Computer manufacturers seem to be making laptops smaller and smaller while simultaneously cramming them full of more features. And desktop computer systems seem to get cheaper and cheaper. So which is right for you? Here are some tips to determine which platform to pick for your business computing needs.

Lock down your budget. It's not a hard and fast rule, but a notebook computer will cost roughly double what a comparably equipped desktop computer would cost. If you are just starting out, or if you are trying to outfit an entire office, your budget may keep you out of laptop land.

If, however, you can afford to go mobile, your investment may pay big dividends in increased productivity. That depends, of course, on what you demand from your work computer.

Develop a shopping list. What are your "have-to-haves" in a computer? If your work is graphics-intensive — Web design, graphics, or related fields — a laptop's 15-inch LCD screen may not cut it. Of course, you can always plug it in to a fancy external monitor at the office, but make sure the added cost of the laptop is actually going to pay off. If you can only do your work effectively at the office, you may be better off with a desktop.