With the launch of personal computers, the need for a portable, more convenient option soon followed. In 1975, IBM launched the first commercial portable computer, and since then, its form, functionality, price, looks, and capabilities have undergone enormous changes.

Today, many of the features that were an integral part of the original laptop have become obsolete and simply not available.

While choosing the best laptops and personal computers, it’s important to do a needs analysis, shop around, and compare prices and functionality.

1. Why laptops are chosen over desktops
For personal use, there’s no doubt that the laptop is the best option when compared to traditional desktops.

• The compact size makes them portable
• Designed to be easily transported
• Good for on-the-go use
• Almost caught up with desktop processors, especially the gaming models
• Easy to set up, don’t need much time to start using, plug, and play
• Screen size varies from 10-17 inches
• It can be configured to connect to an external display, monitor, screen, projector, etc.
• Use less power than desktops
• Power outages or fluctuations are not a problem since they have battery backup.
• Perfect for situations where you need the Internet and email access, text writing, document creation, presentations, etc.

2. Must-haves for selecting the best laptops and personal computers

• Processor Features
  Desktop hard drives are less expensive than their laptop counterparts. Most standard laptops offer between 100-500 GB, and this may be enough to store your collection of songs, pictures, movies, e-books, etc. But if you have to store a huge amount of uncompressed files, you may have to get yourself an external hard drive.
• Laptops usually come with a certain amount of RAM. If you need more memory, make sure that your laptop would be able to support the upgrade. If gaming, video or graphic design, and high-speed data processing, etc. are your priority, you may need laptops that offer a high-speed capability.
• The longer the battery life, the heavier your laptop will be. Modern lightweight, slim laptops are expensive, but if you plan to move around a lot, opt for them.
• OS options
  This is really based on whether you’re a Mac person or a Windows person. If you’re looking for the best laptops and personal computers for business use or personal use, the operating system can be a deciding factor based on what the rest of your staff or co-workers are using and your company policies.
• Display options
  Screen size matters if you’re working with professional documents, files, photos, etc. Otherwise, you can opt for smaller screen size. You can also connect up to larger monitors while working at your desk. For people who spend a lot of time at the computer, better screen resolution provides more comfort and viewing experience. Back-lighting and graphic card options are other features you might want to look at.
• User components
  Based on what you want to use the best laptops and personal computers for, you need to ensure you get the latest tech in keypads, trackpads, keyboards, and battery life.
• Connectivity
  Standard wireless capability is inbuilt in modern laptops, but ensure that you get the speed, performance, and bandwidth you need. You may want a laptop camera, enough USB ports, docking stations, etc.