Desktop or Laptop for Business

Lizbetty

Hello!

We have an old (9 years plus!) desktop PC which needs replacing. It got me wondering whether just a laptop would be better for us.

We need Microsoft for the forms we use. Most of the work is printing off the training paperwork/invoices, emailing. We store a lot of invoices/certificates on the desktop (also use Currys cloud storage) It would be better to have something more portable to save either of us being stuck in the office upstairs, but having always used a desktop PC I'm a bit nervous about the shift in case a laptop isn't quite enough.

I'm not very techie 😕

All input on this would be really welcomed 😊 

Many thanks!

MikeJXE

A 9 year old PC is a relic and nothing compared to what's available today so Yes a laptop is the way to go. 

born_again

Laptop all the way.
They are just as powerful as any desktop these days.
You can always add a separate bluetooth keyboard, if you do not get on with the smaller keypad, & as I hate the pad for pointer control. I use a wireless trackball.

Used to build my own desktops & due to space issues, switched to a laptop at least 5 years ago. Would never go back to a desktop. 
I would also look at other storage options, either cloud or external drive based 

Lizbetty

MikeJXE said:

A 9 year old PC is a relic and nothing compared to what's available today so Yes a laptop is the way to go. 

Thanks for this, yes I agree. It's running on Windows 7 at the mo and honestly, the fact I daren't update it because it's so old says it all 😃

I'll start looking at which laptops will suit us, I'm so out of touch that's a bit daunting mind you. 

Many thanks again for your reply 😊

born_again

Another thought, as you have a monitor, you can connect laptop to that & have more screen space. This is how daughter works from home. Laptop & 21" monitor.

J_B

Maybe ask on the techie section?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/techie-stuff

Grumpy_chap

I would suggest, as others have, go for the laptop (it gives you flexibility and portability) and use external monitor plus keyboard / mouse for when working for longer periods in the study.  Best of both worlds.

Tucosalamanca

My work pc is a 27" aio, I couldn't even contemplate going back to a smaller screen for my daily tasks (email, spreadsheets, Word and a selection of other apps)
It does everything I need, runs silently and doesn't take up a lot of space.

I have a 2015 Macbook Pro for when away from the office but it's certainly a compromise.
I can't multitask as well and do miss the numerical keypad, it's also lacking a couple of TB storage.
Yes, there are workarounds, external keyboard, separate monitor, external hard drive and so on but it all seems like a lot of effort.

I do use the cloud but like to keep at least another two back ups. Losing the business history would be catastrophic. 

I'd say that it's personal preference and how you want to use it?

400ixl

Tucosalamanca said:

Yes, there are workarounds, external keyboard, separate monitor, external hard drive and so on but it all seems like a lot of effort.

I do use the cloud but like to keep at least another two back ups. Losing the business history would be catastrophic. 

I'd say that it's personal preference and how you want to use it?

Not sure I would describe plugging a laptop into the same peripherals (screen, keyboard, mouse) that you would a desktop a workaround. If you get a multi functional USB-C hub that also does power pass through (and a USB-C powered latop) then you will only have one cable to plug into the new laptop making it simple to remove. All of the devices, including USB storage plug into the hub.

Set up right you can also use the laptop as a second monitor making it even more flexible alongside the existing monitor.

Tucosalamanca

400ixl said:

Tucosalamanca said:

Yes, there are workarounds, external keyboard, separate monitor, external hard drive and so on but it all seems like a lot of effort.

I do use the cloud but like to keep at least another two back ups. Losing the business history would be catastrophic. 

I'd say that it's personal preference and how you want to use it?

Not sure I would describe plugging a laptop into the same peripherals (screen, keyboard, mouse) that you would a desktop a workaround. If you get a multi functional USB-C hub that also does power pass through (and a USB-C powered latop) then you will only have one cable to plug into the new laptop making it simple to remove. All of the devices, including USB storage plug into the hub.

Set up right you can also use the laptop as a second monitor making it even more flexible alongside the existing monitor.

But still left with cables, usb hub and a laptop taking up extra space. It might be the best solution for you but it isn't for me.
I prefer an uncluttered working area, my aio only needs a power cable, just as a stand alone laptop would.

MalMonroe

Hi, I have a laptop as well as a desktop. It's not me being greedy or showing off - my laptop is around the same age as yours and is literally falling to pieces, the lid is holding on by a thread. But it's holding! And sometimes I can't switch it on until I've fiddled about with the on switch using my tweezers but it's still going.

I started my own online business last year and wanted a decent desktop. So I got one from John Lewis at a time when they were offering goods with a £100 discount to customers who had a 'My John Lewis' card. As I had signed up as self employed with HMRC a few months before that, I was able to add it to my tax allowance. So, not too expensive in the long run.

I've always preferred a desktop because being a touch typist from the age of 16 and now being retired (but also self-employed)(help, what am I doing?!) I can type far quicker using a desktop on an actual desk - imitating a workplace - and I don't get on all that well with a laptop flat keyboard. 

However, I do find that I can do anything on my laptop that I can do on the desktop. And I use apps on my phone too, which isn't anything fancy, just an android. If I'm ever away from my (home-based) office - rarely these days but it does happen occasionally) - I can access all I need on my phone until I get home. Emails, bank details, etc. - even Kindle is on there now and I like it better than having a separate device. And because the phone is linked to my computers, it's no problem.

Technology is improving daily and even my falling to pieces laptop can do marvellous things. I'll be sad when I can't access it any more. There is some very smart upcoming technology I've just been reading about - but I'm going to put that aside to worry about sometime next week. We humans are going to be surplus to requirements sooner than anyone may think . . . 

Basically, I have to agree with everyone else - just get whatever suits you best. Laptops are great these days. Mine, although it's old and falling apart, does have Windows 10 - I updated it and it wasn't difficult to do. Windows 10 also has OneDrive, which is cloud storage. So you wouldn't need Curry's (I didn't even know they did that).  

Enjoy your new equipment!