Purchasing a personal computing system is a big investment. There is a great deal of choice and many different features are available.

It can all be a little overwhelming! The first question should be, do you need a laptop or a desktop? Our guide will help you take the first step to determine which option is best for you.

Should I buy a laptop?

Clearly the key feature of a laptop is mobility.

A laptop is right for you if:
1) You are a student, business person or someone moving from place to place.
2) You do presentations or want to share information with others.
3) You want to have internet access at a variety of locations.
When you buy your laptop, think about what screen size you will need. If you aren't near a power source, what battery life would you need? Price will be dependent on memory, disk space and CPU power. The lower these specifications, the lighter and cheaper your laptop will be.

Should I buy a desktop?

The main reasons to buy a desktop are faster processors, better graphics and bigger screens. All these are available in a desktop computer for less money than a higher end laptop. A desktop computer can give you better performance and while you do need an outlet, you won't need to worry about your battery dying.

A desktop is right for you if:

1) You don't need mobility.
2) You are a big gamer or a designer, because you are going to require higher specifications for your video card, memory and sound card.
3) You know you will want to upgrade your computer easily in the future.

When you make your final decision you are comparing performance and portability. Since a laptop will run pretty much the same software as your desktop, it's more about whether you want to play processor-hungry games, work with high-resolution images or edit videos quickly and efficiently, or whether you prefer to relax on your couch, or maybe lie in bed, surfing the web, checking email and visiting social networks.

When you buy your desktop, there will be many more options. An added advantage with a desktop is you can easily upgrade your video card, memory and sound card as your computer ages. You have a separate keyboard, mouse and monitor so it may be more comfortable to use.

Visit ClickAway to test-drive a new computer

Whatever you need, ClickAway's friendly Technicians will help you find the computer that is best for you, and we always make sure you get the best value for your money!