However, in recent years notebook-laptop computers have been improving at a rapid pace, managing to catch up to both the performance and the affordability of desktop computers, all while being very portable. It used to be that notebook-laptop computers were used only by business people with a lot of travel in their job descriptions. Older laptops were far from ideal for most uses – they were much less powerful in terms of processing power and had incredibly short battery lives as well. These computers weren’t much more than a glorified word processor, other than offering the ability to check one’s email and browse the web while on the road.

Notebook-laptop computers have certainly come a long way since then and are now available in any size which suits your purposes. While it’s definitely possible to spend thousands on a high end notebook-laptop computer, there are many choices which offer a price tag comparable to that of a desktop computer without sacrificing performance. You can find notebook-laptop computers which are more than up to the task of processor intensive work like video production and graphic design; and all of the latest generations of laptops are extremely portable and energy efficient with much longer battery life than you might expect from a portable.

You can fit the newer notebook-laptop computers into any backpack or briefcase. There are sizes from ultraportable ten inch notebooks to seventeen inch widescreen laptops which are perfect for watching movies or working with graphics. Some models weigh a mere two pounds and are less than an inch thick! Of course, these models are among the more expensive choices on the market, but there are many models to choose from which are still very light and slim while being affordable and providing performance as good or better than a comparably priced desktop computer. The increasing advances in portable computing and the competition by manufacturers for market share has brought lower prices for consumers, which is always welcome news.

Battery life has always been something of a bte noir for the users of notebook-laptop computers. However, there have been a number of innovations in battery design and energy efficient component which have resulted in laptop batteries which can power your notebook-laptop computer for as long as eight hours! Just imagine being able to use your laptop for a full work day and only need to recharge it at night! If you’ve ever scrambled to find an open outlet for your rapidly draining laptop battery, you can appreciate what an improvement this is.

Notebook-laptop computers have the added advantage of being more energy efficient than a desktop computer. You can see a significant savings on your electricity bill by choosing a notebook-laptop computer over a desktop model.

Modern notebook-laptop computers run more quietly than a desktop as well and have made great improvements in heat management, largely due to new generation low power processors. No longer will your laptop overheat and suddenly shut down on warm days; and they can achieve this performance with small, efficient fans or even no fans at all.

All in all, there is no reason not to have a notebook-laptop computer. They are affordable, portable, efficient, and with more and more wireless hot spots popping up around the world, they can help you stay connected while you are on the go. Why even bother with a desktop anymore?