Laptops long ago usurped desktop PCs in terms of sales figures. Yet not all laptops are used on the go. Many are intended as a replacement for desktop computers.
Such notebooks often include powerful processors, beefy graphics and displays that measure 16 inches or more diagonally. They approach standard desktop PCs in terms of power and performance, says Christian Woelbert from Germany’s c’t magazine. “They have state-of-the-art processors, numerous ports and in many cases respectable graphics cards,” Woelbert says.
The major benefit of a laptop-as-desktop-replacement is the mobility, explains J. Simon Leitner from the online magazine Notebookcheck. Because the devices weigh at least three kilograms, they are somewhat less portable than smaller laptops and netbooks, but when necessary, the owner can close the device and bring it wherever it needs to go.
“Within an apartment, the laptop then functions both as a multimedia station in the living room and as a workstation in the home office,” Woelbert says. Another added plus: the laptop saves space compared with a traditional desktop PC.
An additional benefit over smaller laptops is the higher image resolution, explains Haris Musemic, product manager at hardware maker Asus. In addition, more ports are typically included to provide users with greater connectivity options. Better loudspeakers and integrated amplifiers also provide superior sound quality over smaller laptops.
Mid-range to high-end processors with three or four cores are typically used in these beefier notebooks as well. These are often comparable to processors from standard desktop PCs, Leitner explains. Four gigabytes of RAM are considered standard and the memory can be upgraded if free memory slots are available.
Buyers should look for a quick processor and powerful graphics card. Another necessary element for a genuine PC replacement is a generous number of ports, enough to allow for a mouse, printer and external hard drive to be plugged…