Desktops: Desktop vs Notebooks
It all depends on what your using it for
by Bunnysoup - 5/13/05 11:01 PM In reply to: Desktop vs Notebooks by JasonMMMEver since the development of the TRS 80, and the commodore pet, the better system arguement has been a hot discussion. This system is faster, that system has more features, another fits into a thimble. The notebook against the desktop arguement is the hot one today. Tommorow we'll be comparing wristwatch computers to media centers.It's rarely a comparable arguement.
The first thing you need to look at is what you will be doing with this system. Are you going to be designing a bridge using CAD or chatting with your sister on friday night while playing a nice game of solitare. There are so many systems with so many features available in todays market. Desktops are typically less expensive than laptops, it's nice to be able to sit on the couch when chatting though. I find the freedom of a less expensive notebook is releaving, but I wouldn't give up my desktop either. Sounds like a a cheap notebook would be best for him, spend $700-$900 and get all you need.
I think You're absolutely right
by tomasenco - 5/14/05 1:17 AM In reply to: Desktop vs Notebooks by JasonMMMI have a friend who has a laptop(Fujitsu-Siemens, P4 2.6 GHZ, 512 Ram, Radeon 9000 64MB). And now his videocard broke, and his laptop doesn't work. It can't be repaired. So now he regrets that he didn't bought a desktop.
your statement is exagerated!
by SneakyZapper - 5/14/05 10:33 PM In reply to: Desktop vs Notebooks by JasonMMMI personaly have a laptop. I have found that useing a laptop is good for me in the following reasons, it allows portablility, flexablility, and the pure enjoyment of haveing a nice lcd screen thats bright and shiny.
My model is a Sony PCG-K13. It is an older laptop its a year old. Its stats are: 2.8ghz cpu, pentium 4, 2 256 sddr dram memory sticks 333mgz 200 pin for a total of 512 ram, a radeon 340x 64 mb graphics card that works great on guild wars!
Now i agree in the fact that in most cases laptops would break easy but thats if you dont take care of it. I never droped it in the year that i had it. I am 16 years old and took 3 computer classes in school and i can type at 109 wpm at my best. I cant see how typing on a desktop keyboard would be faster its much slower for me.
Im writeing this on my laptop now in my room, it took like 5 mins to do! thats just great another great point for the laptops. My laptop cost 1200 bucks and its worth it. I have over 1 thousand songs 5 gigs in videos and pics dont get perverted now! and about 6 great games on my computer.
Laptops are not designed for gameing but they sure work in my case. But i love my laptop it has served me well and i never bought any additional things for it. I know how to take care of it and what im doing so yay for me!
GO laptops!
what's your real typing speed
by Unclelaffey - 5/15/05 10:07 AM In reply to: your statement is exagerated! by SneakyZapperYou say you can type 109 words per minute, but what is your real speed once you correct your spelling and grammatical errors.
I prefer laptop
by paulsbsacct - 5/15/05 12:27 AM In reply to: Desktop vs Notebooks by JasonMMMIt doesnt make life much easier, same OS, same programs, same capabilities, small words on screen (adjust screen res or zoom in ctrl+mouse wheel), doesnt make you type slower (same keyboard layout, as human beings we can usually adapt to something as insignificant as this), and doesn't make you have to carry a lot of weight.
Laptops are great for travelling, or on the go activities. It's portable and carries all your essentials there. There are powerful laptops, ones that rival top of the line desktops, but costs 1-2 extra grand. Can't be upgraded, but if you really need the extra punch you probably have a demanding job that pays really well and will have no trouble finding $$$ for the upgrade (ie new laptop). I have both a desktop and a laptop, lately i've been using the laptop more than desktop. I feel more liberated as i do my work, rarely spend time at home doing work, but rather spend it outside. It was probably worth $500 more than had i spent it on a powerful gaming desktop but I'm happy with it. If need be, i will upgrade in the future, but i don't see myself doing any gaming then either.
-Paul
Desktops Are Better
by mattsuk - 5/15/05 11:52 AM In reply to: Desktop vs Notebooks by JasonMMMNotebooks (or laptops) whatever you prefer to call them are MOBILE, they are useful in the sense that they are more compact and dont require a great deal of cabling like desktop pc's, but laptops are not as powerful, or useful if u want to manage a lot of things at once. They are useful for things like microsoft word, access, but they are not useful for heavy duty programs. They also tend to get very hot if you keep them on too long, as they dont have fans, well they normally have one, but its not enough. Hope this helps.
Matt
I beg to differ
by David Hamilton - 5/17/05 12:44 PM In reply to: Desktop vs Notebooks by JasonMMMI'm sitting outside on my patio with my notebook computer. It is a beautiful day. I do most of my work out here. I have a WiFi connection to the desktop and server systems inside the house and to the printers. If I decide to do so, I can walk inside with my notebook computer, to any room in the house without losing my network connection.
In the 11 years that I have owned a notebook computer, I have needed service twice. Once was when a bear savaged my campsite and threw it 20 feet into the bushes, and the other when I slipped and dropped it. In both cases, a repair technician came to me with parts within 24 hours. I don't treat my notebook computer gently - it goes with me to the boonies and cross-country on a regular basis.
I disagree on the cost differential as well. My LCD display / video card give me 1600x1200 resolution (a necessity for my work). Have you priced out what a desktop LCD monitor supporting that resolution costs? I'll give you a hint - just the monitor costs more than my notebook. If a font is too small to comfortably read, it is easy to adjust the size.
The keys on my notebook computer keyboard are no smaller than they are on my desktop systems. In the wilderness, I simply run a different profile to turn off the modem, 100 base-T adapter, and WiFi adapter, as well as services I don't need. If all I am doing is writing, the disk spins down and I get about 7 hours per battery pack. If all battery packs are low, then I just plug in the 12vdc adapter to my camper van to recharge the battery packs while continuing what I was doing.
While a notebook computer might not be your preference, your sweeping generalizations do not fit the needs and uses for everyone. Let's just agree to disagree.
--dh
Ironic
by sreynolds_2 - 5/17/05 1:19 PM In reply to: Desktop vs Notebooks by JasonMMMWhat I find ironic is the fact that I am sitting at my favorite coffee shop, deriving a huge amount of entertainment reading all of these "posts" (more like jabs, in many cases) about desktops vs. laptops, using my Dell Axim Z5 Pocket PC.
The point: I thought this was supposed to be a friendly forum, where people can hold intelligent, generally friendly conversations for the purpose of learning (either about a specific technology, or at least the varying opinions of a specific technology). Come on people, lighten up.
(NT) Personally I like trucks better than sedans....
by jrmar07 - 5/17/05 2:49 PM In reply to: Ironic by sreynolds_2Personally I like trucks better than sedans
by ice_bear_joe - 5/17/05 8:00 PM In reply to: (NT) Personally I like trucks better than sedans.... by jrmar07LOL doesnt compare both are portable.
desktop vs. laptop
by KingRa - 5/27/05 11:45 AM In reply to: Desktop vs Notebooks by JasonMMMYou have a point, Jason.
Laptops are made for those on the go and if your friend will mostly stay at home, a desktop might be a more economical alternative indeed.
The keys on a laptop are usually about the size of a regular desktop type keyboard, except lower (meaning the keys are easier to push down)so some users actually find typing on a laptop easier.
Laptops don't necessarily break more often than desktops. While there are horror stories on the web about both notebooks and desktops breaking, I've had no major problems with any of my four systems in the past five years. Luck of the draw I guess.
About battery life: laptops equipped with the Pentium Centrino chip package (= Pentium M plus wireless internet connection doodads) are a bit better in providing juice to the notebook, but even those will only last a few hours (depending on use and notebook's power demands). Luckily laptops can always be plugged in via a power chord. 
In summary, laptops these days can certainly play with the best of today's desktops but it all comes with a price. It sounds like your friend would indeed do best with a basic desktop system from Dell or eMachines. I've seen recent deals from Dell which package pretty much everything needed for basic use such as internet, email and light word processing into a system for around $400 including monitor.
desktop vs notebooks
by jwang1229 - 3/29/06 4:16 PM In reply to: Desktop vs Notebooks by JasonMMMLaptops generally take up less space, and even if you don't plan to travel, you can store the notebook in a drawer when you're not using it. You can't quite do that with a desktop, although some small form factor pcs come close. On the other hand, notebooks are generally more expensive that desktops in the same performance range. They don't offer the same performance in graphics or harddrive capacity and the optical drive is slower. They're also made of proprietary components, so if they do break, they are more expensive to fix. However, there isn't anything that indicates that notebooks will break sooner than desktops, unless you drop the notebook.
If you want increased processing power for the same price and don't care about traveling or conserving space, go with a desktop. Otherwise, a notebook is just as good a choice.
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