To run a blog means that you have to have at least one computer in your possession (as doing it entirely from a phone sounds like some form of divine punishment), but what type of setup should you strive for? And what sort of device suits your needs?
In this post, I’m going to use my own setups and technology as examples to help guide you on what device or combination you should consider. This is coming from someone who owns at least eight conventional personal computers, all from different eras and for different purposes.
(This post is more about tech than books or the actual blogging process. Consider yourself warned!)
Desktop
When it comes to desktops, I have two setups I actively rotate between, and only one of them is for writing purposes. The one that I don’t use for writing is, as you may have guessed, a gaming and performance setup for whatever high-powered tasks I need to do. It’s a custom build, and this is a book-related website, so I’ll avoid geeking out.
The desktop tower I mainly use for writing is an upgraded Dell OptiPlex 7010 (SFF) from 2013. I used to have this hooked up to an LED monitor via VGA, using the cheap OEM mouse and keyboard provided. Now I’m using some two-decade-old Philips accessories — mouse, keyboard, and a 17-inch LightFrame 3 CRT monitor — which I find much more charming, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing.
Understandably, if all you want to do is blog from a fixed location, then you don’t need a powerful or very romanticised setup. Still, something about writing in front of a CRT really helps me focus on what I’m doing.
But why should you consider a desktop setup whenever there’s usually much more cost, hassle, and electricity involved? Well, for one, your setup remains as a fixed space. It is your unmoving workstation that represents a practical space for you to sit down and write whatever you want to. On top of that, the large screen and extra I/O typically afforded by a desktop setup can be handy for certain users, especially those with poorer eyesight.
All-in-all, most people who want a desktop strictly for writing purposes lean more towards a Mac. Whether it be an all-in-one iMac with a 24-inch display, or a condensed PC setup using a Mac Mini, they’re still perfectly valid options if you have a preference for the Apple ecosphere. My recommendation is to go for an all-in-one or small form-factor tower if all you plan on doing is blogging, web browsing, and so on.
Laptop
Laptops are the preferred tool of most writers, students, and casual computer users. I’ve had a few laptops over the years, even owning boxy ones as old as myself, but I now rock an HP Pavilion 14-ec0005na. It’s a bit overkill for writing, but has too many thermal issues to reliably use for high-performance tasks. It’s light with a solid 1080p display and great battery, so it’ll easily last me until the late 2020s before I consider upgrading.
Cost and physical space are big factors in why people prefer a laptop. They’re often much cheaper to buy, and are powered by a fraction of the electricity it takes to run a comparatively powerful desktop. They also take up much less space and can be easily taken with you or relocated. This is particularly good for people who like to alternate between writing spots, are consistently travelling, or just lack desk space for a larger tower-based setup. It’s also a plus to be able to use them while laying down.
Laptops are a bit less simple to choose from than desktops. Again, writers will usually go straight for a MacBook of sorts, but this isn’t always the case. Plenty of netbooks and Chromebooks exist, alongside foldable hybrid laptops with touchscreens. Then you also have the sort that my Pavilion falls under, a generic Windows PC.
If you did have to pick between a laptop or desktop, you should consider everything you need to do with computers. If you like to game or render things, then a desktop may be a better choice to suit all your hobbies. For writers and those who just like to browse the web, a laptop is perfectly fine and often much more versatile.
Smartphone
I wouldn’t recommend anyone try to blog from their phone, but rather use it as a secondary tool for blogging. I personally own an ageing iPhone SE (2nd Generation), and it serves me fine for general smartphone purposes. Your phone is probably just as powerful or much better than my one, but carrying a mobile phone on me 24/7 isn’t really my thing, so I see no reason to upgrade until this one totally gives out.
Assuming you aren’t going to design your blog and write for it from your phone, and simply want to integrate your mobile device into your blogging venture, then use it as an on-the-go tool. Thought of a great idea during class or whilst commuting? Jot it down in your phone’s notes app. Want to see how your blog is performing? Check it on your phone. Noticed a typo on your latest post? Just sign in on your phone and fix it.
If you use WordPress, you can use the Jetpack app to type up posts and oversee your website. Again, I recommend only drafting posts this way, then returning later on a desktop to polish and proofread it.
Tablets
Let’s skip through this one. You can basically apply a combination of the laptop and smartphone positives. It is certainly more suited to blogging than a phone would be, but still not ideal.
I don’t own a tablet, and never have, so I’m not really qualified to give my opinion. Generally speaking, if you have the money to buy something like a full-size iPad, you’d be better off buying a slightly older laptop (yes, even a MacBook) for that money.
Where you write from, and what device you use, is ultimately up to you. A laptop is the way to go for most of us, but a desktop is viable if you prefer to be fixed to one spot (or have the luxury of a home office).
If you are going to blog from a phone or tablet, then best of luck to you. It can be done, but it’s a lot less intuitive than using a dedicated computer. Even with a Bluetooth keyboard and stylus, a conventional computer is still more practical for everyday life.
Each option has its pros and cons, but our modern tech is impressively capable of achieving the same outcomes nowadays. Weigh up what’s best for you and choose from there. Keep in mind that your setup can actually influence you and the quality of your writing a lot more than you may think.
Best of luck to you and your blogging ventures!
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