5 Reasons to Buy a Desktop PC Instead of a Laptop

Before you buy a new laptop, take a moment to consider the benefits of a dedicated desktop computer.

- By Jared Newman

About a year ago, I bought a Mac for the first time in my life.

It’s not that I’m anti-Apple— I switch freely between iOS and Android, and I’m currently wearing an Apple Watch—but my preference for working in Windows has started to feel like a blind spot in my tech coverage. Even when I can borrow my wife’s MacBook to try the occasional app or MacOS trick, it’s not the same as living inside MacOS full-time.

But unlike the average Mac buyer, I didn’t end up with a MacBook. Instead, I went with Apple’s diminutive Mac Mini (fave. co/3k1kms0), which is now sitting on my desk beneath my main monitor. Whether it’s Windows or MacOS, one thing I know for sure is that I’m an enthusiastic desktop PC user.

While the laptop’s portability benefits are obvious, here’s why I still appreciate the desktop computer—whether it’s running Windows or MacOS:

1. DESKTOPS CAN BE CHEAPER

Apple’s Mac Mini starts at $700 (fave. co/3xEwasp), which is $300 cheaper than a MacBook Air with nearly identical tech specs (fave.co/37sTUFm). Essentially, you’re not paying for the display, trackpad, battery, and webcam, which means you can put that savings toward better desktop accessories or use what you’ve already got.