Devices
Part of Business computers and device selection
How to compare business desktop and laptop ownership costs
Compare the full cost of a business desktop and laptop, including accessories, electricity, support and time lost during faults.
Compare complete desktop and laptop setups for the same role over one defined ownership period, using the same cost lines and GST basis. Outright business-grade laptop purchases in Australia typically cost $1,500–$3,500, depending on specification; that is a computer price, not a matched setup total. Laptops tend to cost more than desktops with similar specifications, so include accessories, running costs, support and end-of-period costs before deciding which option costs less.
Make the options equivalent
Choose the same start and end dates for both options, then compare the same role over that period. Include everything the employee needs: a desktop setup may need a monitor, keyboard, camera and microphone; a laptop setup may need a dock, external monitor, keyboard, charger or case. Include only role-required items and treat shared equipment consistently.
Use current Australian quotes in the same currency and with the same GST treatment. Note setup or support included in one quote but absent from the other.
| Cost line | Desktop option | Laptop option |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and required peripherals | Complete workstation quote | Laptop plus required desk or travel equipment |
| Setup and software differences | Configuration and incremental licences | Configuration and incremental licences |
| Electricity | Estimated use for computer and connected display | Estimated use for laptop, charger and connected display |
| Service and repair | Quoted cover, possible paid work and transport | Quoted cover, possible paid work and transport |
| Work during a fault | Agreed temporary arrangement | Agreed temporary arrangement |
| End of period | Disposal cost or supported resale estimate | Disposal cost or supported resale estimate |
Enter a quote or estimate for each line and period. Mark an unknown line as unknown rather than guessing, and ask suppliers to clarify quote inclusions.
Estimate electricity for the actual setup
Calculate electricity cost as power in kilowatts × expected hours of use × tariff per kilowatt-hour. Include displays and docks where relevant.
Use realistic active and idle periods instead of assuming equipment draws its rated maximum power throughout the day. Record the assumptions so the estimate can be updated.
If power use, hours or the tariff is unknown, keep the electricity line marked unknown rather than entering zero.
Account for interrupted work
A fault may stop time-sensitive work even when a repair is covered. For each option, record the temporary route: an available spare, a shared workstation or a replacement if service terms provide one. Estimate staff time or missed work only where the business has a defensible basis.
Break-fix support can have unpredictable costs and higher downtime risk, while proactive maintenance can support predictable costs and reduced, controlled downtime. Compare the actual service amounts over the same period.
Treat a response target as an assumption about expected time without a working device; it does not guarantee uninterrupted work.
Compare totals and assumptions
For each option, add purchase, required accessories, setup, estimated running costs and support over the chosen period. Include end-of-period costs and subtract resale value only when there is a sound basis for the estimate.
Keep quoted amounts separate from forecasts so the assumptions most likely to change the result are visible. Compare the two totals on the same basis, and include interruption costs only where there is a defensible estimate. If a cost line remains unknown, show it as unknown rather than treating it as zero.
Check that the lower-cost option still meets the employee’s location and role needs. Record the chosen option, key assumptions and when to revisit them.
