COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY - “PORTABILITY VS PERFORMANCE; WHAT’S THE DEAL?”

In this fast-changing world where everything develops so easily, there are some tough decisions that we have to make in which we really have to weigh “which is” form “which is not.” For example, most people have a hard time in choosing between laptops and desktops. This essay will help a lot because I am going to differentiate laptops form desktops(towers) in terms of the former’s portability and the latter’s performance as both their advantage and disadvantage if we are about to buy one. PORTABILITY VS PERFORMANCE – you decide!



Let us first tackle the good and bad qualities of laptops, parts of this context may also be found at http://www.tech.yahoo.com titled “Laptops or Desktops – which is right for you?” which was published last 2008. When we talk about the major advantages of laptops over desktops, nonetheless, we talk about their portability. As we all know, they are created for user’s convenience. They can be of huge benefit because they to allow us to take our computer to and fro practically anywhere else most especially for college students like us. Moreover, it can also be a substitute of a home computer. But along with its benefit as a portable and handy gadget comes a large drawback – it is also easy for someone to walk it off as it is easy for us. Based on researches made, laptops are stolen at an alarming rate for they are just easy to steal. And when our computer is stolen, not only we do lose the value of the computer but also all of our valuable data. Another major drawback is that their parts are “proprietary”; meaning, that if your laptop breaks, the company which created it is the only one able to fix it. Laptop is a craze itself; it is why they are expensive – another major drawback. It is the portability of the laptop that we are actually paying, but is it worth it? Its battery life is very limited, so what is the sense of portability if we cannot use it for long? It is not that I dissuade people from buying laptops because they are essential in the computer market, but so far, there are too many people who are dissatisfied with what they purchased and wished that they bought a desktop instead. In relation to this, let us figure out why they prefer desktops over laptops through the next part of the essay.



If laptops take pride on its portability, on the other hand, desktops take pride on their performance. Desktops, in general, are designed for heavier use and large capacity, which is why they are ideal for home usage. They are also easier to use for most people. Unlike laptops, they are easier to fix if ever problem arises because any local computer stores can fix them. They are also way cheaper and tagged by computer enthusiasts as the “Forefront of New Technology” because most every new technology for computers is released on a desktop system first. Lastly, desktops are self-sufficient and they do not rely on battery power to function. However, desktops have some drawbacks too. They are not too portable because they are split in functions; the main brain is linked to the screen, power source, speakers, keyboard and mouse through wires. They are also not that “in” among college among college students. Its main advantages in summary are that they are the fastest personal computer available, that they can be the cheapest available and that they have the most expansion capabilities.

Of course, if there are some differences between the two, there are some similarities, too. For me, they are both not that affordable for people who belong to the lower class of our society. It is why most people belonging to that bracket prefer to just rent on computer shops and the like. They also run the exact same software. To sum it all up, they are essentially identical except for their differences in performance and portability.

When buying a new computer, choosing between a laptop and desktop can be a hard decision to make, but keep this in mind; they only run the exact same software; the decision therefore lies on one’s personal preference; if you are looking for a good computer that you can take with you, then laptop is a good choice. Alternatively, a desktop is a better choice for someone who is either looking for the cheapest available, or is looking for the best in the market.


Reference List:
“Laptops and Desktops’ Difference”. Retrieved on November 16, 2009 at http://www.e-sortment.com/laptops_and_desktops_differences.htm.

REFLECTION:
I find it less difficult than the previous essays since I am beginning to improve my writing and I can understand better how to follow the process of writing plus the outlining. Again, I am glad that the result is quite good. I think the readers will have better understanding regarding the differences and similarities between laptops and towers if they will read this.

CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY - “MALNUTRITION – ITS CAUSES IN DEPTH”

Malnutrition is a complex condition wherein there is no exemption of whoever will be affected by it. However, children ranging from ages 2 to 10 are those who are hardly affected. Based on researches (malnutrition.org), hunger, micronutrient deficiency and over-consumption are the three primary causes of malnutrition which affects almost 4.4 billion people worldwide, with 6 million dying each year. This essay will try to uncover how the said causes result in malnutrition.

Hunger is a cause of malnutrition; however, there is also a cause behind it – poverty. As we all know, our world is prone to suffer malnutrition. Moreover, according to an online article titled “Malnutrition Matters” (malnutrition.org), it is most devastating when it attacks children. Not only their physical growth will be affected but it may also affect their mental growth. In relation to this, the poverty cycle will worsen since it is a hindrance in having a better foundation of the mind, thus, the less they are to have better opportunities for work later on. Hunger also affects adults for it impedes our productivity, and worse, it creates a host of associated health problems like stress and anxiety disorders, ulcer and mental disorders among others.

Another cause of malnutrition is the deficiency in micronutrients – these are nutrients needed by our body which we have to take only in small amounts. In this condition, it is either inadequate amounts of vitamins are received or they are not having the correct proportion of proteins in their diets (malnutrition.org). What makes it even harder for people to treat and diagnose is that it takes years for health symptoms to manifest. Results of this deficiency are lost productivity and major increase in health care costs which in turn, negatively affects our government’s efforts to develop our way of life.



The last primary cause of malnutrition to be discussed is over-consumption. Malnutrition may be a state of undernourishment or overnourishment, thus, the latte makes over-consumption one of the primary causes. It is referred to as taking in calories more than what was required (dictionary.com). In some cases, it is also accompanied by a deficiency in vitamins and minerals. What makes the situation worse is that there are food companies which offer consumers some products which are highly affordable but are often inadequate nutrition required. The result of over-consumption is obesity. Moreover, it is a fast-growing segment of the world’s population. But the irony of this condition is that these people who are experiencing obesity often live at hunger-prevalent countries like the United States.

Malnutrition is certainly one of the major problems our world leaders currently face and it is truly a difficult one to solve. But still, we must not lose hope that there will come a time when we can completely overcome the situation. What we have to do now is to work hand-in-hand in promoting increased awareness towards malnutrition and its causes. One solution which is highly promoted today is mass feeding in areas where malnutrition is highly prevalent. What is good to know is that there are major organizations worldwide which are highly influential which support advocacies like this. One of which is UNICEF. So giving up is not an option, rather cooperate with everyone towards a healthier and much happier world.


Reference List:
Malnutrition Matters.(n.d). Retrieved November 22, 2009 from http://www.malnutrition.org/malnutrition.htm

REFLECTION:
I find this essay a bit harder than the previous essays because there are so much factors to consider which must be written also in this essay but space is limited, so what I did is to choose the 3 most intense factors among all. Good thing, the outcome is good and I explained well what I want to tell my readers. =)

STATIC-DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY - “AS I TURNED A YEAR BETTER”

Birthdays – what makes birthday celebrations something to be treated tenderly and kept within our hearts forever? What makes it special is when you spend it with the people you love the most – people who make you feel valuable and who can make your heart jump in delight whenever they are around. In this essay, I am about to narrate how my friends made my birthday something to be cherished in a way that when I would be reminded of that event someday, I would still feel the same old feeling of happiness rushing through me. I could perceive how warm and sincere their birthday greetings were to me and for that, I could feel that my existence truly mattered.

July 25 – the entire world was sleeping. The brightness of the evening light was fine and the warmth of my humble room was quite enough for me to have a sound and pleasant rest. My mind told me that in little while, I may have my short rest from the busy and tiring reality. Little by little, my tired looking eyes were starting to bid goodbye from the world. It began closing, a bit more, when suddenly, a loud and disturbing noise interrupted me from my supposedly sound sleep. The unpleasant sound came under my pillow; it was a text message! A text message telling an intense appreciation and thankfulness that I appeared to her life and that this special day must be well-spent. It came from my ever-faithful friend, Camille – whom I shared my ups and downs with all through these years. Yes, it is my day – July 26. But for now, I have to take my well-deserved rest. Toodle-oo world!



After a long night’s sleep of dreams and abstruse reverie in a world of my own, the birthday boy finally woke up. I could picture myself opening my eyes that day with a huge smile on my face. I jumped off my bed as if I was a little child too eager to eat his cereals while watching his favorite cartoons. Soon, I went out of my room when my wonderful, ever-gorgeous mom saw me and of course, she greeted her favorite son (I’m assuming) a happy birthday. When I saw her, she was like a student cramming for the exams as she was cooking foods for the “mini-gathering” my high-school classmates and I will have later that day.

Not in a long while, the party has started, I was astonished upon seeing my high-school teachers coming that I did not expect to come for they earlier said that they were busy with school. What a nice start! I wished there was more to come! The party was not planned, as we say, “anything goes.” Thus, it made my heart pound evenly unbearable. Thinking what might happen the whole day. After a while, my high-school classmates arrived, and another surprise – they brought gifts! I was not really expecting gifts from them because they do not usually do that. I was in cloud nine; I know it was going to be a good night!

Eating time! As what was expected, each of them ran fast to get food. They love how my mom cooks. We were in one big table, as we were munching our food while memories of the good old days were reminisced. We were all having a hard time finishing our meals because we could not help but laugh when we are reminiscing how I blabbered on a personality contest, how we were scolded by our principal and how my best friend was kicked on her face; oh how nice it was to be reminded of the good old days!

After eating, we went back to the living room to start our favorite pastime together – the videoke! As the birthday boy, I was the one who first sang. I sang my favorite song “Stay the same”. After my turn, each guests started grabbing the microphone, too. It was really something to be cherished; all of us had smiles on our faces, wishing it would be a long, long night. However, every good thing must come to an end. As far as I can remember, I think we decided to call it a night by 12:00 am – exactly a day!

What a day that day was! I really ha d fun! Turning a year better is really fun to celebrate especially when you have your friends to celebrate it with. It is the person around you who matters, not what you are able to prepare in your birthday. Before having my good night’s sleep again, I texted all of them, “Till next year again, as I turn a year better!”

That is how my friends made my birthday a very special day to be cherished in my heart and mind. I truly felt the value of my existence and relevance!

REFLECTION:
I enjoyed a lot while I was writing this essay because what I was writing is about my birthday! but of course, it is still hard since what I have to do here is to describe everything, literally. But it is worth it because the outcome is truly imaginable for the readers. Still,I can improve this if I will be given an extra time! More descriptions, more figures of speech!