In the ever changing world of computers, three different types of computing devices have emerged. Each device can be extremely useful and millions of people rely on them everyday, not only for their personal use but for business applications as well. Modern civilization is based on the sharing of information and the ability to communicate with one another. Simply put, computers are essential to our everyday lives. Whether you need a computer small enough to fit in your pocket, or powerful enough to create movies, there is a computer to fit your needs.
The consumer computer revolution began with the coming of the desktop computer. These computers are literally small enough to fit on a desktop and are one of the most popular types of computer with consumers. In the past these machines were very expensive. A top of the line model could run for as much as $5,000 dollars without a monitor, keyboard, or a mouse! With the advancements of micro and nano technology developing desktops has become easier and therefore cheaper. Desktops are popular for many reasons. The first being power and speed. Desktops are very powerful and are the industry standard for photo editing, gaming, and other multimedia applications. The second advantage desktops have is the ability to easily upgrade your machine. As for drawbacks, the most obvious is the fact that the computer is completely stationary and cannot be taken with the user. For most people this is not a problem but for those individuals that are constantly on the go, a mobile computer may be a better choice.
Laptops are extremely small and are completely mobile compared to desktops. Generally they are about the size of a 3-ring binder, and weigh less than ten pounds with some weighing in at a feather light weight of three pounds. Laptops are usually quite a bit more expensive than a desktop because of the technology it takes to make such a compact machine.