Home Office Hardware: Laptops vs. Tablets vs. Desktops

You're still working from home, but are you using the best hardware for the job?

If your work doesn't require intense processing power, you may be tempted to do it all from a laptop or even a tablet. These smaller computers offer many benefits but aren't the best choice for everyone.

Let's look at laptops, desktops, and tablets and assess how well each one works in a home office.

What Makes a Good Work Computer?

The ideal work-from-home computer meets three criteria.

1. It should be ergonomically friendly since you're spending a lot of time on it.
2. It should also be portable unless you have dedicated office space in your home.
3. It needs to have enough storage and processing power to accommodate your software needs.

Ergonomics

To maintain good health, you should make sure to stretch and take breaks. But it's also good to make sure time spent working isn't hurting your joints. Again, your home office setup, especially the computer, has a huge impact on this.

Laptops and tablets force you to look down, which can end up hurting your neck and shoulders. You can mitigate this a bit by using an external keyboard. But you won't be able to adjust the monitor height very easily.

On the other hand, you can set up a desktop monitor at eye level, so you can look at it with your neck and back straight. With the right desk, you can also position the keyboard where it should be: at the level of your elbows.

The Best Computer for Ergonomics

Desktop computers come out ahead in this category. They take up more space, but cramming everything into a smaller area can really take a toll on your neck.

Portability

If you don't have enough space in your home for a dedicated workplace, then a portable computer is a great asset. It opens the option of working in coffee shops or other out-of-home spaces, making it easier to leave work at work.

Tablets are a little more portable than laptops because they weigh less. However, you can easily find travel carry-cases for both tablets and laptops. If you drive to your work location, the extra weight of a laptop might not be a big problem. If you walk, though, a tablet will be much better for your commute.

Related: Must-Have Apps and Accessories to Turn Your iPad Into a Productivity Powerhouse

With a desktop, you're stuck working wherever the computer is. This is especially problematic if you work from your bedroom, kitchen, or another space that can't be work-only. That means you face more distractions and interruptions, and it's harder to get into "work mode."

The Best Computer for Portability

You can't beat the portability of tablets. Even the bulkiest tablet is easier to move around with than the lightest laptop. Laptops are still very portable, though. So if you need something beefier than a tablet, but similarly mobile, laptops are a good call.

Hardware Specifications

The specs you should look for in a work computer will depend on your work. You will need a machine that can support all the tools you need for your job, so check the hardware requirements of your regularly-used software.

If you need to store a lot of data, such as photos or video files, you should also check storage capacity.

If you need any heavy-duty software or large, bulky accessories to do your job, then a desktop is a clear choice. This is because it can accommodate upgrades to critical components—for instance, your CPU, RAM, and graphics card.

Related: Which Upgrades Will Improve Your PC Performance the Most?

Many desktop computers can easily expand their storage with external hard drives, too. Some even include a "hot swap" port for quick access.

Laptops and tablets can supplement their more limited storage space with cloud storage. However, free cloud storage usually has a limit. Also, this doesn't help with processing power for intense programs like graphics editors.

The Best Machine for Specs

Desktop Computers win this category by a narrow margin. Most cheap desktop computers can handle far heavier software than the average laptop. When you consider that they can also be easily upgraded, the choice is clear. If your work requires heavy specs, go for a desktop.

Some gaming laptops run a close second. But they will still struggle to keep heavy software running for long periods of time. They might also have a hard time running multiple intensive programs at once.

The Best Work-From-Home Computer Type

All three types of computers can make effective work machines, and choosing the correct one for your needs can make your work easier in the long run. If you need to use software that will strain your CPU, desktops are the best bet. They are also easier to integrate into an ergonomically friendly, productive workspace.

If your work doesn't have any intensive software needs, you can probably get by with a laptop.

Image Credit: Pankaj Patel/Unsplash

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