Every growing company experiences one constant question at some point during their journey. A certain number of team members require new systems, there are requests from departments for upgraded equipment and laptops, etc – and all these things lead to the same conclusion – which is whether the organisation should invest in desktops or business laptops?
The next challenge is that there are many conflicting factors to be considered when making this business decision including those of productivity, budgets, and technology – as all of them are continually evolving.
If an organisation invests in the wrong equipment, it can result in poor performance, frustrated team members and additional replacement costs.
With today’s workforce being much different than just a few years ago, hybrid work is everywhere, cloud’s presence is unprecedented and teams are using many video conferencing, collaboration platforms and data-heavy applications to engage and work together globally.
Therefore, the question becomes one of whether an employer should choose desktops due to their performance, or laptops because they provide flexibility.
Ultimately, both have their own positives and the correct answer lies in knowing how each employee will utilize their devices e.g. task list, what type of work they will actually be performing by way of either devices, and where the organisation ultimately plans to be from a growth standpoint in the future.
With this in mind, let us take some time to understand the differences between desktops and laptops so that businesses can invest in the best possible technology.
Desktops vs Laptops: Understanding the Basic Difference
Before evaluating the performance or costs of both devices, it is paramount to first have an understanding of their most significant distinguishing factors. One example of this distinction is with regard to how desktop computers are; they are traditional office computers that typically have no degree of portability.
While desktop computers are stationary devices, laptops are portable. This means that everything required to compute (e.g., screen, keyboard, battery, and processor) is housed in one unified system. Laptops provide the portability to allow employees to work at different locations.
Both types of systems support similar functionality such as business applications, operating systems, and software. The distinctions come down to the performance capabilities of each, the degree of portability provided, and the long-term growth possibilities of each.
Performance: When Power Matters Most
Desktop computers remain the dominant choice when considering computing speed. Typically, desktop systems feature more powerful processors, larger cooling systems, and superior graphics cards than laptop computers. Therefore, desktop computers are usually better for applications requiring heavy computational power such as:
- Graphic Artist/Video Editor
- Architect/AutoDesk Work
- Application Development Technology
- Data Analytics/ Artificial Intelligence Work
- Rendering/Simulation Work
Laptops have come a long way in the past few years; many business-class laptops will have more than enough computing power for any work done in an office. However, being compact and battery powered has its limitations in regards to the amount of highly demanding workloads that a laptop can support.
Unless your team is primarily working with documents, presentations, emails and web-based tools, laptops typically provide sufficient performance. However, it is still possible to find a desktop that is better suited for highly specialized technical tasks such as server administration, computer-aided design (CAD) and scientific computing.
Cost: Budget vs Long-Term Value
The cost of technology is another key consideration for companies, particularly startups and small businesses. In general, desktop computers tend to be less expensive than laptops that have comparable specifications. In fact, an exceptionally powerful desktop configuration can frequently end up costing much less than a similarly powerful laptop that is built for business use.
As a result, many businesses view desktops as attractive options when opening new locations or quickly adding to their existing workforce.
Another advantage of desktop computers is their modularity/upgradeability. If the performance needs of a company increase, it is easier for the company to upgrade an individual part (e.g., memory, storage) on a desktop computer (instead of replacing its complete system) than it is for a company to upgrade a laptop.
Conversely, laptops tend to be more difficult to upgrade than desktops because the majority of a laptop’s individual parts are integrated into the entire computer; therefore, if an employee’s laptop becomes obsolete, it usually needs to be replaced entirely by the company.
Nevertheless, there are advantages to both types of technology. Laptops provide convenience due to their mobility, allowing employees to work from home, on the go, at client sites, etc. This mobility and flexibility can lead to increased collaboration and productivity in the workplace.
In summary, although desktops tend to be less expensive than laptops when looking at their initial purchase price, there is also a chance that laptops will provide more flexibility due to the nature of how a team performs.
Mobility: Why Many Businesses Choose Laptops
When considering purchasing new technology for your company, the ability to move that technology is increasingly becoming one of the most important factors to consider.
Employees no longer spend every day working at one desk. For example, some sales team members travel to see clients, managers travel to meetings and remote work is now a part of daily business culture.
Given the nature of most jobs today, having a laptop can provide significant advantages to employees. Employees can transport their laptops from their homes to their workstations with ease.
Laptops allow employees to join meetings from anywhere, present their work to customers and work on their laptops while they are traveling.
Furthermore, today’s business laptops can be connected to either a laptop dock or docking station. When an employee connects their laptop to a dock, the laptop is then used as a desktop while still offering the same mobile capabilities as before. Laptops are the preferred method for businesses when flexibility and movement are considered.
Security and Business Reliability
In addition to performance-based factors, businesses today also have to consider the security and reliability of technology. Business-grade laptops and desktops today offer advanced security features that help businesses secure sensitive data and enable businesses to manage devices that are used by multiple people. Common examples of security functions built into business-level laptops include:
- Hardware-based encryption
- Secure login systems
- Remote management functions
- Data protection functions
Desktop computers are known for their overall reliability, which is especially the case in office environments where the systems typically stay in one location. Since desktop computers do not move around, they have rarely been affected by travel damage and battery wear and tear.
In contrast, laptops can require a bit more care because they are portable devices. Businesses commonly invest in extended warranties or other protective plans in order to help to maintain business continuity.
The best way to ensure this outcome is to only purchase devices specifically made for business use, as opposed to consumer-grade devices.
Choosing the Right Device for Your Team
When making a decision about technology, the type of work your employees do is key in determining what is best for them.
For instance, desktop computers are generally the best solution for creative individuals and engineers because they can easily run demanding programs.
Sales teams, consultants and managers usually need laptops, so they can work on the go and attend meetings.
Hybrid teams may use both desktop computers in the office and laptops for those employees who need to be flexible and mobile.
Many organizations are now creating a balanced approach toward technology. Office based teams are using desktop computers, and mobile employees rely on laptop computers to increase their ability to work efficiently.
By understanding how your team works, you will be able to ensure that your technology purchases will help maximize your productivity instead of hindering it.
Finding the Right IT Partner
The hardware is an important part of the decision-making process. Equally important is working with a partner that understands a company’s unique technology needs and is capable of delivering appropriate solutions.
Martech Computers is one such partner. Martech Computers specializes in assisting companies in selecting the appropriate types of systems for their unique workflows, employee base, and budgets.
Whether a company is looking for high-performance office desktop systems, reliable business laptops, or a combination of both, Martech Computers provides solutions tailored to ensure long-term performance and reliability.
Martech Computers provides businesses with additional resources including configuration of computer systems to meet specific performance requirements; bulk purchasing of systems; installation of systems; and ongoing support of systems, which assist to avoid costly mistakes from improper technology usage and unnecessary downtime.
Working with a company such as Martech Computers that understands your specific technology needs will make the entire technology purchasing process much more efficient and simple for startups, small growing companies, and large established businesses.
FAQ’s
Desktops offer better performance and easier upgrades, while laptops provide mobility and flexibility. The best choice depends on business requirements.
Yes. Business laptops include better security, durability, and management features compared to consumer laptops.
Desktops usually provide better performance at a lower price, while laptops deliver flexibility for remote and hybrid work.
For many businesses, yes. Modern business laptops can handle most office tasks and can be connected to docking stations for a desktop-like experience.
Final Thoughts
There is no one right answer for the desktop vs laptop debate because both types of computers play an important role in today’s workplace.
Desktops provide better performance and greater upgradeability than laptops, thus making them a better choice for applications that require high levels of processing power. On the other hand, laptops allow more mobility and flexibility than desktops, making them essential tools for working in a hybrid or remote environment.
Before you can decide whether to invest in desktop or laptop computers for your company, you need to evaluate how your teams work, what types of work they do on a daily basis, and where your business will go in the next few years.
If your company has a solid technology strategy and is partnering with the right vendor, your company is in a position to invest in systems that will help improve productivity, efficiency, and ultimately provide a foundation for your company to successfully navigate the future.