped with a computer wired to the internet . With the World Wide Web people now have easy access to information and resources, breaking the barriers of distance & culture. Ease of use is ensured with newer technologies like wifi, bluetooth being incorporated in the PC.The new generation computers are lighter , faster with enhanced multimedia capabilities for crisp and clear audio , video capabilities.

Now with so many brands and manufacturers people find it difficult as to which brand to choose, whether to buy a desktop or a laptop. The options become more complex with the life of technology getting smaller. (Technology obsolescence cycle typically less than 3 years now) Here are some tips to help you decide whether to go for a desktop or a laptop. 

Desktop computers are preferred if your usage commands longer duration. DTP, CAD ,Animation, Programming etc are the typical applications which require the user to work on computers for long hours. Even for a home computer the desktops are a preferred option since the utility spans Internet browsing, Word processing, Education, Entertainment, Gaming so on and so forth. The modular design allows user to upgrade the computers in a phased or a need based manner. The Keyboard and mouse utility is more comfortable on a laptop and the detached design allows user to place it at levels more comfortable for him. The monitor too being an independent unit allows user to choose the required screen size and the necessary swivel adjustment to suit his seating posture avoiding shoulder or neck pain. The Audio Video experience too is much better on a desktop again allowing users to select appropriate speaker system etc. Though all these arrangements are possible on a laptop its far too cumbersome to plug a keyboard, mouse etc , and after all this just imagine a group of 3 or 4 people watching a movie on a laptop or for that matter playing a 3D Game, the experiences are quite different. So typically if your computer utility commands longer duration & you see a necessity of phased upgradation plus the computer serves multiple functions as in a home pc you choose a desktop computer. Interestingly most of the time maintenance cost of a computer is ignored while making a purchase. The desktops being rugged and modular cost much lesser in terms of maintenance as against Laptop. Imagine if you need to change the keyboard on a laptop after the one year warranty period you might have to shell out nearly Rs 3000/- as against Rs 300/- for a desktop keyboard. 

Laptops are meant for mobile computing. Laptops are ideal for word processing, Mail intensive applications, Presentations on the move etc. With wifi integrated into almost all newer laptops information flow becomes much more easier and instantaneous. With a laptop you can rule out carrying huge files, presentation material etc. Today an architect can walk into your office show you the model plan, make immediate changes as per you requirement and give you the final plan almost in a jiffy saving you lots of time and effort in visualizing the final output. Apparently the laptops are getting cheaper & powerful by the day. HCL has released a Laptop with complete functionality at a fabulous price of 13990/-. The cost in fact is not a deciding factor anymore but the utility which forms the basis of deciding a desktop or laptop. For most of the student community laptops are mandatory and is offered as part of their study package, and an insurance agent now flips open his laptop to present various products. The Newer Netbook series offers ultimate mobility integrating ample power & offering a typical battery backup of 4 Hrs – 8 Hrs. Most Netbooks offer complete functionality like webcam,Bluetooth, card reader, Wifi etc all at a steal price & weighing lesser than a kilo the netbooks can be held like a diary. In days to come we should see a major percentage of notebook segment being captured by the netbooks. With the increasing power and diminishing costs every family would have multiple PC’s & Laptops in the near future.  

Coming back to brands and the selection process involving brand image, brand recall etc etc we need to understand certain facts. In a technical product like laptop the brand or manufacturer does not have any control over the components which make the final product. The components here i mean is the processor, core chipset, hard disk , TFT Panels etc etc. The overall functionality of the laptop is based on these crucial components which are time tested and certified by the respective component manufacturer. The manufacturer can only decide which feature to add or negate, the aesthetics of the product i.e look & feel of the product, some patented technologies like shock proof , scratch proof etc etc. From logical point of view the main functionality (computing) is not a manufacturers call , it must be more or less constant across the brands of like configuration. Added to this is the diminishing product life , as explained earlier typical product life being lesser than three years calls for a change of product every three years. So what are the key issues to consider in selecting the brand. Aesthetics & features form one part while years of operation of the brand in the region, Warranty policy, service levels etc form the other. When you know your product is indispensable the service levels has to be better off to ensure resource availability. Exorbitantly priced for similar configuration in the name of Brand equity does add value to the brands advertising budget and nothing else. Luckily awareness & competition among various brands ensures realistic pricing today.