by Desktops have become obsolete now, and people don’t purchase desktops. With the demand for higher portability, laptops have become more popular. The laptops have replaced the desktops, but there is still one more challenge. The laptop’s screen size is restricted, and it can be a problem for people who deal with a large amount of data. We understand that people do not get the benefits of the desktop monitor when they are using the laptop.
Laptop Vs Monitor – Which is Better
We decided to make a slightly strange comparison, and we are going to compare the laptop with the desktop monitors. This way, you will be able to understand if the stand-alone laptop is enough for you or if you should buy a monitor as well. Check out the differentiating points between the monitors & laptops to help yourself with the purchase.
Differentiating Points Between Laptop & Monitor
Size
The first consideration that you will be making is the size of the screen. The laptop screens would have a limited size, and the maximum options you may find are 17 inches. When you are buying a desktop monitor, you can purchase big monitors. You can also opt for ultra-wide monitors and all the different combinations that you get in the market. With laptops, there is a restriction on the size, and it can reduce your efficiency for certain types of tasks. In such a case, the desktop monitors score over the laptops.
Power Source
The second consideration that you have is the power source. The displays in the laptop have an integrated power source, and you would need just one plug point to power up your laptop. If you are buying the monitor, you should ensure that you have the PowerPoint in the vicinity or need an extension cord to power up the monitor. Also, installing the monitor will increase the power consumption so, you can expect a minor spike in the power bills. The LED screens are usually power efficient, so the increase in bills could be very insignificant.
Portability
If you are looking for portability, then you should only buy a laptop and not a monitor. The monitor will make it difficult for you to travel around, or you would have to leave it back at home. No matter how slim the monitor is, it will still be bulky, and it won’t be easy to carry around. You would also have to handle the monitor with care because mishandling during travel can damage the display. Consider this point as well when you are trying to differentiate between the laptop and the monitor.
Resolution & Tasks
The next thing you need to consider is the resolution and the work you would be doing. If you work mainly on documents, excel, and presentations, you would not need a high resolution. However, if you work on videos and images, you would want something with a higher resolution. Laptops, in general, have a good resolution, but the monitors offer you a better offering. You can get a bigger display with a better resolution, which would also help you work efficiently. The higher resolution monitor can be a very good offering when working on videos and images. Most designers and vloggers prefer a desktop monitor over a laptop.
Connection Points
Now the display in the laptop is integrated with the motherboard, but you will face an issue when it comes to the monitor. You would need to connect it to the laptop. Some monitors do support wireless connection, but that compromises the quality. In such a case, you need to check the kind of connection the monitor supports. Some laptops have only a serial port, while others have an HDMI port. You might have to spend extra to purchase the adapters to make the monitor compatible with the laptop.
Secondary Display
The next thing to consider here is if you are looking for a secondary monitor. When you connect the monitor to the display, you can use it as an extended screen or mirror the laptop screen. If you are looking for a secondary display, you will get a lot of value from the monitor, which can improve your efficiency. The secondary display makes it easy to work on a large amount of data, multiple tools, and do the financial analysis. Most of the people working from home would have a secondary display to help them with work.
Computing Power
You should also consider that the laptop has computing power and the stand-alone monitor doesn’t have any computing power. You would not be able to use the monitor until you connect it with the laptop or a desktop. In such a case, you should understand that the monitor has limited usage without the laptop. Some people try to connect the monitor to their set-top box, but this also depends on the monitor’s compatibility. So, you need to consider this factor before you finalize a purchase and understand the purpose of the purchase as well.
Portrait Mode
Another advantage of having a monitor is that you can align the screen in portrait mode while working. The portrait mode will offer you higher flexibility in some cases. This is not possible with the laptop screen. So, if you have to work on tasks requiring you to have the screen in portrait orientation, you should invest in a desktop monitor. You may not need a monitor if you need a single screen set-up. So, to wrap up this point, we can say that the monitor offers higher flexibility when compared with the laptop.
Final Verdict
These are the main points of comparison between the laptops & monitors. If you often work on the go, then purchasing the monitor might not make much sense. However, if you are working from home and have a desk set-up, having a monitor can act as a dual-screens set-up. This would offer you better accessibility while you are working. You can consider all the factors that we have listed above, and you can make a purchase decision accordingly.
