Is A Laptop Considered A PC? [Explained]

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Ali Rashid Khan

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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laptops and PCs or computers are now an integral part of this generation. They take up a big chunk of our personal, social, and professional lives and prove to be extremely handy in a lot of our work and activities.

What usually comes to mind after hearing the word “computer” is a monitor, mouse, keyboard, and CPU. That’s correct, as that’s what a classic modern personal computer (PC) setup looks like. Despite that, a lot of people still may question if a laptop is considered a PC or if is it classified as something else.

To answer this question, Yes! A laptop is considered a PC.

• A laptop is a PC because it has all the components of a PC.
• A laptop has several advantages over a traditional PC, mainly in terms of portability and quality of life features.
• There may be some drawbacks in terms of performance and the price point when compared with PCs.

Why Is A Laptop Considered A PC?

A laptop is a device that has all the components that are needed in a PC. It has a mouse, keyboard, screen, and even a CPU. A laptop is considered a PC because it can help you in achieving those tasks that you can get done on any other PC.

The similarity between a desktop PC and laptop components is what makes a laptop a full-fledged computer. A PC that you can carry wherever you like. The laptop offers you portability as it has batteries within that can be charged by plugging in its charger in an electricity port.

History Of Laptops

The first ever laptop or what historians like to call, a “mobile computer” was founded by Adam Osborne. It was named after the producer as “Osborne 1”^[1]. It came out in 1981. The key features that the “mobile computer” had to offer were:

• Modern port incorporation
• 5 ¼ inch floppy drives
• 5 Inch screen
• A big collection of Software applications
• And of course portability

The product turned out extremely successful in its market. It was being sold at USD$1795^[2]. This invention contributed a lot and worked almost like a revolution in the computer business. It was a start of an era with portable PCs or what we like to call them now ‘laptops’.

After the launch of the World wide web (www), the concept of PCs started to spread vastly. Now, these PCs are a huge part of our everyday lives. It now seems like it’s impossible to run the world without the help of this magnificent invention.

The contribution of computers is tons whether it’s in office work, for entertainment purposes, running businesses or even education. At this point, one cannot even fathom what it would be like if laptops and desktop PCs did not exist.

Should You Consider Laptop As A Desktop PC?

Laptops and desktop PCs share almost the same components. However, when it comes to sharing properties, they might not prove to be as similar. The difference in properties is what affects the preference of users when it comes to choosing between the two. Therefore, no, a laptop can not be considered the same as a desktop PC. They both offer convenience, but it entirely depends on the kind of purpose they are being used for.

Why Is A Laptop Helpful?

• Portability: First, and foremost, and the most obvious reason. Portability is the true motive behind a laptop. You can carry it anywhere with you, unlike a desktop computer that has components that will have to be carried along with it, and, who needs all that mess? A ‘lap’top can be kept on your lap for the sake of your comfort although it’s not advised to do so. The point is, that it’s a perfect little computer that works just as fine and you can use it wherever you find the most comfort.

• Flexibility: A laptop offers more flexibility than any desktop computer. The modern feature that is now available in laptops with touchscreen is ‘tablet mode’. It allows you to separate the screen of your laptop from its keyboard and turns the laptop into a tablet.

• Battery Life: Unlike desktop computers that need to be plugged in to run, a laptop can be charged easily using its charger and can be run without having to plug it in. This is another great advantage of laptops. It does not require you to always look around for electrical sockets wherever you go.
• No Need For Assembly: Buying a laptop saves you from the trouble of assembling. A desktop pc has components that need to be bought along and assembled for it to properly run. Since laptops are fully assembled and completed devices you do not have to worry about any assembling hassle. Just buy it and start using it. It’s that simple.

What Makes A Laptop Not Suitable For Everyone?

• Lower Clock Speeds. There is not enough space to keep powerful processors that run at faster clock speeds^[3]. This can only be possible if there are enough fans in the laptop that keep it from overheating and then slowing down. Due to the modern thin designs of laptops, it becomes very difficult to insert such components that may help in making the laptop run fast and complete its tasks at a great speed. The lack of space also keeps users from being able to fit in graphic cards and integrated GPUs. Therefore, laptops are not very reliable when it comes to heavy usage.

• Small Screens: Smaller screens prevent viewers from enjoying a high screen resolution. Even the largest of laptop screens (up to 17 Inches) cannot fully display the potential resolution offered. It is possible to improve the screen resolution by connecting your laptop to a bigger display device but that would defeat its purpose of being portable.

• Insufficient Upgrade Capabilities: In laptops, the most you can do to upgrade is change the RAM. You cannot replace your GPU or CPU^[4]. To do that, you would have to entirely replace your motherboard. If your laptop becomes a little too old, you might have to buy a completely new one if you wish to stay up to date.
• Price: Even if the laptop is considered a PC and it offers almost the same specs as a desktop computer, you will find it to be much more expensive^[5]. This is only because the laptop comes along with the feature of portability.

Should You Buy A Laptop Or A Desktop PC?

Laptops can be suitable for only a limited number of users. Many of them might not be reliable for heavy use. The laptop can be bought by one seeking education. Schools require research work, assignments, and now even online classes. Laptops seem to look perfect for such purposes.

Another use of laptops can be office work. A person whose work mainly relies on Microsoft software like MS word, MS excel, MS office, and others, also falls under the criteria of a suitable laptop user.

If you are a person who’s just looking for a laptop for general usage and just basic research, entertainment, and casual work then you can be an owner of one too.

However, laptops are not suitable for people who are into gaming or even video editing. This is because these require very heavy usage and better picture quality. Such users must use desktop computers as they run better and offer a good experience when used for purposes like these.

We might only be able to tell you about specific types of users but in the end, when it comes to buying a laptop it all depends on your preference, use, comfort, and budget.

Related Helpful Resources By Tech4Gamers:

• How To Unlock Keyboard On HP Laptops?
• How To Shutdown Laptop Using Keyboard?
• How To Keep Monitor On When Laptop Is Closed?
• How To Disable Laptop Keyboard?

References:

1. Jerry P. (1982). The Osborne 1, Zeke’s New Friends, and Spelling Revisited. In Byte Magazine. Retrieved from: https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1982-04/page/n213/mode/2up?view=theater
2. Byte Magazine. (1982). The $1795 Personal Business Computer that is Changing The Way PeopleGo To Work. Retrieved from: https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1982-09/page/n31/mode/2up?view=theater
3. Lenovo Australia. (n.d.). Computer Speed: Computer speed / laptop speed. Retrieved from: https://www.lenovo.com/au/en/glossary/computer-speed-laptop-speed/
4. Hewlett-Packard (HP). (n.d). How to Upgrade Your Laptop. Retrieved from: https://www.hp.com/th-en/shop/tech-takes/post/how-to-upgrade-your-laptop
5. Lenovo. (n.d.). Laptop vs. Desktop PC. Retrieved from https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/glossary/laptop-vs-desktop-pc/

Ali Rashid Khan

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com