A simple review of the Sunday sale-books from the major office supply and electronics stores clearly shows that there is an abundant supply of notebooks available. Standing in the security lines at the major airports also shows the popularity of notebook computers.

So, which one is better? Desktop or notebook? As I have consistently replied, "What are you going to use it for?"

If a computer is intended for home or office use, likely in one location for a period of time, a desktop computer is more practical. Usability features, such as a full size keyboard, large screen monitor, and readily accessible drives, coupled with significantly lower prices for comparable machines, make the desktop the clear choice in this scenario. Another factor is longevity. The average useful life, according to both personal experience and published reports, is four to six years. They are usually easy and relatively inexpensive to upgrade or repair. The average desktop computer becomes functionally obsolete long before it physically fails.

Notebook computers, commonly called "laptops" by many, have some very strong advantages, compared to desktop computers, as well as some very strong disadvantages. The obvious advantage of a notebook computer is portability. At meetings, when I would have to present, I would often have to drag my desktop from home to the meeting place. It was heavy, bulky, and easy to break. Lugging around the computer, monitor, keyboard, and mouse was a headache. I was not the only one hauling a monster around.

For a while, I had a "lunchbox" system that I used for my presentations. It had a standard sized motherboard, hard drive, floppy, and other internal parts, along with an integrated 7" monitor. The keyboard snapped over the front of the computer, closing it. While mine was a home built, no-name generic, it was the early lunchbox computers that gave Compaq its early competitive edge. While large and heavy, it was portable.

Today's notebook computers are a far cry from my long-gone lunchbox. They are a fraction of the size and weight of the old lunchbox machines, but contrary to other high-tech electronic items, have not reasonably dropped in price. Feature for feature, it is not rare for a notebook to be twice the price of a similar desktop computer. The relatively small size, and light weight is what makes today's notebook computer popular. They are convenient portable, and can often run for a few hours on their internal battery, but those are about their only major advantages. For those who need portability, such as businesspersons who travel and need computing power, or people like me who frequently do presentations, a notebook computer is a near necessity. For those who want the power of a modern PC in an even smaller and lighter package, the next generation of "Pocket PCs" is speculated to do to the contemporary notebook the same thing that the notebook did to the lunchbox; render them functionally obsolete. Pocket PCs will be covered in a future column.

The disadvantages of a notebooks are many, yet still they are a necessity to many users. Other than their relatively high cost, notebooks are also typically fragile, difficult to repair, hard to upgrade (other than swap hard drives or add memory), and according to widely published tests, have a much shorter operational lifetime than do desktops. Notebooks are also subject to easy loss or theft. In a recent news article, citing a report from Safeware, an insurance company that specifically insures computers for loss or damage, notebook computers have a far higher rate of loss. In 2001, for example, Safeware states that an estimated 600,000 notebooks were lost or stolen, up 53% from the year 2000. A large part of this increase is due to the rapid increase in sales. Notebooks are also one of the most obvious items to steal at airport security checkpoints due to their small size, high value, and obvious nature. By comparison, while there is an estimated seven times as many desktop computers in use than notebooks, only 15,000 desktops were reported stolen in 2001, according to Safeware.

While there are "ruggedized" notebook computers, such as Toshiba's Toughbook series marketed to law enforcement, utility, and construction companies, the majority of notebooks are very easy to break, and expensive to repair. The reviews published in the major computer magazines often include a "drop test." An open notebook was gently pushed off a tabletop on to a carpeted floor, simulating a common accident. Many notebooks suffered major physical damage, with some models of major brands shattering to utter destruction. In addition to extraordinary care in protecting from theft, notebook computers must also be transported in quality protective cases. I have seen people ruin a $2000 notebook in a $29 carry case, a false economy. Screens are especially sensitive to physical shock, can easily crack, and cost several hundreds of dollars to replace.

Lacking a large physical volume to circulate cooling air, notebook computers are more vulnerable to heat damage than desktops. Often containing only tiny cooling fans and using the notebook itself as a heat sink, overheating is the principle cause of internal notebook failure. The more powerful the processor, the more prone the notebook is to overheating, a well-documented problem. I have heard several anecdotal stories of fairly new notebooks failing when left on overnight due to overheating. I recently replaced my oldest daughter's notebook due to that exact cause. Published reports indicate the average life expectancy of a notebook computer is only about 18 months, before it is lost, stolen, accidentally broken, overheated, or worn out. On average, notebooks have only about a fourth of the longevity of a desktop.

Desktop or notebook is a common decision to be made. Consider the pros and cons before purchasing either.