Laptop vs Desktop...

Do you own a laptop or a desktop?

  • Laptop (includes Netbooks)

    Votes: 2 6.9%

  • Desktop

    Votes: 11 37.9%

  • Both

    Votes: 16 55.2%
  • Total voters
    29
At the moment, just my desktop. I'm looking into getting a laptop, however lots to do on this system first. At Ivy Bridge release, either get myself a Sandy Bridge mobo + CPU as they should have fallen in price, else go all out on the Ivy Bridge chips, depending on price and performance. Also have someone that has expressed an interest in buying my video card, which, if they want to, I will throw in extra and drop on a 7970 or an Nvidia 700 series. Waiting to see what happens with those too.

After writing that, I realise that the laptop probably won't happen any time soon :P
 
wolfeking said:
well for most people, not enthusiast like you, a laptop with a IPU, or not quite top level MXM GPU, is more than enough.

I can do everything I wish to on my laptops. I see no lack of power.
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With respect mate, we're not discussing whether a laptop is enough for your needs, we're discussing the difference between the two technologies.
 
my point being that I don't do much different from the average computer user. If I am far from hitting the ceiling here, then they are too. I would suspect that most people can use a laptop or a desktop interchangeably and not see much difference in performance.
 
wolfeking said:
my point being that I don't do much different from the average computer user. If I am far from hitting the ceiling here, then they are too. I would suspect that most people can use a laptop or a desktop interchangeably and not see much difference in performance.
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True. But that is only 1 of several criterion. Like most 'average users' it sits on the table and rarely if ever moves (e.g. no requirement for portability). Cant be upgraded substantially and costs more. Thats my point. :good:

A lot of my girlfriends went out and bought a laptop for uni or whatever and when Vista/Win7 came out they couldn't upgrade due to graphics issues. No work around. The built in obselescence is the main negative of laptops. I can rip out a GTX580, sell it for say 250? Buy another CPU, or mobo or whatever. But you cannot do that with laptops.
 
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but another point, if you need, or want to take it with you, you can. It would be kinda hard (for most that is) to use their desktop sitting on the couch, or out on the porch. Even in the truck like I do, heck my laptop is the radio in my truck (that is changing soon).

Most people, at least state side, north carolina, rockingham/stokes/guilford counties this is, would rather have the portability and not use it than to have a desktop.
 
Yeah I totally agree if you need portability then that (imo) is the ONLY reason to buy a laptop. But thats obvious.
 
well, it is not always a need. Some just want portability. either way, it comes down to choice. I think the trade off in power is not a big loss for most people.
 
Upgrading a laptop can be done. The processor, RAM, HDD, some video cards, Wireless cards, some LCDs, and probably more can be replaced, or upgraded. The main issue is the amount of work required to get it done.
 
I know that when it comes to gaming you generally get a better deal with a desktop: high performance without breaking the bank, but I still prefer a laptop because it gives me mobility. The future is definitely mobile and companies are focusing more and more on developing mobile technology, just look at how smartphones sales have boomed the past year.
 
I wish gaming laptops weren't so expensive :/ Otherwise I'd get a gaming laptop. My laptop is an Acer Aspire 5740, may not be that good but I've had it 4 years and it hasn't let me down yet.
 
gaming laptops are useless. You can get a far better desktop for about the same price and have the ability to upgrade anything in it.
 
wolfeking said:
gaming laptops are useless. You can get a far better desktop for about the same price and have the ability to upgrade anything in it.
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Consider this. I'm a student and my parents live at country side. I go once a month at my parents's, and there i have plenty of time for gaming. If i buy a desktop computer, i'll either not play when i'm at my parents's or i'll not play when i'm at home. A gaming laptop would suit me best. I'll invest in a desktop when i'll settle at my home.
 
I am not saying that you will need a desktop. What I am saying is that in 2 years or so when your laptop is out of date, you will need to spend another 2000 or so to get it back up to speed. If you build even a small desktop, when your graphics slow down, you have to spend 200 or so to get back up to spec. It is very possible to make a small desktop that could easily be moved. The HAF-XM if I remember right has a handle on top and is balanced to make it easy to move.

If you absolutely need a gaming laptop, get the fastest processor and highest graphics card you can now, as it is very difficult to upgrade them in the future.
 
I'd like a laptop for school, theatre, and recording. I'm the sound tech for our theatre department at school.

Desktop is better for gaming and power intensive work. Also reliability.

Laptop is better for everything else if your not doing gaming or power intensive work.
 
Example,

My brother got a $500 laptop, i3, 6gb, 750gb, for collage as a gift from my aunt. He has used it twice, and he still uses his old $5 pentium 4, 1gb ram, winXP, crt monitor desktop bought from our school for $5. He has not left for collage, he said he would have got a desktop but the dorms are to small and its not really practical. And I tried the laptop, and compared to my 125watt quad core its a slow turd. Im not buying a laptop for awhile.
 
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