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Christian InTech Articles - Computers
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Do computers suffer from obesity?
Remember the day when you bought your new PC with Windows
installed? It was lightning fast. It took only about ten seconds
to boot. When you opened the Start menu or the load/save file
dialogs, they showed up instantly. But, after a year of...
Quick System Restore with ASR Backups
ASR (Automated System Recovery) is a feature available on the Windows XP Pro and Windows Server 2003 operating systems for quick and efficient system backup and restore. Typically, the restore process involves reinstalling the operating system and...
Security necessities to prevent your computer from Spyware.
In the internet world it is vital for users to have a good spyware scan and removal tool because of the multitude of different spyware, adware, Trojans and other malware constantly looking to attack your system. Many spyware tools available are...
The security risks and ways to decrease vulnerabilities in a 802.11b wireless environment
This document explains topics relating to wireless networks. The main topics discussed include, what type of vulnerabilities exist today in 802.11 networks and ways that you can help prevent these vulnerabilities from happening. Wireless networks...
Why Businesses Need to Start Nurturing Collective Wisdom
COLLECTIVE WISDOM CAN BE AN effective tool for solving the problem of knowledge deficit, or the underutilization of organizational knowledge. If you are a small, medium or large business, and you don’t have a method in place for harnessing and...
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Laptop or Desktop - which computer to choose?
Traditionally, laptop computers were bought by people who had to
be able to take their computer with them when they left the
office, such as the salesman visiting a customer. It always used
to be the case that buying portability meant a trade-off in
terms of power and functionality, so desktop machines were the
preferred option for those who didn't have to travel.
Is this still a genuine trade-off, however? It's time to
re-examine the assumptions to see if they are still true.
Laptops are more expensive than desktops
While this is still true, the price differential is less than it
once was, and may not be an overriding factor any longer. On the
other hand, if you require a docking station, monitor, keyboard
and mouse for use when you're in the office, the extra cost will
be substantial.
Laptops have smaller, low definition screens
Once upon a time the laptop user had to be content with peering
at a small screen, with poor resolution, and which was only
visible when viewed straight on. Today's high resolution TFT
displays are easily the equivalent of CRTs, to the extent that
more and more desktop users are choosing them because they take
up so little desk space. Furthermore, a 15" laptop screen has
the equivalent real-estate of a 17" monitor.
Laptop users must struggle with small keyboards, and a
joystick or touchpad instead of a mouse.
To some extent this is still true, although modern touchpad
systems are so easy to use compared to those of a few years ago.
With a docking station, you can use a full sized keyboard and a
normal mouse when you are in the office, and get the best of
both worlds.
Laptop memory and disk sizes are limited
While it's still true that laptops have smaller disks and memory
than desktops, the incredible advance in miniaturisation means
that even the smallest laptop has disk and memory much larger
than the best equipped desktop
of a few years ago. Unless you
expect to store a lot of photographs, or do video editing, any
laptop will have more than sufficient space.
It's hard to expand laptop hardware
This is still true, but paradoxically it doesn't matter! Once
upon a time, adding a new device or peripheral often meant
opening up your computer to install an expansion card. Nowadays,
technologies such as USB and Firewire mean that all that is
required is to plug your new device in. In this respect,
desktops have lost their advantage.
Laptops are difficult to upgrade.
This is true. In order to pack a lot of power into a small
space, manufacturers use proprietary hardware and custom
connectors. If you expect to want to upgrade your disk, add
extra memory, or even replace the motherboard, a desktop is
still the best choice. Many users, however, would never do these
things, so for them the distinction is unimportant.
Laptop data doesn't get backed up
Because laptops are typically taken home at night, they are not
connected to the office network, so it is impossible for the IT
department to include them in overnight backups. It is important
that proper procedures are put in place to ensure that important
data is replicated onto a server at regular intervals.
Laptops are easier to steal
Unfortunately this will always be true, a portable device,
removed from the security of the office, is an easy target for
thieves.
In conclusion, the distinction between desktop and laptop is
still there, but it is not so important as it once was. If
mobility and flexibility are important for you, it is no longer
necessary to sacrifice functionality and ease of use.
About the author:
Simon Johnson has been working with computers since the days of
the first mainframes. He is a freelance journalist and the
webmaster for Better
Laptops
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