Desktop or laptop or both?

[Iluvmickeymouse!]

I am looking to update our computers. We have both a laptop and a desktop. I believe the desktop is at least 6-7 years old and the laptop is 5 years old. I really want to get something that has more memory, faster processor, etc. So, do I get just a laptop and load that up with all I want. Or do I get both a laptop and a new tower for my desktop? Right now I would say I use both equally. I have different programs that I use on each that are not on the other.

What do you have?

 

[S. C.]

Both.

DH has a desktop and I have a laptop.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Currently running six computers at home (not all the same time!)

DW has a shuttle desktop with a wacom tablet and a bunch or programs that interface with her sewing machine. She also has a laptop with expanded graphics for various sewing programs.

I have two different Shuttle desktops with a KVM switch, and an (old) compaq mini tower. plus I have an ulta small laptop for travel.

(I built all the shuttles myself and installed as much ram and other goodies as I could)

 

[bananda]

both. but i only really ise my laptop. the family computer is a desktop and its really slow

 

[golfgal]

Depending on your desktop you could have your computer cleaned up and memory added to increase your speed. I just had my computer cleaned up and I can't believe the difference in the speed, except on the DIS boards . I am adding memory too but the memory cards have yet to come in the mail. I will let you know how that goes when they are installed.

We have a new laptop too and it isn't much faster then my newly cleaned computer, but it is nice to be able to take it around the house.

 

[Iluvmickeymouse!]

Depending on your desktop you could have your computer cleaned up and memory added to increase your speed. I just had my computer cleaned up and I can't believe the difference in the speed, except on the DIS boards . I am adding memory too but the memory cards have yet to come in the mail. I will let you know how that goes when they are installed.

We have a new laptop too and it isn't much faster then my newly cleaned computer, but it is nice to be able to take it around the house.

did you take it somewhere to be cleaned up???? How hard is it to add memory?

 

[golfgal]

did you take it somewhere to be cleaned up???? How hard is it to add memory?

Yes, I took it to a computer repair place near us. I got the blue error screen one day and thought my hard drive was going-the computer had been running VERY slowly. There apparently was a bad wire running to the hard drive or something. They replaced that and cleaned it up for $75. He showed me what memory to order and I did that. Apparently to install it you unclip the old memory stick thing and clip in the new. It doesn't sound too hard . I'll let you know. It seems to me that I should back something up onto something first but I guess it comes with instructions. The computer guy said I could bring it in and he would put it in for me if I needed. We will see.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

if you do that yourself, make sure you ground yourself with a grounding strap BEFORE handling the memory. as ESD will destroy it if you have enough static charge. And a "spark" low enought that you won't feel it is enough to destroy the chips.

 

[golfgal]

if you do that yourself, make sure you ground yourself with a grounding strap BEFORE handling the memory. as ESD will destroy it if you have enough static charge. And a "spark" low enought that you won't feel it is enough to destroy the chips.

Is this something you need to buy or is there something I can use for that?

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Is this something you need to buy or is there something I can use for that?

yes, you can buy it. most computer supply stores have them. its a wrist band that you wear, with a wire and aligator clip. when you open the computer, you attach the clip to the frame, and the wire is attached to the wrist band, that way, you are grounded in relationship to the frame of the computer.

If you have never worked on electronic devices, my suggestion is to use someone that is a professional.

you CAN do a lot of the stuff on your own, as an example, most OS's have software built in that will assist up in "cleaning up" your hard drive (HDD) by defrag and other operations.

but before anything like that, you should back up your files to an external source, such as an external hard disk, or thumb drive.

Physically installing componets improperly can cause a system crash.

and when getting more ram, if it is not the correct speed, or is slower that your current RAM, the system will "slow down" to the lowest common speed.

check your motherboard requirements that came with the computer model, or look it up on the website of the manufactuer before purchasing RAM, as most places will not allow a return.

good luck!

 

[Plantlady]

We have a desktop for the kids, a laptop for DH, a laptop for me, and a netbook for me.

When we upgrade.. we'll go straight laptops. I like the size better. Suits our needs better.

 

[DebbieB]

My brother recently got a new desktop. Several places he looked said desktops are on their way out, they will be selling only laptops. Right now I have a desktop and a laptop, but mostly use the laptop. If the desktop breaks, I will not replace it (4 or 5 years old and slowwwwwwww).

 

[The_Horned_King]

Both by far!!!

The laptop is great for carrying around and doing work on. The ability to take it on the road with us or even just to the coffee shop is great and if you get it suped up enough is sutible for low level gaming. That said I don't expect to get more then 4 years out of it before I need to upgrade to a newer version.

The Desk Top is fanatstic to have. You can deck the thing out and have it last you a good 5 years before you need to upgrade. With a desktop at the 5 year mark you can simply get new parts and make you descktop like a brand new machine, where as the laptop you can't "bulid it yourself" Much easier to keep a desktop up to date. My descktop is used mostly for Work and Gaming...and does a much better job at Gaming then the laptop.

Really you have to ask yourself...Are you capable of adding new ram, Hard drives, and updating things like graphics and sound cards? if so the descktop will be cheaper to upgrade in the future. If however you don't have the slightest clue about where to start when it comes to PC building and you like portability the Laptop is Ideal for you.

I enjoy having both...it's up to you, enjoy it no matter what way you go.

 

[C.Ann]

I have both - but I'm currently only using one - the lap top here at the lake..

My desk top is in storage at my DD's house - where I live during the winter months.. It's an older one - with Windows 98 SE.. Once my son-in-law completely remodels the scrapbook/office room I have in their basement, I will hook up the desk top again.. It will be used very little for the internet though.. Mostly clip art for my scrapbooks; scanning/printing photos; typing and printing out captions in various fonts; etc..

If my lap top should bite the dust, I doubt that I would feel comfortable spending the same amount of money I did on this one, so I would probably buy a cheaper desk top and not fill it up with so much "stuff"..

 

[Mysteria]

Both. We have 3 desktops and a laptop. We'd normally have 2 desktops but DH is a gamer so when his was getting too old we just went brand new instead of trying to upgrade pieces. At a certain point (I'd say you're at that point) it's just better to get new.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

My brother recently got a new desktop. Several places he looked said desktops are on their way out, they will be selling only laptops. Right now I have a desktop and a laptop, but mostly use the laptop. If the desktop breaks, I will not replace it (4 or 5 years old and slowwwwwwww).

Ha! thats why they said that. laptops, because of the way the are constructed, have a problem with heat dissapation, that is why they have some of the slower processor chips, to keep the heat down.

you need a tower or mini-tower to run a dual processor or quad-processor configuration, if for no other reason that to have the proper cooling for it.

Ask someone who is a serious gamer, or runs programs that use up some serious processing speeds and they will tell you that it is not gonna happen.

even the little shuttles I build (Small form factor) will out perform the off the shelf laptops.

 

[Mysteria]

Ha! thats why they said that. laptops, because of the way the are constructed, have a problem with heat dissapation, that is why they have some of the slower processor chips, to keep the heat down.

you need a tower or mini-tower to run a dual processor or quad-processor configuration, if for no other reason that to have the proper cooling for it.

Ask someone who is a serious gamer, or runs programs that use up some serious processing speeds and they will tell you that it is not gonna happen.

even the little shuttles I build (Small form factor) will out perform the off the shelf laptops.

Go with GP on this. He's 100% right.

 

[Iluvmickeymouse!]

Ok..now for you laptop owners....what "brand" do you suggest? We were at Best Buy over the weekend and the gentleman there was saying the insides are pretty much all the same, it is just that the "brands" buy them and put them in their own "cases". So, go with a Dell, HP, Toshiba, Asus???? What do you think?

TIA!!

 

[Plantlady]

Ok..now for you laptop owners....what "brand" do you suggest? We were at Best Buy over the weekend and the gentleman there was saying the insides are pretty much all the same, it is just that the "brands" buy them and put them in their own "cases". So, go with a Dell, HP, Toshiba, Asus???? What do you think?

TIA!!

We own 2 dells, one HP, and one EEE PC. The HP has gotten *hot* faster than the dells.. the dells we've had for years, and the AC cord adapter we had to replace.. but I think that's common. The HP seems to have a lot of "extra" software on it.. like HP support stuff. The EEE PC is a netbook, I've only had for a couple weeks, not a huge opinion yet.

So, as helpful as this will sound.. if I went into best buy, I would not hesitate to by either HP or Dell.. I did by EEE PC.. so obviously I'm open to other options.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I like the laptop. I just use the computer for Word, Excel, pictures, iPod, recipes and being online. Not at all into gaming.

I just don't need a tower and like the portability of the laptop.

We have a couple towers because the boys like to play games. But I stick with the laptop.

Problem I have had (and it may just be me) is that they break. I had a Toshiba and it burnt out. I got a Sony (not a cheapo one, either) and it is starting to go. The first one I put on my lap and on pillows and crap and will take the blame for burning it out. But I've been much more careful with the Sony and it is burning out, too.

I'm getting a Mac next time (because I hate Vista so much)...we'll see if that laptop is any better. I have my doubts.