If you aren’t tech-savvy, all laptops can kind of feel like the same thing. They can do some of the same things but there are certain laptops that are capable of so much more. When you have properly identified just what you will be using your laptop for, you can then start the search for the right fit.
Gaming laptops have become popular in recent years and for good reason. As far as daily usage goes, gaming laptops can be a good fit if you tend to stream or game on a regular basis. However, if you are using it for web browsing, school, or business work, then it is overkill. Gaming laptops come with upgraded specs compared to traditional laptops, which also means a higher price tag than something meant for lighter use.
Why Gaming Laptops are Good for Everyday Use
Everyone has their own distinct set of “daily” needs when it comes to laptops. Traditionally, we have thought of laptops as being used for work or school. Spreadsheets, web browsing, studying, typing up reports, etc.
But in the recent past, they have been able to do so much more with increased hardware. If you are the type that does a lot of streaming, multimedia creation and editing, or gaming, then a gaming laptop is perfect for you. The high-powered tech is meant to take on all of the graphic and processing needs that those activities command.
For those more basic activities, all the upgrades in tech are unneeded. You would generally need a decent processor and the rest is somewhat interchangeable.
Why Gaming Laptops aren’t the Best Idea for Everyday Use
As mentioned above, if you are using a gaming laptop for work, school, and other basic uses, it is overkill. The tech in a gaming laptop is far superior to that of a basic work laptop. As a result, it means paying for something that you don’t really need.
Not only that, but most gaming laptops are a lot heavier, too. Because they are housing larger, more superior tech, they can get to be pretty bulky. If you have to lug a laptop to work or class on a daily basis, it can definitely become cumbersome.
The Advantages of Gaming Laptops for Everyday Use
When it comes to gaming laptops, there are more than a few advantages to making the upgrade. That is, of course, provided you have the need for it. Gaming laptops, generally speaking, are more powerful and durable than others. But let’s get to all the advantages below.
Unparalleled Graphics and Sound
The single biggest advantage of going with a gaming laptop over its traditional counterpart is the sound and video quality. Gaming laptops make use of high-end sound and graphics cards to make the experience totally immersive.
When streaming or playing a game, you want to feel like you are there. The dedicated high-end GPUs can do just that, making you feel a part of the world that you are playing in or watching. Standard laptops have closed the gap a bit in recent years but there is really no comparison in GPUs between the two as of yet.
Better Durability
One of the trademarks to gaming laptops is their size. Gaming laptops tend to be substantially bigger than their counterparts and, as a result, are much more durable. They also tend to have eye-catching form factors which give them a unique look as well.
If you are going to be putting in heavy use on your laptop, you need to know that it is going to stand up to the rigors. Gaming laptops are equipped to handle hours of gaming or streaming each and every day.
Better Features
The simple fact of the matter is that gaming laptops come better equipped than traditional laptops. The first way is in terms of connectivity suite. Your average gaming laptop is going to have a lot more slots and ports than a traditional laptop. For those with external devices, a gaming laptop is far better suited to handle that load.
There is also the matter of add-ons. Most gaming laptops have cool, LED-lit keyboards, for instance. You can also be certain that your gaming laptop comes with things like high-end fans to accommodate the heat generation, and so much more. Traditional laptops are the basic version and perform just fine but are not meant for the things that a gaming laptop can handle.
Superior Gaming Experience
It is possible to play PC games on a standard laptop, provided the processing and graphics cards are up to snuff. But if you really want to get into the game you are playing, there is no comparison to a gaming laptop.
The graphics and sound are so superior that you will feel like you are right in the middle of the game. Moreover, you won’t have to worry about your hardware struggling to keep up with the latest in gaming.
The Disadvantages of Gaming Laptops for Everyday Use
That said, it is not all sunshine and roses for gaming laptops. Like anything else in life, it all comes down to when you will be using it and what for. Using a gaming laptop for anything less than constant streaming, online gaming, and media editing is overkill. That is just one of the downsides of having a laptop for daily use.
The Price Tag
The single biggest reason why usage matters. Gaming laptops come with a much larger price tag than their counterparts for a reason. All of that superior tech, the more durable construction, and the cool addons come at a cost.
If you plan to use a gaming laptop as a student, the price tag should be enough to send you looking for other options. You are paying for quality and sometimes you don’t need to pay at this level to get something that will fit your daily needs.
Battery Life
It should come as no surprise that gaming laptop batteries struggle. You basically have to have your gaming laptop plugged in at all times. With the higher-powered tech to run, your battery does its best but can only offer so much.
Traditional laptop batteries are becoming longer-lasting for a couple of reasons. Firstly, batteries are getting better. But the more important thing is that it doesn’t have to support all of these high-powered add-ons that a gaming laptop would have.
Portability
You might not have considered it, but a laptop has to be easy to transport. Most of them come with cases to make that easier, but gaming laptops are much more cumbersome than their counterparts. That makes it much more difficult to take with you everywhere.
Gaming laptops are also substantially heavier than traditional laptops. If you have a full course load, it may not be ideal to carry a big, heavy laptop with you from class to class.
Cooling
Perhaps the biggest challenge of a gaming laptop is the cooling aspect. Every computer component generates heat. There are internal fans that are meant to keep those components cool so that they don’t overheat and degrade.
Because of the much more prestigious hardware involved, gaming laptops have far greater cooling needs. Larger cooling fans are needed and almost always result in additional noise. A gaming laptop is almost certainly going to be louder than its traditional counterparts.
When You Would Use a Gaming Laptop for Everyday Use
So, now that we know all the pros and cons of gaming laptops, the million dollar question remains: when should you use one for daily use? There is nothing stopping you from buying a laptop that you like, it just may be more than you need to spend.
That said, there are instances where you would want to buy a gaming laptop. Gaming laptops, despite their name, are not solely for gaming. That said, with the improved graphical power, you can feel immersed while playing your favorite PC games.
Still, if you tend to work on content creation, a gaming laptop is a great idea. The greater computing and graphical processing power come in handy for those who are big into photo or video editing. The high-powered CPU can also help you perform tasks far more quickly than you would on a traditional laptop.
There is also the sound factor. If you like to edit music, having a gaming laptop is a must. The sound card is vastly superior to regular laptops, making them a must for editing, mixing, and more.
It All Comes Down to Personal Preference
Knowing what we know about gaming laptops, the choice should be fairly easy. That said, there is nothing stopping you from purchasing a gaming laptop for regular daily use. It will be an expensive investment but knowing that you have the potential to do almost anything can be great.
But if you are looking for an affordable, daily laptop for school or work, a gaming laptop is overkill. Go with something that has better processing power but ultimately isn’t going to stack up in terms of graphical and sounder quality.
