Desktop, Laptop,Tablet or Smartphone?

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