I will attempt to write in brief but(hopefully) a helpful note here.
I have been using computers for a long time now. the first computer I saw was way back in 1986, and since then I have cycled through a lot of computers. right from the really heavy box you couldn’t move around without a lot of help, to a pocket pc that literally sits in a pocket and is a computer.
That said for credentials, here goes.
I have long felt the need to be able to work on my computer, carry out my regular official and personal tasks on it, wherever I am - regardless of location. a good and proper desktop is only so helpful when it comes to portability - sure, you can lug one around, but that’s not a very good idea most of the time. You can fit a PC into your car, but would you want to sacrifice one seat?
This necessity brought about my first purchase of a portable - a pocket pc(see my review on the casio cassiopeia em bu 500), and after using it for a few months, I began to see the limited functionality it offers. yes, composing email is a good idea, but writing it out is not. Yes, browsing is a good idea, but on such a small screen is not. Yes, playing mp3s is a good idea, but having to wear headphones all the time is not.
. and of course, I did a couple of stupid things, and the next thing I knew, my pocket pc’s screen cracked - I can still use it for extra processing power or whatever, but it’s got to be connected to a regular PC.
It was then I decided to purchase a laptop(or a notebook, in these politically correct times).
The basic advantages are:
portability - you can use it practically wherever you want to
near-fullsize keyboard - typing is so easy(i’m using my notebook as I write this)
large screen - web browsing is so pleasurable
text looks so much better on a notebook screen
etc., etc., etc.
The basic disadvantages are:
you need juice when your batteries are drained
moving images are not displayed very well
that’s it, pretty much.
Some other not-so-obvious advantages:
you can use it anywhere in your house or office or car or wherever
practically everything is self-contained - keyboard, mouse equivalent, display, speakers, microphone
you can keep it powered-on and running, waiting for you to use it, without worrying about power consumption
typing is *so* easy - the keys are generally smoother than a desktop keyboard
it’s a phenomenal showpiece - think of the chaps at your regular’adda’ when they see you flaunt your new notebook
some people say it’s a magnet for the opposite sex - but I personally haven’t really cared, nor experienced it
Some other not-so-obvious disadvantages:
it takes some practice getting used to the keyboard
without an external mouse, you can’t really play with the touchpad / trackball / whatever to fullest happiness
drop it and you’ve immediately lost a ton of money
cost of obsolescence is very high
A few other points may help. with processors getting smaller and more powerful, notebooks are being viewed as the ideal desktop replacement nowadays - and most notebooks come with impressive upgradability - lots of USB ports, large accommodative hard-drives, extra memory slots, legacy port availability, etc., etc.
Also keep in mind that notebook spare parts are prohibitively expensive(what spare part isn’t, anyway?) and not all models are upgradeable enough. Notebooks need higher maintenance than your average desktop - cleaning is the first painfully procrastinated activity that comes to yours truly’s mind - etc., etc.
While the choice is entirely yours, of course - the world is largely a democracy, anyway - my sincere suggestion is this - given a chance, go ahead, create a budget for it and purchase your notebook - you’ll feel the pain until you pay the loan off, but during and after, you will observe a distinct difference in the way you get your work done - faster, better.
That’s it, then - my biased opinion, for what it’s worth.
cheers!