Before we discuss what to look for in a business laptop, you should figure out whether you need a laptop at all. Desktop PCs typically cost hundreds of dollars less than laptops, and if you're able to do all of your business comfortably from one location, you need not shell out extra cash for a portable form factor.
What advantages does a laptop offer?
A portable computer provides access to your files and applications wherever you are--every corner of the world becomes an extension of your office. Riding the train or sitting in an airport, you can be just as productive as if you were sitting in your desk chair.
Laptops mix business and pleasure
Your laptop can handle much more than just e-mail, spreadsheets, and word processing. Here are a few of the roles a laptop can fill:
Your laptop can handle much more than just e-mail, spreadsheets, and word processing. Here are a few of the roles a laptop can fill:
- Presentation maker: Display your PowerPoint deck anywhere, anytime.
- DVD player: Whether you're waiting in the terminal or on the plane itself, watching a movie makes flying much more entertaining.
- Gaming machine: The most powerful business laptops are primed for gaming on the go.
- Jukebox: Invest in Internet radio, a CD drive, and a big hard drive for MP3s, and you'll never be without your music collection.
On top of the premium price tag, there are a few other drawbacks to buying a laptop rather than a desktop PC. For one, laptops are not as easy or inexpensive to upgrade as their desktop brethren. While it's relatively simple to add a bigger hard drive or a DVD burner to a desktop, on a laptop, the operation can be more expensive, more complicated, or both. Here are a few other limitations to note:
- You'll be working on a smaller keyboard, looking at a smaller screen, probably sitting in a less-than-ergonomic position.
- You'll have to become conscious of battery life, an issue the desktop PC user doesn't have to worry about.
- You'll need a separate network hub and a backup solution; laptops aren't optimized for those functions.
There's a laptop for every class of business user. Currently, the least-expensive and least-sophisticated laptops start at $600 to $700. The smallest and lightest laptops can run to $2,000 and beyond. Very roughly, laptops cost about twice as much as their desktop counterparts. So all things considered, you should expect to pay between $1,000 and $1,500 for a nicely outfitted business laptop.
Are there hidden, recurring, or long-term costs of owning a laptop?
Because a laptop is likely to log many more miles than a desktop PC, it's inherently more vulnerable to wear and tear. You'll be susceptible to ailments such as worn-out hinges, broken keys, busted screens, and mangled optical drives. In the past, nearly all business laptops came with a standard three-year warranty on parts and labor; these days, some models include only a one-year warranty, with the option to purchase an upgrade. Read your warranty information carefully before you make a purchase (learn more in CNET's warranty guide). Also, a decent laptop bag will help reduce laptop deterioration.
