Both mini PCs and laptops have the advantage over a conventional desktop PC in the consumption, since these devices consume much less and therefore save a lot on the electricity bill when a calculation is made over time and, in addition, in general they are cheaper options when we talk about initial investment than having to buy a complete PC.
Benefits of using a mini PC for telecommuting
Mini PCs have a very small form factor, which means they take up very little space, and this is a big advantage for many users who don’t have room or want to have a PC. complete taking up space on their desk. Apart from being very small and taking up little space, these devices are also generally quite quiet because, since they have low consumption components, they do not heat up too much and therefore do not require advanced cooling systems.
As a rule, mini PCs fit the hardware of laptops but since they have more space to accommodate the hardware components, they allow somewhat larger cooling systems and in fact in many cases this space allows to install storage units of 2 or even 5 inches extra, which can also become an advantage for lovers of silence as well as for those who need to have a large storage capacity on their equipment.
Of course, a mini PC is still a small PC, so to telecommute with it you will need to have it installed in a fixed space, along with its monitor (s), keyboard, mouse and more. Therefore, compared to a typical desktop PC, the advantages it gives you are simply lower power consumption, generally lower noise level, which take up less space and are generally cheaper, no more and no less.
Advantages of laptops
The advantage of low power consumption is something that we also have in laptops, although it is true that when we talk about laptops with slightly more advanced hardware, their consumption can be much higher than that of laptops. ‘a mini PC, which is why they are also generally more expensive equipment, which heat up more and make more noise.
In return for this, the great advantage of laptops is undoubtedly the freedom of movement they give you, as they can work independently and that means you don’t need to have a fixed position to telecommute. with them, but rather You can take to the living room, to the kitchen or even to the park if you connect to the Internet through the connection of your smartphone, which is very common today. Therefore, the biggest advantage of laptops is mobility at the expense of more expensive and more power hungry devices.
Eso sí, por norma general y salvo que tengas un monitor externo, un ratón y un teclado, un portátil es bastante más incómodo que un PC para trabajar, para empezar por su teclado y pantalla más pequeñas y porque el trackpad tiene una menor sensibilidad que a mouse. This means that you could put it in a fixed place on the table to be able to work with it, but then it would lose its reason to be compared to a mini PC, right?
Which option is best for telecommuting?
There is no doubt that when you have to spend 8 hours sitting in front of the PC to telecommute, a mini PC will be a better option (compared to a laptop) because of the versatility and comfort that a larger screen will bring you, as well as peripherals. However, if you are someone who needs to be able to work anywhere or just need to log in to work sporadically, then a laptop might be the best option for you.
It is clear that the needs of the users are changing, and for us the best alternative would be a happy medium, although it is true that this implies a greater investment of money: the ideal is to have a fixed position with a docking station for the laptop, so that when you need to work at home, you can just connect the laptop and work with your monitor, mouse and keyboard, and when you need to take your work elsewhere, you can still disconnect the laptop from the docking station and use it on its own.
In terms of performance, it depends a lot on what you want to spend because of course you have options that are both very low consumption and inefficient as well as very high end options and performance that has little or no to be envied by a desktop PC both at the level of mini PCs and laptops, but like everything else, if you want a higher return, the investment must be higher (they are more expensive), they will generate more heat and will make less noise while consuming more power, so again we are faced with a situation in choosing a mini PC or a laptop which may not be the most suitable when all you need is a desktop PC.
In definitivas cuentas, ambas son buenas opciones para teletrabajar, pero depende de ti el valorar lo que te quieras gastar y si necesitas la mayor comodidad que te va dar un mini PC o la mayor versatilidad y movilidad que solo vas a poder conseguir utilizando un laptop.
