Need a New Family Friendly Computer?

Desktop or Laptop?

Unless you are like me, you probably have only one or two computers in your household. Probably Mom or Dad’s laptop, and one computer that the rest of the family shares. This computer usually ends up living a looong life. Eventually, it will have to be replaced because it is just no longer up to par with changing technology and software. So, when it is time to get another, what should you get?

There used to be a belief that to get a really powerful computer you had to get a desktop. Well, in the past few years, laptop specs have taken off and you can now get one that is as or sometimes more powerful than a desktop computer. And, the price points are now more in line with each other.  So, which should you get?

A desktop computer is sturdier. In a household with young kids, you have to think about the “break factor”. And I don’t just mean it being knocked off the table. I mean little hands banging on it, hitting it with toys, tearing off keys (this happened to a friend!) and other ungodly things. Yes, I speak from experience. More on that later…

A desktop computer can be the hub of family computing. Anchored in the office, family room, or kitchen, it can share up content to other parts of the house via a wireless network for viewing family photos, videos, and other content to your television. It can be hooked up to your scanner, printer, and other peripherals such as external hard drives.

The family desktop can have a nice large screen, or even 2. It is there for gaming, watching Netflix, or more.

But, IT.STAYS.RIGHT.THERE…

Enter the family laptop. The family laptop is fast, it has a 17” screen. And you can move it around!! This means that the family is not tied down to the computer in one room. You can move it to the bedroom, deck, or elsewhere. You can even take it with you.  And when home, you can still access your peripherals by easily plugging them in.

But, the family laptop is also a little more fragile. Ok, a lot more fragile. I know this from personal experience. My adorable, very sweet, BAD, son hit my netbook screen with a huge bubble wand and cracked it. Yep, this hurt me more than it hurt the computer. But, I’m techy… I was not going to pay the company to fix it. I ordered a replacement screen on eBay and fixed it myself. Yayy me!

This is the type of thing that you need to think about if you decide that the family computer should be a laptop. Are your kids old enough to be nice to it if you leave the room for 5 minutes? I was only gone for about 2 minutes when “The Event” happened.

So, in closing, I think that the right option depends on your family. If you have younger kids I would probably stick with a desktop. If you have older kids, perhaps age 6 and up, a laptop might offer the most flexibility and fun.

Honestly, prices on computers have come down so much; you may be able to get both. You can find a decent family friendly laptop for under $500. And a desktop is not much more. You know your family. you know what you can handle. Use that info to make an informed decision.

What does your family use? 

 

Photo used with permission from <a data-cke-saved-href="http://<p><a href=" href="http://<p><a href=" http:="" http://www.freedigitalphotos.net="" images="" view_photog.php?photogid="862&quot;>Image:" clare="" bloomfield="" freedigitalphotos.net<="" a><="" p>"="">Clare Bloomfield

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