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A laptop will often go into hibernation or standby mode it has been inactive for a period of time. This is done to save power. When the laptop is resumed all programs and documents that were open are restored to the desktop. This is a great feature for laptop computers but it would be more comforting knowing that another user can not bring it out of standby or hibernation mode and access your information.
There was a time when if you were a power user you needed a desktop computer system to run those heavy hitter software applications such as Adobe or Illustrator. But that was than and this is now. The current crop of laptop systems have improved over the years and now incorporate many of the features that were once limited only to desktops. Most of the newest laptop systems now can be ordered or purchased with Dual Core processing technology from either Intel or AMD, 1G or more of DDR RAM, and huge hard disks for data storage. Add to this multiple USB ports, card readers, DVD burners and wi-fi and you have a powerful system in a small container.
Choosing between a laptop and desktop can be a difficult decision. The bottom line comes down to portability. If you will need or use the portability of a laptop, then it can be a powerful tool for you and worth the extra money. However, if the laptop will simply act as a desktop with very occasional need for portability, a desktop is also an excellent choice and far less expensive.
This is the sad tale of how, over 53 days and three HP laptops, I was unable to receive a defect-free computer from HP and was left holding a carrying case, a USB mouse and a 1-year accidental damage repair plan with no computer for my daughter’s Christmas/graduation present. (On Feb 21, I received a rebate check for the extended warranty after sending an email message to HP’s CEO.)