When people say desktop computer, they are usually referring to a PC; although they may in some cases be talking about a Macintosh computer. In any case, the term is used for computers which are designed to be set up in one location and to stay there, unlike a laptop where portability is the idea. In the days when microprocessors were anything but micro, any computer which could be comfortably accommodated on a standard office desk was known as a desktop computer (and for the time, these were considered small). Today, people use the term desktop computer to refer to a specific kind of CPU casing. However, desktop computers come in many shapes and sizes from form factor models where the CPU sits behind the screen of the computer to the traditional tower style of casing.
The term 'desktop', then, specifically refers to a case that is horizontally-oriented. The desktop usually has the display screen placed on top in order to save space on the desktop. Most of the modern desktop computers of today have separate keyboards and screens. A specialized form of desktop case is used for home theatre systems. These cases incorporate front-panel mounted controls for both audio and video.
All in one computers are those which combine the monitor and CPU into a single casing, as seen in the mid-eighties Macintosh 128K and the late nineties' iMac. There were precedents for this style which include the Kaypro II and the Commodore PET 2001. All in one PCs are designed to be somewhat more portable than a traditional desktop computer, often featuring (as in the case of the iMac), carrying handles built into the casing of the computer.
Just like the laptops, the All-in-one desktop computer tends to suffer from a comparative lack of upgradeability because internal hardware is usually placed in the back part of the visual display unit. In the situation of the iMac line since the year 2002, the CPU as well as other internal hardware units are, more or less, glued permanently to the motherboard due to constraints of space.
One thing that desktops have over laptops is that all of the extensions and spare parts tend to be standardized resulting in greater availability and lower prices. For instance, the 'Form Factor" of the motherboard is likened to the ATX form factor. There are several standard expansion slots just like the PCI or the PCI express. Laptops usually have one PC card slot along with one mini PCI slot. This means that a desktop can be upgraded and customized only tend to have one mini PCI slot and one PC card slot. Procedures for the (dis-)assembly of a desktop tends to be simple and standardized to a great extent as well. This tends not to be the case for laptops, although adding or replacing some parts, such as the rechargeable battery, the optical drive, hard disk and the addition of an extra memory module is quite easy.
Another advantage of the desktop computer is that the power consumption is not as critical as that of a laptop because the desktop computer is powered from the wall socket. The desktop computer also provides more space for heat to escape. The two large microprocessor manufacturers that happen to be AMD and Intel develop special CPU's for laptops because these consume less power and lower heat but they had a lower performance level. - 15478
The term 'desktop', then, specifically refers to a case that is horizontally-oriented. The desktop usually has the display screen placed on top in order to save space on the desktop. Most of the modern desktop computers of today have separate keyboards and screens. A specialized form of desktop case is used for home theatre systems. These cases incorporate front-panel mounted controls for both audio and video.
All in one computers are those which combine the monitor and CPU into a single casing, as seen in the mid-eighties Macintosh 128K and the late nineties' iMac. There were precedents for this style which include the Kaypro II and the Commodore PET 2001. All in one PCs are designed to be somewhat more portable than a traditional desktop computer, often featuring (as in the case of the iMac), carrying handles built into the casing of the computer.
Just like the laptops, the All-in-one desktop computer tends to suffer from a comparative lack of upgradeability because internal hardware is usually placed in the back part of the visual display unit. In the situation of the iMac line since the year 2002, the CPU as well as other internal hardware units are, more or less, glued permanently to the motherboard due to constraints of space.
One thing that desktops have over laptops is that all of the extensions and spare parts tend to be standardized resulting in greater availability and lower prices. For instance, the 'Form Factor" of the motherboard is likened to the ATX form factor. There are several standard expansion slots just like the PCI or the PCI express. Laptops usually have one PC card slot along with one mini PCI slot. This means that a desktop can be upgraded and customized only tend to have one mini PCI slot and one PC card slot. Procedures for the (dis-)assembly of a desktop tends to be simple and standardized to a great extent as well. This tends not to be the case for laptops, although adding or replacing some parts, such as the rechargeable battery, the optical drive, hard disk and the addition of an extra memory module is quite easy.
Another advantage of the desktop computer is that the power consumption is not as critical as that of a laptop because the desktop computer is powered from the wall socket. The desktop computer also provides more space for heat to escape. The two large microprocessor manufacturers that happen to be AMD and Intel develop special CPU's for laptops because these consume less power and lower heat but they had a lower performance level. - 15478
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