On the other hand, a laptop is a smaller version of a desktop that contains the hard drive, disk drive, monitor, wireless modem, keyboard and mouse in a single unit. The best advantage of using a laptop is that it is portable. It is named as laptop, as one can easily place it on the lap and work on it. They are also different from the desktop as they do not need a desk to use them. However, the functionality of a laptop is quite similar to that of a desktop. One of the disadvantages of a laptop over a desktop is that – due to the laptop's small size and portability, it is vulnerable to theft.

Laptops are known for their portability and compact size. Laptops are usually preferred by the people who want to take it along while traveling. It provides the same functionalities as the desktop computers; therefore laptops are preferred by regular travelers. People often carry their laptops to the office, as this provides them with the flexibility to work at home, as well as office, on the same files without transferring the data or installing the set up.

A heated debate over the preference may often occur. However, if someone is looking for a portable machine to work with, then definitely laptops are to be considered. On the other hand, if one needs to spend a lot of time working on the computer system, then a stationary device like a desktop needs to be preferred. If someone is thinking to buy one out of these, then he/she should first determine the need and budget, and then accordingly buy a computer.

Some key differences between the two are listed below:-