Laptop or desktop?

[Orange]

Ok, I have now made my mind up that i want a apple computer. Nowe the question is, "Laptop or desktop".
I see upsides and downsides to both. There are the obvius resons for a laptop.. that it can be used anywhere. But I like the secure feel a desk top gives you, that it will always be there and its solid, that everything you need will be on your desk waiting for you. Logicly desktops will soon become obsolete as laptops are now just as high spec we will use them becuase there more practical, you can use them anywhere.
What do you think?

[Phil Newton]

I used a laptop exclusively for about 7 years, but switched to a desktop earlier this year and I wouldn't go back. The only thing I struggled with was builky keys, so I bought a flat keyboard to help.

Laptops have the appeal of being portable, but I rarely took it out with me, and when I did I struggled to work with noise and interruptions. I still like the idea of being able to enjoy a drink in a cafe and do some work, but it never seemed to happen that way

It really depends on what you're wanting it for and how you work in different environments. If your creativity is stimulated by cafes and coffee shops, you might benefit from a laptop. Personally, if I bought another laptop it would only be to compliment my desktop setup.

[Brutha]

It really depends on where you want to use your computer.
I'm a student and want to be able to use my computer when I'm at university.
When I'm at home I plug mouse+keyboard+monitor into the laptop and use it like a desktop PC.

Desktops have usually the advantage that they give you more processing power for the same price than desktop computers.
If you want to do a lot of computation intensive stuff (video editing/photoshop with high resolution pictures) a desktop might the better choice.

[Orange]

Yeah, I had a laptop and I hardly ever used it out my house also. I plan to use my new computer for recording video editing and website creation. If i had a laptop I wouldnt like the idea of having all my recording equitment on my desk just left there when I take my laptop into another room or somthing, Im thinking of getting a desktop then later getting a laptop. im looking forward to that hopefuly this time next year guna have a imac g5/g6 a macbook and an iphone
will be a good time

[JimOfferman]

Originally Posted by Orange

I plan to use my new computer for recording video editing and website creation.

Then get a desktop with the biggest screen you can afford. A 24" iMac is VERY nice for these things!

[jpmcgrew]

I haven't used my desktop since I got a laptop. I just enjoy having everything in one place, and it's obviously far more portable around the house!

[Daffy Duck]

I prefer laptops since I take my computer to many different places. If you only plan to use yours at home, then a desktop is probably a better choice.

[sbdiane]

I love laptops. I bring it to my writing class when I want to read my writing. I don't have to print anything out. I can set up a bunch of screens to show a client and bring the laptop with me. I love to use my computer sitting on the couch in front of the TV instead of locked away in a back room.

I need a Windows laptop now...

[mark7]

after burning out 2 laptops in 3 years, id go for a desktop
On one, the onboard video fried, resulting in a new motherboard
on the last one, a hp dual core massive motherboard failure due to insufficient cooling.

my advice, buy the components:
motherboard
cpu's
HD
ram
psu
and case
and assemble your own! works out loads cheaper than a factory built contraption, will be much, much more upgradeable, and faster if you select the right processors.

oh! and cooling lol, dont forget the fans !!!

[ellie]

laptop for sure. Got my first one a year and half ago and will never go back to a desktop. I take it out a lot and move it from room to room, it's fantastic. I do have a "17" screen though which I think makes a huge difference and yes I still move it around a lot at "17" inches, not a big deal for me. Sometimes I do my work in a cafe or library and it's great that I can be so portable

[Lenie]

Originally Posted by ellie

laptop for sure. Got my first one a year and half ago and will never go back to a desktop. I take it out a lot and move it from room to room, it's fantastic. I do have a "17" screen though which I think makes a huge difference and yes I still move it around a lot at "17" inches, not a big deal for me. Sometimes I do my work in a cafe or library and it's great that I can be so portable

That's great. I was just gonna say when laptops get bigger screens I'll bite...

[Brutha]

and assemble your own! works out loads cheaper than a factory built contraption, will be much, much more upgradeable, and faster if you select the right processors.

I generally wouldn't recommend self assembly for non-nerds.
A friend of me (that studies informatics) had to flash the bios to get his computer working. He put things together and they didn't work from the start but the problem took him (who studies informatics) weeks of searching on the internet to track down the problem.

In addition Macs simply can't be self assembled.

[mark7]

I generally wouldn't recommend self assembly for non-nerds.
A friend of me (that studies informatics) had to flash the bios to get his computer working. He put things together and they didn't work from the start but the problem took him (who studies informatics) weeks of searching on the internet to track down the problem.

In addition Macs simply can't be self assembled.

^ i dont know of any computer PC or MAC that can self assemble ^ lol

the motherboard should have already had the bios flashed.
even if it hasnt, the disk that comes with a new motherboard has the bios on it, the only other prob that might arise is RAM incompatability, as everything in PC assembly is plug and play if you like, soildering irons are not needed, also having read Oranges public profile, i see it says as one of his intrests, "Web Building" so i would asume he is fairly nerdy as you put it lol.

the only thing you have to fear is fear itself

[Brutha]

the motherboard should have already had the bios flashed.
even if it hasnt, the disk that comes with a new motherboard has the bios on it,

The processor in question wasn't supported by the bios with came right out of the factory (and it didn't came with a CD that has an actual bios).
A problem like that isn't easy to understand. The fact that you think it's outside the realm of possibility probably means that you wouldn't have even considered it as possible problem when you put the parts together and those didn't work.

[JimOfferman]

Originally Posted by ellie

I do have a "17" screen though

The problem with laptops is that they don't come any bigger than that. I totally screwed myself for life by buying a 24" iMac for my music... I can't stand working on smaller screens anymore. Big screen means seeing the whole song arrangement or the entire mixing stack at once, which in turn means working soooo much faster. The next one (in a few years) will be 30", possibly two.

[aussieNickuss]

Originally Posted by Lenie

That's great. I was just gonna say when laptops get bigger screens I'll bite...

The 17" MacBook Pro screens are pretty big....especially the hi-res 1980x1200 option.

You can always plug your laptop into a large external display while your at home.

[Brutha]

The problem with laptops is that they don't come any bigger than that. I totally screwed myself for life by buying a 24" iMac for my music... I can't stand working on smaller screens anymore. Big screen means seeing the whole song arrangement or the entire mixing stack at once, which in turn means working soooo much faster. The next one (in a few years) will be 30", possibly two.

You can just plug a monitor onto a laptop for those times where you work at home.
That gives you one 24" screen plus the 15" screen of the laptop.

[mark7]

Originally Posted by Brutha

The processor in question wasn't supported by the bios with came right out of the factory (and it didn't came with a CD that has an actual bios).
A problem like that isn't easy to understand. The fact that you think it's outside the realm of possibility probably means that you wouldn't have even considered it as possible problem when you put the parts together and those didn't work.

so your friend bought a motherboard, failed to check if it supported the processor/s he already had, and also never asked for a backup copy of the most up to date bios ???

thats like going to a garage for new tyres and when asked what size rims they are going on you say, dont matter just give me some rubber lol

oh well ya pays ya money, you takes ya chances

[Brutha]

so your friend bought a motherboard, failed to check if it supported the processor/s he already had, and also never asked for a backup copy of the most up to date bios ???

The specs said that the given motherboard supported the chip.
The problem doesn't lie primarily in getting the up to date bios but in diagnosing the problem.
You need a certain amount of knowledge to understand the problem that you are having.

[JimOfferman]

Originally Posted by Brutha

You can just plug a monitor onto a laptop for those times where you work at home. That gives you one 24" screen plus the 15" screen of the laptop.

That's true. But the laptop + big screen was more expensive than the desktop and I don't generally carry my studio around with me anyway.

But if you really need to be portable, that would totally work!