The largest advantage of window units is cooling ability. A window air conditioner cools approximately twice as much space as portable air conditioning of equivalent BTU capacity.
As air is cooled moisture condenses out of it and must be dealt with. Window units exhaust this moisture along with the warm air. Some portable air conditioners do as well however other models have water containers that must be emptied periodically.
One disadvantage window units once had was the fact that they do not recirculate the hot exhaust air back into the room. Newer portable air conditioning units no longer have this problem if they use a double duct system.
Portable Air Conditioning - Versatile, Easy, Non-Damaging
Despite the advantages of window units, there are even more reasons to use spot coolers. Portable air conditioning units are easy to install, requiring little more than rolling them into the room. Window units are heavy to lift into the window and are difficult or impossible for one person to mount alone. Bolting the window unit mounting brackets means leaving permanent marks on the window frame.
Window coolers can have trouble cooling distant parts of large areas, while spot coolers can be easily moved to any part of the room. They can be moved to other rooms as cooling needs change and can be put into storage when cooler weather comes.
Portable air conditioners may be the only choice for rooms that either don't have window or have unusual window shapes that won't take typical air conditioning units. Finally, the portable units can be rented rather than purchased. This can be an important factor for people who have only temporary needs to supplement a building's cooling capacity.
So Which Is Better?
Since each solution has different advantages there is no one answer to that question. The "better" choice will depend on the buyer's unique situation.
The efficiency of window units makes them good choices for many situations if the proper mounting is available. However in many cases such as office buildings, the windows cannot be opened and a window unit is simply not an option.
The ease of installation, lack of permanent and disfiguring mounting hardware, and versatility of portable units make them the preferred choice for many cooling needs. It is smart to compare both options, but in most cases the portable units will win over window units.
