Any regrets about going desktop to lappy?

condra

Hi.

Just wondering if anyone regrets going laptop?

Dont get me wrong, I love my laptop and it generally performs aswell as most desktops Ive seen, but it did cost a bomb, and personally, I never bring it outside the room its in!

I also get browned off having to be so close to the screen to type. I prefer my screen to be 2 feet from my face as opposed to right up against it.

I dont regret getting my laptop, but Im still considering getting a desktop solution instead, which for my needs [music production and some multimedia] might be more suitable.

Tom Dunne

Don't forget there are laptops that are desktop replacements. The laptop I am typing this on has 1 Gig of memory and a 3.2 Ghz CPU. I get around 30 mins battery life , but it can do anything I throw at it - Half-Life 2, Doom 3, FIFA 2005, music production, DVD authoring, anything really.

Like yourself, I don't really travel with this laptop (it's too friggin' heavy), but I like the fact that it is all-purpose. Mobility is important to me, but battery life isn't.

K.O.Kiki

I hook my tiny 12" iBook up to a nice, big 19" TFT when I'm at home:D It's also brighter.

tom_ass19

Ya just like K.O.Kiki said, hook up a nice crt or lcd and get a usb keyboard and mouse and then your sorted coz basically its like a desktop then......

Hagar

I use a laptop with a similar spec to Tom. The only problem I find is when leaving it on for a long time it gets very hot underneath. I usually work with a good thick paperback underneath to promote airflow. Other than that no regrets.

Glad to hear you only get 30 mins I was a bit worried about mine.

Tom Dunne

Yeah, heat is a big problem.

I use everything from a dinner place-mat to a vegtable rack to hold my laptop and keep the air flowing around it.

fintan

One thing I really miss is the lack of a numeric keypad, really makes using excel a pain in the arse.

Salmon

Anyone know of any good laptop bases that let you use it while lying in bed? I usually use mine to play FM2005 but I am afraid that using it in the leaba will damage it as it does heat up a lot and i dont think that resting it on a duvet is ideal. I try to make sure that the air vents are free but im not sure if this helps! I was wondering if there is anything on the market to solve the Laptop in bed problem!!

Hagar

There are some nice usb numeric keypads available. I think Trust do one.

HelterSkelter

So what are the advantages then? I was thinking of going from desktop to laptop but the answers here haven't really inspired me!! If you always use it at home, connect it to a monitor and keyboard, what is the point? Couldn't you get a desktop with a much higher spec for the same price? I don't get it.

maidhc

Personally I prefer working on a desktop if i'm using it for any length of time. It has a bigger screen (x2), nicer keyboard, and stays where it was left

I use a laptop when I am writing stuff, as it is quieter and it doesnt take up any space on the table. However apart from typing, I prefer working on my desktop.

ambro25

IMHO, which is going to sound horribly obvious, you have to (i) really weigh the pros & cons for the intended use and (ii) do a serious bit of homework, when considering one (laptop) vs the other (desktop). And this in the context of private buyers, for whom buying a laptop is usually a fashion thing in which not-so-much thought processes are used

I have both: a decent desktop (for gaming, DVD authoring and the like) and a more-or-less decent laptop (for WiFi web, word processing, 'light' gaming)

Considerations for the lappie was:
(i) I do a fair bit of WP with voice recognition software, so had to be above PIII 900 and lots of RAM required.
AND
(ii) I want to be able to do this in my lounge or in my garden (else I'd spend my life at the office + at home behind a desk) or on the move (whilst business travel or holidays).

Therefore, of prime importance were: big CPU, lots of RAM for main intended use, and battery life + weight for portability.

And of no importance were: extra spindles (CD/DVD/DVD-R, etc.), as I can burn on the desktop (AMD64, 1G RAM); or big grafx (prefer to use full size keyb/mouse, big LCD & no-compromise graphics card)

Best compromise for use was a Dell D600 (second hand), Centrino 1.6, 512 RAM, extra modular battery (battery life = 5+ hours continuous use), for about £325 (at the time). Although I'd been using a vintage C600 (PIII 750, 256 RAM) before upgrading, and that would still have been fine (but strggling a bit with voice recogn.). An alternative (with no money constraint) would have been a Sharp MM1100.

So - the biggest and the best not always the most appropriate, and given prices of new lappies, for the money I'd always go for 2nd-hand not-so-old lappie + fairly recent desktop (but not killah-monstah-supah-rig-of-death).

As I said, sound obvious, but you have to always bear in mind what is the purpose... I've never been able to understand all this 'desktop replacement' malarkey - bloody stupid if you ask me: a laptop is by definition a compromise (features vs size vs autonomy/endurance). So people replacing one with the other are essentially buying a compromised (say, in the gfx department), smaller, non-upgradeable version of a desktop for twice the price!!!
For instance, referring to earlier posts in the thread, what's the point of a lappie with 30 mins battery life when new? or if it's always going to be used in the same room with a keyb/mice plugged in? If it's a size thing, just buy a Shuttle - it'll be cheaper and upgradeable.

My €0.02

commited

I have a Fujitsu A1630, has a A64 3400+, 1gb mem, 80gb hdd, 128mb 9700, 15.4" widescreen etc. It only weighs about 3kgs and the battery lasts about 1hr 30mins. I also have a desktop which I use as a storage & downloading solution (Athlon 1333,512 ram, 125gb storage & 250gb external drive), but I use my laptop all the time for everything. The flexibility it gives me is amazing. I recently stuffed my ankle, and i had to stay in bed with my leg elevated - was able to use my laptop etc. It's also light enough to bring into uni - couldnt do that with a desktop!

As for the heat etc, I have one of those beanbag trays which does a really good job - its comfy and stable on your legs and gives a solid platform for the laptop to stay cool!

Only thing that is a must for doing design etc is an external mouse, but the keyboard etc is fine for everything.

So all in all I dont regret my choice at all

Tom Dunne

HelterSkelter wrote:

So what are the advantages then? I was thinking of going from desktop to laptop but the answers here haven't really inspired me!! If you always use it at home, connect it to a monitor and keyboard, what is the point? Couldn't you get a desktop with a much higher spec for the same price? I don't get it.

One word - portability. I used to spend hours upstairs in the "office" surfing, doing college work, playing games, away from The Better Half, though some would argue that is not such a bad thing (only kidding, Dear).

Now I can do all that from the comfort of the couch in the sitting room, or the kitchen, or the back garden.... you get the idea.

Also, I can hook it up to my projector, monitor or even the TV. So, for me, portability, without the sacrifice of processing power was key.