The difference between the computer and a laptop is almost known to all. A computer could not be taken outside of its normal position whereas you can travel with the laptop to any place. Though both are meant for same reason there is significant difference in their working and operating styles. So which is right option for you depends upon for what you need it, what kind of applications you want to run in and how much you likely to spend on it.
When you have to decide between the two you have to first see about the work you want from the system that means applications you could use in it. Based on that you can about how much processing power it needs and how much time it might consume in completing that specific application. In case of a normal computer its CPUs need more power and hence require much battery power. Here laptops favor as they require less power and hence an extended battery power. But there is not much difference in power consume between a PC and a laptop if you just use applications like Word, Internet explorer and Outlook. But in terms of processing power the PC has outdone the laptops in many instances. For complicated applications which need time and processing power computers are better option than laptops. For example if you want to encode a DVD or tweaking a 10 mega pixel photograph the laptop could take time more than twice or thrice from an desktop of same price.
If you have little space in your drawing room then a laptop would be a better option. You could fold it and take it to anywhere you want. Whereas in case of a desktop computers it would not be the case as you always need a monitor. When it comes about the up gradation of the various applications, the desktop computer has more advantages than a laptop. With new innovations like HD DVDs drives, solid state hard disk drives and faster CPUs available every now and then you might want to upgrade your ageing computer with these new techniques which makes it work faster. These applications are easily upgraded in a desk top computer but you can not add more than RAM or replace the hard drive. But when it is the case of graphics card, firewire ports or adding additional hard disk drives laptop can not help at all. At best you could add optical drives to your laptop but for this you need specialists and spend a little more.
In case of electicity laptops use less as compared to the desktop computers and could be regarded as eco-friendly. When it comes about the prices, a desktop computer would cost cheaper than a laptop. So before you choose between the options you should think about these facts.