There are times when I wonder if I really need a desktop at home. But I usually stop wondering whenever I contemplate the idea of playing PC games on a laptop. I know it can be done. But unless I’m missing something, it’s quite a bit more expensive to put together a solid gaming laptop than a gaming desktop.

But clearly this is not a consideration for most computer users. And increasingly, folks are turning to laptops for their computing needs.

MSNBC’s Suzanne Choney takes a look at this trend - in the third quarter, for the first time, laptops represented 55 percent of the computers shipped to consumer, business, government and educational users. This, according to data from research firm IDC.

The popularity of notebooks is due, in part, to the continuing growth of wireless Internet connections both inside the home and out, the mobility of laptops themselves and their continuing price drops.

You have to wonder, though, how much of the laptop increase is fueled by people adding second or third computers to the household arsenal. As laptop prices have fallen, it’s become easier for families to add an extra computer here and there without taking up a lot of extra space.

It’s not always an either-or decision when it comes to buying a laptop or desktop PC. Many homes have both, especially if a desktop PC is considered the “family” computer, and laptops are the personal property of individual family members.

“It’s a real concept of personal computing,” Daoud said. “The laptop belongs to you, as opposed to the family or household. And the performance of many of today’s laptop systems are as good as that of desktops.”

I almost hate to admit it, but my wife and I have four computers between us - a pair of desktops and laptops. If forced to choose one over the other, I suspect she’d opt for the laptop. I’d probably just have to flip a coin.

Which way would you go?