Pick your best personal computing device

Personal computing moved from the desk to the lap and now to the hand. While convenience is a factor, the capabilities of devices cannot be ignored. We review the options available in personal computing:

DESKTOPS

What they can do: The current PCs can do everything except wash your dishes or clothes. Seriously, they give you a one-point access to your digital world. This is where you store your data and movies, where you head to for social networking or surfing the digital international highways. On a high-end desktop, you can play games at the highest settings, play hidefinition movies, edit HD videos and audio with ease and also store large files on its hard drive. Their multitasking capabilities make them extremely useful. The beauty of using a desktop is that you can upgrade your PC anytime. If you run out of storage space, you can easily expand the storage with internal hard drives. If short of power, additional RAM can give its processing speed a big boost. However, the higher you go, the more energy your machine consumes.
What they can't: These are best for all-round use, but you can't take them around wherever you go. They are desk huggers who will sit comfortably on your workstation or a study table. Also, relocating them frequently is not something to look forward to.

Courtesy: Gadgets and Gizmos 

NETBOOKS

What they can do: These younger siblings of the laptop are meant for very basic computing-like keeping track of everyday mails, browsing some social sites or watching a DVD movie on the go. You can video chat, connect over Wi-Fi and share music/files with friends using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Some of the new netbooks are 3G-enabled, i.e. they have a slot for a SIM card for video/audio calling. If you are not in a Wi-Fi hotspot then you can plug in a 3G activated SIM card and start browsing at faster than broadband speeds.
What they can't: You can't play games except for the ones that came out in the early 1990s. The screen is big enough for a single person but will disappoint if you want to watch a movie with friends. You cannot run many applications simultaneously. High-end graphical work is also not possible and upgrading options are limited. Due to the absence of an optical drive, you are unable to play CD/DVD or burn them. Every time you need to install a program, you would have to first transfer the files to a USB pen drive and then run the programme on the machine.

Courtesy: Gadgets and Gizmos 

TABLETS

What they can do: Tablets are the latest to enter the personal computing league. They are light and eminently portable and have lots of promises up their sleeve. Like netbooks they are also meant for basic computing but what sets them apart is their interface. Good for browsing the Internet over the Wi-Fi or 3G, these handhelds boast a touchscreen display which enables users to use fingers for most functions. They run on Apple OSX or Android systems that have thousands of free and paid applications available for download. You can make phones calls, receive text messages and also use them as a road navigation device. Video chat/call is possible using the front camera, while the rear camera enables image capturing and HD video recording. Most have motion sensor using which you can play motion sensitive games.
What they can't: Tablets aren't future-proof as they can't be upgraded. Once you've bought these nifty devices, the same configuration will remain with you forever. The tablet's utility is also limited. HD gaming and movies are not possible. Multitasking is possible to an extent but it slows down the system if many applications run together.

Courtesy: Gadgets and Gizmos 

LAPTOPS

What it can do: Laptops offer what PCs don't-portability. They became a preferred choice of the user who wanted PC-like performance when on the move. They are available in several variations but a regular laptop comes with a screen above 10-11 inches and can perform various tasks. It can play HD movies, games and more. Some like the Macbook and Sony Vaio Z series models also promise radical performance-from offering extreme graphic performance to incredible multimedia prowess. They multi-task with ease, and can even edit and render images and videos quickly. You can video chat and connect to friends or colleagues using the onboard webcam. Fortunately (or unfortunately for the overworked executive) a laptop creates an office away from the office. Just put in your Office suites and you will be a click away from your important text documents, data sheets or mails. The presence of Wi-Fi on most of the latest models allows connectivity on the fly.
What they can't: First, the upgrading options are next to none. You can upgrade the battery, RAM or the hard drive-that's the max you can do. If your processor or graphic card gets outdated it's time to bid goodbye to your friend. Most laptops (entry-level ones) cannot play Full HD movies and games either. It's only the gaming laptops which support HD gaming that can do this, but even then not in Full HD mode.

Courtesy: Gadgets and Gizmos