Acomputer is a big investment, and hopefully one that will last you for the next few years. When spending any amount of money, you always want to make sure you’re making the right choice – especially if it’s more than you would normally spend. A computer is absolutely essential to any lifestyle. Working from home is becoming more standard in our world, and having a computer that can handle your workload is vital. A computer to play your favorite games after a shift or during the weekend can be the exact distraction you need. If you’re a designer or going to school, you’ll need a computer for creating, studying, and all the applications in between. In this article we’re going to go over different types of computers, and how to choose a computer that will benefit you.get into pc
Laptop vs Desktop
Let’s start with whether you want a laptop or a desktop. Each has their pros and cons and depending on what you’re looking for, you might even need both.
Laptop
A laptop is all about versatility and portability. Having the option to take your work, games, and school with you makes a laptop incredibly efficient. Laptops come with everything already built in — a monitor, mouse and keyboard. So you don’t need to spend extra money on peripherals that you would need for a desktop. If you’re someone who tends to travel a lot, then a laptop is going to be your perfect companion. Laptops are slim by design, and are incredibly compact to slide right into a backpack or carry-on.
Typically, laptops have a built-in camera and microphone to make those work-from-home meetings seamless. There are a wide range of laptops, whether you’re a creative, gamer, casual user, or need something more on the heavy duty side. Laptops tend to not have the best fan and heat circulation due to their size and compactness. If you’re someone who wants a beast of a laptop, it might be best to check out a desktop as it gives you the option to modify components. That’s where laptops tend to lose out against desktops. You’re not able to swap out components in a laptop, so you are stuck with what you buy. Also, repairing a laptop is a lot more difficult than repairing a desktop computer.
The more powerful laptop you get, the heavier it will be and the bigger power supply it will come with. A laptop is perfect for casual users, those who love to take their work with them, and having everything built in.
Desktop
A desktop is going to be a heavy piece of hardware. If you need to run heavy applications — or if you are a big gamer — then you’re going to want a desktop. You will have to purchase a monitor and other peripherals alongside your desktop. So the price will tend to be much higher than a laptop. However, you get the versatility to customize your desktop based on what you want. Desktops are much more malleable than a laptop. This allows the user to upgrade parts as time goes by. Instead of having to buy a brand new laptop or desktop, you can simply upgrade the CPU, GPU, and more. There is a saying that once you upgrade your desktop, you truly never stop, so be wary of that.
If you have a designated office space in your home, then a desktop would be perfect for it. Desktops are typically built for heavy duty users that need high-powered applications. Laptops have nearly caught up with desktops from a technological standpoint. You can now run the same applications on laptops that you can on desktops. If you’re someone who loves to be in control of what goes inside your computer and don’t need a travel-friendly device then a desktop is for you.
I myself have a gaming desktop at home where I play my games and do my heavy work. I also have a laptop I bring with me on trips. This allows me to get casual work done and draft out future projects away from home, knowing the bulk of my work will be completed at home on my desktop.
Are you someone who can quickly learn new computer systems?
Learning a new computer system may take a lot of work and patience. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the capacity to quickly learn new computer systems. Use your answer to show that you are a quick learner. You can even share a previous experience when you needed to learn how to use a new computer system in a short period of time.
Example: “Absolutely. I find that I am someone who is always eager to learn new things and that I can figure out a lot of computer systems with little guidance. In fact, in my previous role, I taught myself how to use Adobe Photoshop because my manager was so busy. I relied on blogs and videos to get through the most complicated part of the program. With my resourcefulness, I was able to create stunning photos and even train other employees on how to use it.”
Related: How To Say You Are Good With Computers on Your Resume
8. Are you more comfortable with Mac or PCs?
This question helps employers learn about your preferred operating system. Prior to your interview, try to find out which one the company uses. This way, you can tailor your answer to what they are looking for. Even if you prefer one over the other, try to show that you have experience using both if this is true. This can indicate that you are a technically savvy candidate.
Example: “As a graphic designer, I prefer to use a Mac computer. I find that it has better visual capabilities and programs for those in my field. I already noticed your workplace uses Mac, so I was pleasantly surprised. Of course, as a computer gamer, I certainly appreciate using a PC too. I find that I can easily switch between the two operating systems if I need to.”