Desktop + Chromebook RDP vs High spec laptop

Chance The Rapper · 11-08-2014 08:32PM #1

Hi all,

I've seen it the following scenario mentioned a few times on boards, and a colleague was recommending it too.

Basically one would build a powerful desktop which they'd leave on at home, while they'd take a chromebook to work/college and RDP onto the desktop.

While it's obviously handy for portability, how does it work in reality? If you have 120mb UPC at home and then you're using a strong college connection are you going to have real time use of the desktop or is there going to be lag?

Would you save any money by doing this? For a budget of around €550 would you get a powerful enough desktop to go with a chromebook (~€200) or would you be better off getting a high spec laptop for around the €750 mark?

advertsfox · 11-08-2014 08:34PM

Chance The Rapper wrote: »

Hi all,

I've seen it the following scenario mentioned a few times on boards, and a colleague was recommending it too.

Basically one would build a powerful desktop which they'd leave on at home, while they'd take a chromebook to work/college and RDP onto the desktop.

While it's obviously handy for portability, how does it work in reality? If you have 120mb UPC at home and then you're using a strong college connection are you going to have real time use of the desktop or is there going to be lag?

Would you save any money by doing this? For a budget of around €550 would you get a powerful enough desktop to go with a chromebook (~€200) or would you be better off getting a high spec laptop for around the €750 mark?

What would you be doing on the PC at home?

Chance The Rapper · 11-08-2014 08:35PM

advertsfox wrote: »

What would you be doing on the PC at home?

Not a whole pile. Mostly just programming. Maybe a few VM's, no gaming or anything like that really.

advertsfox · 11-08-2014 08:41PM

Chance The Rapper wrote: »

Not a whole pile. Mostly just programming. Maybe a few VM's, no gaming or anything like that really.

Well gaming wouldn't work anyway, no real media / graphical app would work too well with the refresh rate over RDP.

Ideally, a decent €500-600 laptop would suit you much better with a small €100-200 PC as home just as a server. This is why I do and my server acts as my torrent downloader, DLNA server, Google Music uploader, Google Drive host, Plex host and my FTP server / fileshare - if needs be, it can be my website too.

Best keep the PC at home for this reason, I suggest any dual core nettop that can be mounted behind the TV for example. I control mine with 3 apps on my phone (2x for RDP, Unified for a remote and TorrentToise to start / monitor downloads). No need for a monitor / keyboard or mouse since you have your laptop.

It wouldn't take long for programming over RDP to bug the **** out of you. VMs would be possible too if you get a more modern GPU with hyper threading. I use a VOT132 and its never steered me wrong.

Chance The Rapper · 11-08-2014 08:45PM

Thanks a million. My old Macbook (2010 model) has kicked the bucket (battery gone, keyboard fcuked), so I might just stick windows on it and use it as the home with a setup similar to what you've described.

Thanks again for the detailed response

advertsfox · 11-08-2014 08:46PM

Chance The Rapper wrote: »

Thanks a million. My old Macbook (2010 model) has kicked the bucket (battery gone, keyboard fcuked), so I might just stick windows on it and use it as the home with a setup similar to what you've described.

Thanks again for the detailed response

No problem, that will be a nice powerful little server and easy to tuck away

Desktop + Chromebook RDP vs High spec laptop

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