Deciding Between a Laptop and Desktop for Your Student – What to Consider

When your student sets out to pursue online education, one of the first questions that might come to your mind is: should I purchase them a laptop or desktop? It can be a tough call. After all, you want to make sure your student has the best tools at their disposal for success. We'll look at the pros and cons of each option so you can feel confident in making the right choice. 

Laptop Advantages

Laptops are lightweight and highly portable, which makes it easier for your student to work from anywhere with an internet connection. They also come with a range of features that make them ideal for studying online, like built-in webcams, microphones, and keyboards.

Laptop Disadvantages

As we know, laptops are designed to be mobile, so if you decide to go on a family road trip or just work from a coffee shop, make sure that your laptop is fully charged and that you have a power cable ready. Otherwise, you may stress over battery life instead of focusing on courses. This portability can also mean that sometimes your student is offline, so you may need to invest in using a hotspot for Internet access or working offline for stretches at a time.

Laptops also have a single, often smaller screen, which can limit the tasks that your student is working on. If their lesson requires more than one tab open, the limited screen real estate can be problematic, although they can invest in a hub for multiple monitors.

Desktop Advantages

Desktops have their own set of benefits when it comes to online learning. For starters, they tend to have more storage space than laptops, so if your student needs extra room for large files or documents, then this is definitely something to consider. Desktops also typically have higher performance capabilities in terms of processing speed and memory capacity. This means that your student will generally be able to access large datasets or applications faster on a desktop than on a laptop. 

Desktops may have a longer lifespan, in part because they are built to be stationary. Additionally, desktops are often customizable so that when individual pieces stop working as well, they can be replaced.

Desktop Disadvantages

Desktops are more challenging to transport, so wherever you set it up is likely where it will stay. This can make it difficult if your family plans to go on a vacation or your student just wants to spend the warm day outside working on schoolwork. 

Whereas laptops tend to have microphones and webcams built into the computer, desktop computers may not. This means that in addition to the desktop computer, you may need to purchase a microphone, webcam, and other accessories.

Whether you choose a laptop or desktop depends mainly on what type of activities your student plans on doing while studying online. If mobility and portability are important, then go with a laptop; however, if budgeting is an issue, then sticking with a desktop might be more cost-effective in the long run. Ultimately, it's up to you as the parent to decide which computer best suits your student's needs based on their activity level and lifestyle choices!

Enlightium Academy is a private Christian online school that serves homeschooling families by offering a Bible-based, flexible, accredited, teacher-supported, and affordable education from the comfort of your home. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (509) 319-2288, or visit EnlightiumAcademy.com.