Desktop vs. Laptop

[Conservative Hippie]

We are in the market for a new computer and I am really considering just getting a laptop. Is there anyone who just owns a laptop and NOT a desktop at all? Any regrets? The thing I like best about my desktop, however, is that we have a huge monitor and I'm afraid I won't like the smaller screen on a laptop.

Is there any downside to not having a desktop besides that? All opinions are appreciated!

The only downside to having a laptop is that if your roommate spills water on the keyboard, your laptop is fried. If you have a desktop and your roommate spills water on the keyboard, you get a new keyboard.

We used to have only laptops, and when mine died (the one I got to replace the roommate-fried one), I decided to get a desktop just for that reason.

Now I half-wish I got another laptop, just for the convenience of it.

 

[JR6ooo4]

I have only seen a few replies that have asked the right question.
What do you plan to use the computer for? Does it need to be fast. Do you do gaming or photo or video editing? Or just word processing and surfing?

You can get a smokin' fast laptop from alienware, for about $3-5 thousand!

I have an HP laptop that is about 3 years old and I can still play some of the current games. with the games set on low performance though. It is still quicker than the 8 year old desktop in the office.

 

[TimeforMe]

I have only seen a few replies that have asked the right question.
What do you plan to use the computer for? Does it need to be fast. Do you do gaming or photo or video editing? Or just word processing and surfing?

You can get a smokin' fast laptop from alienware, for about $3-5 thousand!

I have an HP laptop that is about 3 years old and I can still play some of the current games. with the games set on low performance though. It is still quicker than the 8 year old desktop in the office.

I don't intend to use it for gaming, but will use it to store photos--possibly for editing. There is no way, however, that I want to pay 3-5K for a computer. I just don't need that much of a machine.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I can't see one reason why to have a desktop anymore - except maybe for the price? It's big, I have to buy a desk too put it on, it's not portable, and it's several pieces. Why bother?

We only do laptops now. You can buy a bigger screen to use if you want, but neither one of us care about having a big screen.

I am on my laptop 18 hours a day, usually - sometimes more. Works quickly and efficently. I have loaded games on it that I play, I have a wireless mouse and keyboard I can use if I don't want to use the laptop, and I have a docking station at work to use.

I print wirelessly.

 

[dimimi]

We have both and now we RARELY use our desktop. We love the laptop!

 

[Kath2003]

I can't see one reason why to have a desktop anymore - except maybe for the price? It's big, I have to buy a desk too put it on, it's not portable, and it's several pieces. Why bother?

If you run games and high-performance applications, you're going to NEED a desktop, simply because laptops with that kind of power aren't reasonably priced at all and are hard to come by. I have a decent enough laptop, cost me about $1500 a year ago but that even struggles when performing a lot of calculations on SPSS or if I'm playing The Sims 2 on very high resolution. Laptops are GREAT for surfing the internet, word processing and watching DVDs but anything more that that and you're really having to look at getting a decent desktop.

 

[anna_chronistic]

I currently have an HP Compaq laptop that's more than 2 years old, and once I purchased it, I gave my desktop to my brother, who is in college.

When I purchased my desktop computer (back in 2003, IIRC) it cost me nearly $1,000 -- which was a LOT of money for me at the time (who am I kidding? It's STILL a lot of money for me), but it could do everything. It had multiple USB ports, two CD/DVD drives, one of which burned CDs and DVDs, ports for every kind of digital memory card, a port for floppy disks (not that anyone uses those much anymore, but I used it quite a bit in college), tons of memory, a big flat screen monitor, and a variety of software (much of which I scarcely used, of course).

What did I use it for? To write papers, play computer games, check my e-mail, surf the Web, and listen to music. I had way more computer than I needed, although I had it on literally all the time b/c I would play music even through the night.

The computer is still going strong and has had no problems, and my brother has used it far more (software-wise) than I ever did, so I guess it really was a good investment.

My laptop? It's fine. It's nice to surf the Web and check e-mail from my bed, and I appreciate being able to bring it to meetings and write up the notes immediately, but there's no way my laptop will last for 5-plus years the way my desktop did (and is), and there's no way I can play some of my computer games on it. I'm already having problems with it occasionally just shutting off, and there's no way I can leave it on (plugged in, of course) for days or weeks at a time the way I did with my desktop. However, I got what I paid for. I only paid a few hundred for the laptop. If I had gone with a Macbook I'm sure I would feel differently, but I couldn't afford it.

In this case, I think I was penny wise and pound foolish. I'm sure it would've been better to save for the Mac, rather than have to purchase another laptop every couple years -- though I may end up just reverting back to a desktop.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

We have three laptops (mine, DW's, one for the kids). It's been so long since I've used a desktop that I feel really awkward when I sit down in front of one. The monitor size is OK by me. The thing I really like is the portability of having laptops. Except for vacations, I take mine everywhere and use it a lot. I find that I can log on from so many places!

 

[Barbossa]

If you need maximum performance for your money, and you don't need to take your computer on the road, get a desktop. Otherwise, laptops rock. If you get a laptop, I'd recommend getting a model that has a docking station made for it. You can connect your monitor/mouse/keyboard/iPOD/Network etc. to the docking station, then all you have to do is snap your laptop in to use these devices/services. When you need to take the laptop elsewhere, simply eject and go.

 

[BratTink]

I have both and never ever use my desktop anymore. In fact, its now unplugged and just sitting on my desk. I love the convenience of my laptop and can take it anywhere as well as sit on the couch with it. Personally I don't think I'd ever buy another desktop.

 

[azgal81]

My laptop has a 17" screen as well and that is plenty for me. I never had a desktop didn't see the point of one it just takes up space and you can't move it. I love my laptop.

 

[chipmunkfan]

I've been struggling with the same problem. I was all set to purchase a desktop but started thinking about the portability of a laptop. As previously stated the biggest concern is if the laptop will be sufficient enough to handle the programs you are going to run. I will be surfing the net, some business applications, and photoshop elements.

The decision gives me a headache By the time I make a decision the computer will be outdated!