This is not the case any longer. As notebook-laptop computers become more and more streamlined, they are fast catching up to the affordability and convenience of a bulkier desktop PC, and all without the bulk. It used to be that notebook-laptop computers were only for business people on the go. They did not have half the processing power of their larger cousins, and the battery life was not worth the battery in them. The old portable computing devices were really nothing more than mobile keyboards and document editing software, barely able to play solitaire, and you could forget about quality graphics.

It’s a whole new world no, with notebook-laptop computers available in a wide variety of sizes and styles as well as price points. Sure, you can still spend a fortune in a laptop, but there are also plenty of models which provide comparable performance to desktop computers at the same price. There are also notebooks which are designed with different functionality in mind; there are models which are made for entertainment, for gaming and no-frills models which are still aimed at those who need little more than a mobile word processors. There are even notebook-laptop computers which are capable of handling state of the art graphic design and video editing work. Newer laptops are made for portability and efficient use of power for longer battery life.

Today’s notebook-laptop computers can fit in your backpack or briefcase. They come in sizes ranging from the super portable ten inch screen models, all the way up to giant graphics intensive seventeen inch widescreen models that are perfect for watching movies on the go. The smaller end of computers tend to be very light, sometimes getting down to a mere two pounds. That is less than a cup of coffee or a few books. Some are also ultra thin and no wider than a pad of paper. Of course, these extremes will always be at the higher end of the price range, but the possibilities are there. Notebook-laptop computers more in the middle of the road when it comes to size and features will tend to be the cheapest, and with the different computer companies currently engaged in a price war, the computer prices just keep getting lower as the technology improves.

Many people in the past have complained about poor battery life in their notebook-laptop computers. That may have been the case with the old batteries of a few years ago, but recent advances in battery and power efficiency technology have given us portable computers with amazing battery life spans of five, six and even eight hours. This is great if you want to plug your computer in at night and then take it with you during the day without having to worry about finding a place to plug it in when you want to use it.

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.

If it’s time to retire that old desktop of yours and get a newer, more powerful computer for your home, then the choice is obvious: it’s time to go portable and buy a notebook-laptop computer. With performance as good or better than an equivalent desktop, great portability and a lower cost of operation as well as the ability to get online in an increasing number of wireless hot spots, a notebook-laptop computer is the right choice.