Desktop or Laptop? It's about the screens.

If you’re looking to send a quick email or stuck in a waiting room, a laptop can be your best friend, but if you’re looking to do more advanced activities, you may need something a little bit more robust. I'm a desktop person so I may be biased, but let's take a look at both sides. In the past few years, we've seen a huge shift away from desktop with standard Monitor, Mouse, and Keyboard (MMK).

Most of the shift can be attributed tablets and smarter phones, but some of the shift is due to adaptation. Major MMK PC manufacturers including Apple, Samsung, Dell, HP, Acer, Asus, and Lenovo all have shifted their product strategies to tablets, phones, and laptops.  

The functionality and features are similar across most phones, tablets, and laptops whether your on Apple iOS, Android, or Windows operating systems. You can read your articles, check your Instagram, tweet a favorite celebrity, and send emails.

Obviously, reading a novel is much easier on a tablet than writing a novel so there is still a need for advanced PC’s now and in the near future.

Even still, adaptation has played a role. Laptops, Apple iPads and Microsoft Surface tablets all have a Monitor & Keyboard (MK) formats. Laptops already have keyboards connected and through Bluetooth and USB, add-on devices such as keyboards and speakers can easily be connected to tablets.

USB cables called On-The-Go, or simply OTG, also allow tablet PC users to plug in other USB devices such as thumb drives. These adaptations still maintain mobility for the device as they can be connected and disconnected from the device.

What’s the point of using tablet or laptop over a standard PC if you do not have a sizeable advantage?

It's about the screen space. Screen space is especially fulfilling, because you can do so much more. Even laptops and tablets are starting to evolve. Adaptation is also visible here as we've started adding multi screen capability to tablets, laptops, and computers. Multiple monitors allow users to increase their screen real estate to multi-task.

Anyone who has upgraded their workstation to multiple screens knows there’s no going back once you’ve experienced the extra space. The real question is what is the optimal amount of space that is right for you.

Having too many screens does not increase productivity if it is distracting so your ability to focus is key. For some, 2 screens is the answer. Others would say 3 to 4. I generally use 5 or 6 in my own setups.

People use laptops for many reasons. Here's 5 Good Reasons:

• Portable/Mobile
• Generally you can find low cost laptops
• Comfortable for use on couch or laying down
• Simple Social Networking Tools & E-Books Functionality
• Watch a Video

Here's 5 Reasons to Use a Desktop:

• Advanced Functionality and Upgradeability
• Word Processing, Photo/Video Editing
• Run Multiple Applications at Once
• Difficult to Drop.
• Batman uses them.

Now obviously, a desktop would not be a very good carry-on item unless you have a really big bag, but it’s clear that it's easier to find a desktop that is more powerful than a tablet or laptop for advanced functions and powerful computing.  If you’re thinking of launching a shuttle into outer space, you probably want someone using a desktop backing you up on the ground.  Space can be a lonely place though. Think about taking a tablet or laptop with you to play some Words with Friends or post some really cool pics to your Instagram. So it really comes down to screen square footage.

Here's a few multi monitor setups you can try for those interested:

Two Monitors, Three Monitor, and Six Monitor Setups (See below)