It won’t be hyperbole anymore to say that without a laptop, imagining life would be difficult. According to Statista, around 263.4 million laptop units were sold worldwide in 2022 alone. It is more than the sales of both Desktop PCs and Tablets combined. Technology dominates the world we are currently living in. One such technology is the laptop, allowing us to perform all the functions we normally do using a desktop. But it comes with the add-on of its all-in-one design and distinct components such as touchpad, battery, and ports.
You can control the pointer using the touchpad, and use the ports for charging, transferring files, and connecting peripherals. To further understand what the laptop is all about, let’s explore its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of Laptop
From instant access to higher flexibility, here are some advantages of a laptop.
1. Laptops are portable
The discussion of benefits would be incomplete without including the portability feature, as it was kept in mind while developing the laptop. As we mentioned earlier, the laptop works like your portable desktop, allowing you to carry out various activities away from a desk. You cannot operate a desktop on your lap, but with the laptop, you can easily do so. It offers endless opportunities to you, right from working on projects to using social media for entertainment. Working on the go has never been this simple. Now, there’s no more waiting for devices to become available – you can simply carry your laptop wherever you go.
2. Compact design
The saying, “the bigger, the better,” is not always true, especially not in the case of laptops. Here, you get a powerful laptop in a compact size, unless it is one of the best gaming laptops out there. Want to build applications or binge-watch your favorite TV series? The laptop has got you covered. Its compact size makes it a popular choice among professionals, students, beginners, and casual users. The professionals can work on the go, while the students can use it for learning. The beginners can explore the world of technology, whereas the casual users can bring their movies in the backpack. So, it is safe to say that it has something to offer to all types of users.
3. Security
The laptop offers security in terms of both physical and digital terms. To understand this better, let’s take the help of an example. Suppose you encounter a disaster situation. What would be easier to carry with you towards the escape, a desktop or a laptop? Without hesitation, it’s the laptop. Also, you can easily keep it in a safe for additional security. Besides, there’s advanced software we can easily download to our laptop and keep our data and device protected.
4. Easy accessibility
If you have used a desktop regularly in the past, you can relate to how annoying it can get to plug into the socket, switch on, press the power button, and wait for it to come to life. With the laptop, you get instant access. This means all you must do is open the laptop, push the power button down, and it will be ready for you in no time. Additionally, you can carry it on the go, allowing you to access and share information easily. That way, you can collaborate with your team more.
5. Flexibility
Even though the laptop does not come with external peripherals like the desktop, you can still connect them as and when required. This way, you can not only connect the mouse but also printers. Moreover, you can use it as a 2-in-1 device. Take convertible or hybrid laptops, for example. They can be folded and used as a tablet, giving users more flexibility.
6. Offline Application
Laptops are good for offline applications as well. With a laptop, users can be ready on the go. Office work is made simpler with a laptop as your necessary presentation materials or other documents can be accessed even without the internet, from anywhere. Users have portable computing power regardless of the place or power. Hence, laptop users can easily circumvent most of the issues faced by traditional workstations by using a laptop. Lastly, with every passing day, laptops are becoming more and more powerful, cheap, and useable. With the addition of newer platforms such as Android, users can even enjoy a lightweight laptop or Chromebook with limited features.
Disadvantages of Laptop
It’s not always sunshine, there is an opposite side too. Likewise, here are some drawbacks of the laptop.
1. Laptops can be expensive
In today’s time, just by using the laptop and internet, we can reach out to the world in a few clicks. And considering we are stuck in this COVID pandemic situation, we are turning our attention towards the laptop for working or developing new skills. So, it comes naturally that its demand is rising, making it an expensive option among computers. Plus, it offers immense benefits over desktop, so it’s a no-brainer it’ll be costly. But other factors are influencing its price. A few of them include hardware generation and the sheer convenience it provides.
2. Sensitive
You might have seen this coming. Sensitivity is one notable shortcoming of laptops, forcing us to explore other options. Forget about using your device recklessly like you normally do with your smartphones. Here, you must be careful as this type of computer is delicate from the screen to its body. Also, it can heat up quickly, leading to other issues we will discuss later.
3. Frequent updates
If you are a regular laptop user already, you are used to frequent update reminders. The worst part is that you do not have any other option other than upgrading your software or drivers. If you can’t be annoyed or for some reason do not wish to update your device, prepare to face the consequences. Your device will simply choose not to function properly, forcing you to comply.
4. Maintenance
The features of laptops such as portability, compactness, and lightweight also bring about downsides. They make the laptop a closed hardware structure, meaning repair can be expensive. In fact, a warranty prohibits replacements of parts. Along with expenses, handing over the laptop to service centers can put the data in danger. And if you take a deeper look, you’ll realize a laptop is a complex form of technology considering all the features it provides. Ultimately, it requires more maintenance and technical support than other devices.
5. Health concerns
The laptop can be operated from our laps, but this is in no way suitable for prolonged use. It tends to warm up when used for a longer duration, leading to health concerns, especially regarding the male reproductive organ. Plus, continuously staring at its screen can lead to various problems, ranging from eye strain to spinal to neck injuries over time. If the posture we assume while using the laptop is incorrect, we may feel numbness and soreness in multiple areas of our body. And, we stare at the screen with delayed blinking, which dries our eyes, leading to vision problems. Apart from these health concerns, a headache from laptop use is an often underestimated but major health issue.
6. Security Issues
Laptops are great, but also a security threat. First, they are prone to stealing. And second, they rely on backup power, which tends to become weaker over time. A stolen laptop can get misused. The thief can harm your personal and also your professional life. Having a laptop places an additional burden on the owner. They have to protect the tangible device and also intangible data.