Rwanda is hoping to turn into a regional IT hub and so it is essential for people to get to know more about computers. What are the pros and cons of owning a laptop or desktop?

Are there differences other than size? Yes. For starters, there’s price. While Sam A. Sewanyana, an IT specialist, acknowledged that obviously laptops are mobile while desktops aren’t.

He added: "There are other important differences for example their performance and functionality worth knowing to guide you in purchase.”

The laptop

A laptop (typically 1.8–3.2kg with a screen of 30–39cm) is portable; you can take it anywhere with you. It can be used any time, any place.

Laptops have an in-built mouse, though you can still choose to use an external mouse if you prefer. Their keyboards tend to be more compact than or not as bulky as desktop keyboards.

They also use physically smaller drives, which can only offer so much storage space. Though larger drives are available, 100 gigabytes is still common on a laptop, but have very large storage needs.

Laptops usually run on a single main battery or from an external AC/DC adapter that charges the battery while also supplying power to the computer itself. Many computers also have a 3 volt cell to run the clock and other processes in the event of a power failure.

However, the only disadvantage of a laptop over a desktop is the fact that laptops are much more expensive, so if you’re looking for a cheaper option then a desktop PC may be a better choice.

And it is also more difficult to upgrade a laptop since adding a second hard drive means plugging in an external disk, which may affect your use convenience. The best laptops in the likes of Dell, Toshiba and HP start at about Frw400,000.

The Desktop

The desktop is big compared to the laptop but its can be considerably cheaper to buy. Moreover it tends to be easier to repair since most its components are replaceable or at least serviceable. This further renders it easier to upgrade.

The desktop can be faster since easy to upgrade and can have the same hard drive and processor as a laptop but with a bigger storage capacity. Therefore, if you have very large storage needs, desktop is your best bet.

However, other considerations are about the same, to be honest. Central Processing Unit (CPU) and Random Access Memory (RAM) are about equal on laptops and desktops now, unless you are considering an ultra-high-end PC.

The desktop does not depend on a single Liquid crystal display (LCD) flat panel screen but compatible to many. The desktop is also user friendly as you can have the monitor on a stand and just have the keyboard below the desk or hidden away until you need to use it.

The keyboard is also more comfortable compared to that of the laptop. There is no battery to worry about with the desktop, provided you use Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), which can be connected a number of desktops. A complete desktop unit can be bought for Frw180,000.

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