Laptop or Desktop?

[msimmons]

I am thinking of my next computer. Normaly I build my own desktops but for some reason I really want a laptop (I have only used them for very short times in the office, like installing software for a user). I will leave my desktop as a node on my home network and will use it primarily for storage and the cd burner. I can think of a few pros & cons.

Pros:
1) Portable
2) I can easily take my files to and from work (I have overwritten my work too many times )

Cons:
1) Screen size
2) mouse vs touchpad
3) keyboard size

The cons can be remedied when I am at home by using my existing monitor, keyboard, and mouse hooked to a switchbox. I will add more as I think of them.

Opinions please.

Thanks
Michael

[Beacon]

Well i was having the same thoughts myself.

Ask yourself this:

Will i be using the computer for work purposes more than personal(games, net etc) purposes??

I came to around 60/40 in favour of personal. Even though a lappy would be great to take around to customers etc i wanted the grunt that a desktop gives.

b :)

[kalicki]

Originally posted by Beacon
Well i was having the same thoughts myself.

Ask yourself this:

Will i be using the computer for work purposes more than personal(games, net etc) purposes??

I came to around 60/40 in favour of personal. Even though a lappy would be great to take around to customers etc i wanted the grunt that a desktop gives.

b :)

What he said...

If you need the portability though still, and have a lot of money, take a look at the new Alienware-Ms.... ;)

[siyan]

Laptops can be nice, and you can get 15" UXGA+ screens on some of the higher end ones.

Another benefit is that you get a LCD screen over a CRT one (i'm assuming you have a CRT)

But if you don't absolutely need the mobility, its probably better to stick with a desktop even if it means having a USB ZIP250 to move your stuff around.

-C

[msimmons]

Thanks for all the input :) It would be for personal use although my personal computing mainly consists of the same stuff I do at work (its either sick that I do work on my personal time or awesome that I get paid for doing what I would be doing anyway). I guess I don't really need the prtability, just kicking back on the couch (or the toilet :)) but I think I just want one for the 'cool factor'. I keep telling myself to just get a cheapo (like a pII or something, suggestions on where to get one?) so I can get over the fasination but fear that I would mark up the disillusionment to the fact that it was a lower end machine.

Thanks again,
Michael

[Zaei]

The only problem that I saw with the Area51m was the fact that its only loaded with an ATI Radeon 7500. If I was going to spend that much money, I would go with Dell or Toshiba, just for the GeForce4.

Z.

[JoshT]

Cons of laptops:
Embedded Winmodems on some
Weaker sound
Battery Life
limited expansion - some you have to swap the CD-ROM and floppy
Microsoft Tax
Plus the stupid touchpads already mentioned

Pros:
You get to play with PCMCIA
Ultra Lights are sweet if you can afford them
Use with wireless networks adds to portability

[Zaei]

Originally posted by JoshT
Cons of laptops:
Embedded Winmodems on some
Weaker sound
Battery Life
limited expansion - some you have to swap the CD-ROM and floppy
Microsoft Tax
Plus the stupid touchpads already mentioned

Pros:
You get to play with PCMCIA
Ultra Lights are sweet if you can afford them
Use with wireless networks adds to portability

=)
Dont use a modem =)
Cant tell how good or bad sound quality is anyway =)
AC Adapter =)
Almost never use floppies =)
Reformat on delivery =)
Get a new mouse* =)

As for those ultra lights... I think its more of a cool factor to have a laptop that is less then an inch thick... Id be afraid to break it in half, and you have to have an external cd/dvd -rom drive, which is total crap =).

*Actually, One of my friends got a mouse for his laptop with a retractable USB cable. Even the plug slipped into a little slot inside of the mouse, so the mouse looked wireless =).

Z.

[JoshT]

Reformat on delivery =)

Yeah, but you still pay the tax to MS even if you're not gonna run Windows...

As for those ultra lights... I think its more of a cool factor to have a laptop that is less then an inch thick... Id be afraid to break it in half, and you have to have an external cd/dvd -rom drive, which is total crap =).

The Winbook ultralight I ordered for one of our managers had a DVD/CDRW built-in and a USB floppy - expensive, but nice - as easy to carry around as one of those paper notebook you used in school.

[SteveCRM]

go for laptop w/docking station :cool:

[JungleMan]

I tried using a laptop as a primary machine, you DON'T want to do it.

First of all unless you are spending $2000, performance generally sucks ass...sure, you can buy an Alienware with a 2.2Ghz but it will be about $4000.

Secondly, laptops are proprietary and if you dont' have a good 3 year warranty you're screwed. If my motherboard dies, and it's not covered, I'll go buy a new one for $80. If a laptop board dies, you're screwed.

Thirdly, laptops break easily. I've sent both of mine in for repair countless times.

Expansion is also limited. Try adding a second hard drive, a new video card, a new sound card. You can't do it.

You also have to deal with system manufacturers. Restore CDs, lousy tech support, etc, you know the deal.

Laptops generally suck as main PCs, get one for when you need it, get a cheap one, and get a good desktop...

[Zaei]

Ive been using <20gigs storage, the same ATI RagePro, and the same onboard audio for some 4 years now... Expansion is generally not a problem for me =). Besides, I dont think I will EVER upgrade my audio in my life, as, as I said above, I cant tell the difference between quality (like, i cant tell the difference between say, Mono and Stereo, or Stereo and Surround, for instance =). I think that, personally, a laptop would not be a bad idea, for me at least =).

Z.

[JungleMan]

Originally posted by Zaei
Ive been using <20gigs storage, the same ATI RagePro, and the same onboard audio for some 4 years now... Expansion is generally not a problem for me =). Besides, I dont think I will EVER upgrade my audio in my life, as, as I said above, I cant tell the difference between quality (like, i cant tell the difference between say, Mono and Stereo, or Stereo and Surround, for instance =). I think that, personally, a laptop would not be a bad idea, for me at least =).

Z.

It probably wouldn't and you're probably not a gamer/audiophile type, and just use your computer for programming stuff...that's fine but not everyone's like that ;)

I don't like em personally, more trouble than they are worth. It's your choice msimmons...

[msimmons]

I think I'm going to look into an older machine and play with that. My desktop is a 1gHz so it will be around for a while. I don't game much so an older system shouldent be too bad (I think the main improvement between my 1gHz and my 450mHz was burning speed and I'll be doing that w/the desktop anyway.
Thanks for all the input :)
Michael

[JungleMan]

Originally posted by msimmons
I think I'm going to look into an older machine and play with that. My desktop is a 1gHz so it will be around for a while. I don't game much so an older system shouldent be too bad (I think the main improvement between my 1gHz and my 450mHz was burning speed and I'll be doing that w/the desktop anyway.
Thanks for all the input :)
Michael

Cool, yeah, pick up one on eBay and get the feel of it a little. ;)

[parksie]

Originally posted by JungleMan
Cool, yeah, pick up one on sheBay and get the feel of her a little. ;) ;) I like your thinking :D

[Jethro]

Depends largely on what you are going to be doing with it. A desktop is far superior if you are simply sitting down in your office to write apps, surf, email, gaming etc. But if you need to demo stuff to clients etc a laptop rocks. Will be getting anothe rig in a couple of months, (last one was a desktop), and am thinking seriously about a laptop as it will mainly be used for demoing apps, writing apps, and writing specs and documentation

All the new machine will have on it will be

Visual Studio.net
Visual Basic vers 6 or 5
MS Office 2000
MS Help Studio
Win2k...


A high end desktop would be overkill for this, and a portable allows me to work where ever l want...


My $0.02c worth anyway....

[JungleMan]

Jethro get a subnote, those are nice, laptops can be a bit bulky for travel...

Only thing is they are far more expensive and less capable than laptops.

[Zaei]

Laptops could be next in line for case mods... just be sure you do it before your warrenty is up, and if you screw up, say you dropped it in your blender =).

Z.