Students can do coursework and use Canvas on a number of technical devices including desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, and smartphones! There are pros and cons for each type of technical device, but ultimately it comes down to personal preference.The table below provides a description of each type of technical device and their associated pros and cons.

Which technical device is right for you?

Type	Pros	Cons
Desktop Has a base CPU (tower), a monitor, keyboard and mouse. Normally set up at a desk in a classroom/computer lab/office, or at home.	Reasonably priced More upgrade options, easier to add components, which may lead to better performance May be better for video and photo editing May be better for high-end 3D gaming. Easier to check connections, clean out, or repair Easy to print documents and pictures	Not portable Requires more space
Laptop A smaller unit, with a built-in keyboard and mouse trackpad, which makes it portable and very easy to take with you.	Portable; is designed for travel, but can still be heavy Doesn't take up much space Uses less electricity Has the same basic functionality as a desktop and is able to run traditional software programs	Often costs more than a desktop computer May not be as ‘fast’ as a high-end desktop; specs may not be as high-performance as desktops Difficulty (and sometimes impossible) to add components (motherboard, graphics card, etc.) Can be difficult to repair May be more difficult to print documents and pictures directly from the laptop
Tablet A smaller version of a computer and larger version of a smartphone with touchscreen capabilities.	Very portable; most tablets can easily fit in a purse or backpack without weighing it down Useful if you already have a desktop or laptop and want a more portable device Good if your needs are very basic: checking email, posting to social networks Convenient way to access movies, TV, music, and eBooks You're looking for a device that's very simple and easy to use	May not be good for ‘real’ work, such as typing documents due to on-screen keyboard, which makes it more difficult to type Not as powerful as a desktop or laptop; less processing power Less file storage space Smaller screen size Many tablets are not able to run traditional software programs May be difficult to get saved files from tablet to your instructor Is more difficult to print documents and pictures directly from the tablet
Smartphone A mobile phone with more advanced computing capability and connectivity than basic feature phones.	May be less expensive than a desktop, laptop or tablet Data plans are available that allow them to be connected to the Internet at all times as long as there is reception from a cell tower Good if your needs are very basic: checking email, posting to social networks Convenient way to access movies, TV, music, and eBooks	Small screen and font size, which may make reading course content or watching video difficulties Either does have traditional software programs or only has lite versions that may not allow you do to everything you need for your homework On-screen touch keyboard much small than computer or tablet, making typing difficult May be difficult to get work done on your smartphone to your instructor Is more difficult to print documents and pictures directly from your smartphone

Additional Resources:

The following links provide some good information about the right type of technical device for you!

Computer-related Comparisons: http://www.computerhope.com/compare.htm
Desktop Computer vs. Laptop Computer (Pros and Cons): http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001399.htm
Desktop vs laptop vs tablet vs smartphone: http://www.di-ve.com/technology/desktop-vs-laptop-vs-tablet-vs-smartphone
Laptop vs. Desktop: Which is right for you?: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1001064751
Tablet vs. Laptop: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1001068291
Why You May Want a Desktop Instead of a Laptop: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2048257/why-you-may-want-a-desktop-instead-of-a-laptop.html
Laptops vs. Tablets: The Ultimate Showdown: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2423063,00.asp