Did you know that 78% of households in America had a desktop or laptop in 2021? Compare this to tablet ownership at 63% and smartphones at 84%.
This shows clearly that there is a trend in the American market and this bias will keep on going up and up as laptops become more ubiquitous and necessary.
Are you in the market for a new personal computer (PC) and wondering if you should purchase a laptop or a desktop? Keep reading our detailed buying guide below for more on why a personal laptop is the best way to go.
Portability
One major reason why you would want to use a laptop as your personal computer rather than a desktop is that the work world isn’t static anymore. You are not going to do all your work at your home or work desk anymore.
You are probably going to spend more time away from your desk at work meetings, coffee shops, airport lounges, and offsite locations than at your desk. That’s the reality of the 21st-century worker.
This applies to all your personal computing needs as well. It’s nice having the flexibility to move from your home office space to your bedroom, kitchen, outdoor patio, and even your bathtub (shhh, I’m watching Downton Abbey).
With a laptop at hand, you can call any space a workspace. You can whip out your laptop in any situation and be armed with all your resources, Google searches, and research at a moment’s notice. Voila!
Remote Work
If you are a freelancer (59 million Americans did freelancer work in 2020), then you are probably making no separation between your work laptop and your personal one. They are probably one and the same.
In that case, you are going to spend oodles and oodles of time on your laptop using it for work and play. As remote work becomes more commonplace, the delineation between work time and playtime also becomes fuzzy.
With telecommuting, you have the flexibility to start work whenever you want, go to the gym in the middle of the day if you want, and/or work in the middle of the night if that suits your schedule better. If you get all your creative inspired ideas at 3 am, you can jump up out of bed, grab your laptop and start working without any delay.
A desktop is much more restrictive and won’t allow you that telecommuting freedom as much. Also, with a laptop, you can move back and forth between your parent’s home and your own or your partner’s house and your own, without any major issues (the only issue is finding the best laptop backpack to carry your precious laptop in).
Also, lots of people are starting side hustles, as job security becomes a thing of the past. There’s very little loyalty between companies and employees, which means that any employee that’s worth their salt has to ensure they have more than one income source sustaining them. What if your company goes bankrupt or decides you are redundant?
If you have a laptop, you can use it to build that side hustle or side business, without any worry. More money in your pocket means more vacations, more financial security, and a better life for your family.
Become a Digital Nomad
Have you dreamed your entire life about working on the road, living a minimalist lifestyle with only what’s in your backpack, and traveling to beautiful locations all around the world checking off your bucket list as if it were a piece of cake?
If that is the case, then it’s time for you to ditch the desktop for a laptop. Something like what’s linked here would be ideal for exceptional on-the-road performance without too much added bulk.
Digital nomads come in all shapes and sizes. They work in all sorts of businesses, both personal and corporate. The only thing common between them is that they are laptop entrepreneurs or freelancers, and they don’t consider one place their home, moving from city to city making their money on the road, exploring this beautiful world we have been gifted.
Durability
The laptops of today are a far cry from what they used to be like even just a few years ago. As technology advances rapidly, laptops are becoming lighter, more portable, faster, and more durable than ever.
They aren’t flimsy models that would break at the slightest jolt anymore. They have shock absorption capability and are constructed in a manner that allows you to jostle, manhandle, and travel with a laptop without much issue.
That’s why the possibility to travel and move around with a laptop on your back or in your side purse isn’t such a fairy tale anymore. You would never be able to travel with a desktop in the same manner. It would be unthinkable to do so.
If you are the kind of person who drops their phone at least 5 times a day, you might be worried about your new laptop’s shelf life. But do not fear.
You can get solid cases for your laptops that are waterproof and shockproof for all that on-the-road jostling. Also, laptops nowadays are made of material that can’t be scratched so easily and are welded together in a manner that will keep your laptop safe from dirt, debris, and dust as well.
Also, laptops stay relevant and last for years! Of course, you can upgrade your laptop every two years if you wanted, but it’s not a must. This means you are going to save money, time, and effort.
Don’t be afraid to be a little rough with your laptop as it’s designed for that. This way you can be on the road with it without worrying a jot.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that it can be submerged into water or anything like that. It’s still a piece of electronics that would be destroyed by water or too much humidity and moisture. You also can’t drop it under a moving vehicle and expect it to function perfectly after.
Never Be Without Your Personal Computer
Are you addicted to your smart devices, like your smartphone and tablet? Well, if you are even a bit of a workaholic, you are likely addicted to your desktop or laptop as well.
With a laptop in hand, you never have to be without your personal computer ever again. You can carry it around with you as if you were made for each other. Any time you need to check your email, your stock market portfolio, your work schedule, or anything else, instead of scrounging around on a tiny smartphone screen, you can pull out your laptop and work on it instead.
Also, think about Murphy’s law. It’s when you don’t have your personal computer that you end up needing it most. With a laptop that’s easy to throw into your purse or backpack, you can ensure that you are never without your laptop.
You are always ready for anything that comes at you this way, be it work-related or not. Remember that visuals work a thousand times better than words in work or personal situations. It’s so much easier to pull out a laptop and show people what you mean rather than miming or explaining it.
You also appear more successful and put together when you can whip out a laptop for show-and-tell rather than a smart device or tablet.
Perfect for Light Work
Let’s be honest here. Most of us aren’t doing heavy-duty work on our personal computers.
If you need a persona computer for light work like browsing websites, watching videos, or using Word documents, then a laptop is perfect for you. There’s no need for you to spend two or three times as much to buy a desktop when you are not going to use most of its features or capabilities.
Save your money and invest it into your 401k or go on a vacation with it instead. Laptops are getting cheaper as the days pass by. No wonder almost every family in America has at least one in their household.
Ready to Purchase a Laptop for Yourself?
It’s time to move into the 21st-century personal computer revolution by purchasing a laptop for yourself, folks. No need to live like you are in the dark ages anymore. Laptops are so affordable that anyone can purchase them with or without a payment plan.
With this article, you are a little bit smarter and more knowledgeable about laptops and their usefulness. If you would like to keep on improving your knowledge base, check out all the other articles on our website.