April 7th, 2009
Random 60: Laptop or Desktop? | Favorite on Viddler.
Laptops are more powerful today than the computer used to launch the Space Shuttle in the 1960s. That is a fact. Look it up. That said, some people prefer desktops with much larger storage devices, displays, amounts of RAM, etc.
I’ve been using laptops since 2002 and haven’t gone back to desktops since. What about you? Laptop or Desktop?
I’ve always liked the idea of having a powerhouse hidden away, storing all my media and projects, but then using a laptop around the house/outside of the house. Then you could really play to the strengths of each one. Desktops are easy to find cheap and powerful, with monstrous hard drives and huge fans to cool whatever you want to run in them. Laptops ought to be highly portable, resistant to damage and be fairly useless if stolen (TrueCrypt the disk and don’t save your credentials on it).
If I have to pick one or the other (and currently I do), I’ll go with Laptop. Enough have been designed as ‘desktop replacements’ that you can usually get the power out of them that you need. It’s not my perfect solution though, it’s very much a compromise.
That is probably because you haven’t switched to Mac yet.
Laptop because it’s a mobile world out there… and Mac all the way… I’ve never looked back since switching from PC to Mac 2 1/2 years ago when I bought my MacBook Pro.
I was able to hold off until Apple put out the Intel MacBooks. My Dell laptop was sooo slow and had crashed for the last time when I punched the sh*t out of the scene in frustration. That’s when I bit the bullet and put down the cash for my Mac.
Yes, Macs are more expensive but at 2 1/2 years old my Mac runs just as fast as the day I bought it back in Nov 2006.
I am now an Apple Fanboy for life… (sorry for the run off about Apple)
Well the space shuttle was first launched in 1981, and I’m pretty sure the processor in my iPod is an more powerful than the flight computers on the space shuttle were in 1981. But I know what you mean. Laptops are nothing to laugh at.
I’m sort of torn. I’ve owned three laptops and I love being able to pick it up and go. That said, I consider my MacBook Pro to be something of a luxury. It’s nice to have, but I don’t necessarily *need* the portability it offers. There were times in my life when I did, but not now. I think that right now, a nice 24″ iMac hooked up to my nice 24″ Samsung monitor would do me a lot more good. Also consider that my MBP hasn’t moved from its stand since mid-January.
Ok you don’t have to be a jerk Chris.
I suppose I meant the ROCKET that sent the gentlemen to space. But you get the idea. Mr. Fancy Pants.
I’m hoping to one day own a 17″ MBP with a 30″ Display.
Laptop only since 2000. But got myself a second screen last year which makes up for the lack of window space that portable machines have.
I like them because they are portable; within as well as without the house.
Same here Abizer. I have a 21″ screen that I bought when I got this laptop 3 years ago. They’ve both served me very well.
Laptop. Made the full time switch in 2004, from a PowerMac G4 to a PowerBook G4.
I like the untethered capabilities of a laptop. If I need a bigger screen I hook up to an external display. Hard drive size does bug me but I’m patient and know they’ll catch up one of these days.
Hard drive size is, for me, also the biggest problem that I have with my current setup. A USB hard drive attached to my Airport Extreme helps for many things – but I’m looking forward to updating some day soon.
A long time ago, I gave up on the idea of even bothering to choose. I’ve got laptops, desktops, Windows, Mac and Linux, monitors and a projector and use whatever makes sense given what I’m working on.
Wow. When I have enough money to do this maybe I will too! Although, without the Windows part.
I buy a new laptop every 2 years (2006, 2008, 2010) and that’s generally a Thinkpad dual-booting Windows/Linux (generally in the $1500 ballpark). On the odd years (2005, 2007, 2009, 2011), I build a new desktop that runs Windows (also generally in the $1500 ballpark).
In between and along the way, I pick up machines like Mac mini’s, used Macbooks, etc. I actually spend less than most of the people I see buying brand new 17″ Macbook Pro’s when you look at the actual annual cost.
But, the real shift isn’t to some crazy number of computers. The bigger shift is from “a computer” to computerS. Once you get used to how you have to organize your files and handle remote access to machines that may have what you need on them, it works the same for 2 computers that it does for 10.
I stick strictly to laptops because, as a student, portability is key for me. I need to be able to carry it to and from class to take notes and write my essays on and what not. A laptop just makes more sense for me. And since I don’t really do a lot of PC gaming, and stick to mostly console, I don’t have to worry about my laptop – performance wise. All ‘n all, I’m a huge fan of my laptop. I understand why a desktop works for some, but for me right now, I don’t need nothing more than my laptop.
Good reasoning.
Laptop. I think the last time I had a desktop was in March of 2007. That was when Vista came out and when I made the switch to a Mac.
My only gripe is the screen space (15″MBP) or lack of. I miss my Dell 30″.
Do you have an external monitor? They are much more less expensive than they used to be.
I just realized that I said “much more less”. Yeah, it is early.
a little of both, but that’s only until the HP machine I bought in 02 finally dies (which shouldn’t be long now). I’ve already migrated most of my tasks to the laptop, which, because of portability, is quite addictive.
Have you switched to Mac yet? I mean, everyone will some day. Thanks for chiming in!
Nope, not yet. I’m still a PC (pretty cheap)
Laptop for just about everything, though I had a lot of fun building my last desktop. If I ever got into gaming, I’d love to build another machine, even though it would have to run Windows :\
You COULD run Windows on a Mac. But, if I was going to build a gaming machine I would probably also build a Windows-based screamer. What about just getting an Xbox though? They are pretty good gaming machines.
I’m actually considering getting a PS3 when I get back to the States, depending on how much the price has fallen. You still can’t beat a mouse and keyboard for first person shooters though.
I love my iMac. I actually work best in that one place in my house, where everything is just right. So, desktop for me.
That said, if I could carry a MacBook for my work machine instead of this Dell laptop, I would do it in a heartbeat. Money just isn’t there, though.
Mostly, I would just love to have a second computer in my house that I didn’t get annoyed using. As it is, my wife and I have to share the iMac. I don’t ever turn on the laptop if I need to do something. I just bide my time and do what I can with my iPhone.
Laptop since 2002. Would never buy a desktop. I prefer surfing on the couch.
I use both and iMac and a MBP, though I spend more time on the desktop machine. I’ve got it set up for dual screens, which helps me get more done. I work from home, and usually only use the MBP to catch up on email before I fire up the iMac for work.
Laptop! Getting a MacBook Pro for graduation!!