Laptop or desktop?

[HeinekenMan]

I'm just curious about what you prefer to use. I've only had a laptop for a short time. Tonight, I hooked up a wireless ethernet router. Now I find that I prefer to sit at the kitchen table with the laptop. I guess there's just more space, which allows me to spread my forearms out a bit, rather than having the edge of the desk cutting into my wrists.

I am actually wondering why anybody would need both. The desktop now seems like a large paperweight that pretty much just serves as my means of printing files and burning CDs.

The problem, though, is that I can't seem to shut the damned thing off and hit the hay. Now I feel that I need some sort of brace that rests on my shoulders so that I can carry the laptop everywhere I go.

Also, if anyone cares to share. My wife wants a PC with Windows. I know they make Windows for the Mac now, but I'm a little leery of installing it given all of the virus issues out there today. Any suggestions? Turning the desktop over to her would save me having to buy her a new laptop.

 

[Eagleboy]

I agree with you - I'm on my second laptop (first crapped out on me) but I feel like I need to carry it everywhere. I get so much less work done during the day because I'm always on this thing jerking around, doing one thing or another.

Given how popular (and cheap) laptops are today, it makes me wonder why desktops still exist anymore. I agree - they seem to be little more than paperweights that serve little to no function outside of what a laptop can do. They're more versatile and the wireless Internet is a blessing in disguise. I'll often just lay on my bed with this thing so I can watch TV and screw around at the same time.

 

[Clever username]

They're more versatile and the wireless Internet is a blessing in disguise. I'll often just lay on my bed with this thing so I can watch TV and screw around at the same time.

That, boys and girls, is what is known as a hanging breaking ball.

 

[Double J]

On the subject of laptops, I'm thinking about finally springing for one and I'd like some input as to what is now standard in terms of RAM, hard drive size, processor speed, etc. Can anyone help?

 

[Sxysprtswrtr]

Best thing I ever did was get a laptop WITH wireless.

Starbucks [sorry boom] and any place with free WiFi - Thank you, God.

 

[Oz]

Just got a laptop in August ... don't know why I waited so long these days.

 

[KP]

Desktop can't be used as a source of heat.

 

[Songbird]

They're more versatile and the wireless Internet is a blessing in disguise. I'll often just lay on my bed with this thing so I can watch TV and screw around at the same time.

That, boys and girls, is what is known as a hanging breaking ball.

I might whiff looking at strike 3 to end the NLCS like $120 million man Carlos Beltran (hi, Mets fans!) .. but all I envision is Costanza performing fellatio, eating a Wolf's Deli-esque sandwich, and watching TV at the same time.

 

[ARD]

Laptops are more expensive than comparable desktops, contain many proprietary parts and are much more difficult to upgrade. Installing the latest and greatest video card is a snap with a desktop, often impossible with a laptop. I prefer a laptop, but there are definite tradeoffs, so I have both. ;D

 

[KP]

They're more versatile and the wireless Internet is a blessing in disguise. I'll often just lay on my bed with this thing so I can watch TV and screw around at the same time.

That, boys and girls, is what is known as a hanging breaking ball.

I might whiff looking at strike 3 to end the NLCS like $120 million man Carlos Beltran (hi, Mets fans!) .. but all I envision is Costanza performing fellatio, eating a Wolf's Deli-esque sandwich, and watching TV at the same time.

I find the pastrami to be the most sensual of all the salted cured meats.

 

[Crimson Tide]

I got a laptop for this job, and it's great. The company laptops were 10 years old and didn't work. The one half-decent laptop was too difficult to get for tournament time. The great thing is that no one can take it away from me. No sharing, no borrowing. I've even had people ask to borrow it for assignments and I told them to **** off.

My co-worker got tired of experiencing the same thing and bought a Dell. It's just easier to supply yourself and not let the ****ups you work with ruin anything.

 

[HeinekenMan]

Well, I prefer Macs, but the prices are generally steep. Fortunately, I found one on eBay. It was being sold by a guy who had shut down his Internet-related business. I did a search by proximity to me, and it turns out that I only had to drive 20 miles to pick it up in person from the guy's house. I highly recommend that. You're able to get a feel for whether the person is leveling with you about the state of the computer.

It was one of two Macs that the company had purchased so that it could design software for the format. He sold it to me for $400-$500. I had to buy a power adapter from the Apple Store for about $75 more.

I haven't had a single problem. It can't be more than two years old, and it works like a new one. He said that it had been used very little. I absolutely love the thing, and I'm now willing to buy about anything through eBay.

 

[trifectarich]

I've got a 21-inch monitor hooked up to my desktop at home, so that's great, especially from a design standpoint. But it's hard to beat sitting back in your recliner with a laptop and watching some good college hoops.

Given a choice, I vote laptop.

 

[Rosie]

There are currently three computers up and running here at the Rose Garden -- one laptop (mine) and two desktops.

I have two printers hooked up to the newer desktop, and a wireless router thrown in so I can have my laptop in the living room, kitchen, etc.

If you have a family, I would definitely recommend a laptop/desktop combo. The kids use the computer a lot for homework and this way I don't have to fight with them to use the computer -- everyone knows that Mom's Laptop is strictly verboten.

Someone asked about what to look for -- I would recommend at least 1GB RAM, 100GB hard drive (especially if you do pictures), and a 2 plus gig chip. Those are the bare minimums I would recommend.

 

[DocTalk]

When checking out notebooks, find out how much RAM it can handle. Often, it is cheaper to buy a comptuer with less memory, buy extra online and uinstall it yourself (pretty easy) and RAM is relatively cheap to upgrade.

And with you built in wireless, remember to upgradde your printer to wireless capability.

Noptebooks rule!

 

[imjustagirl2]

I bought a laptop a couple months ago and got a wireless router, figuring being able to sit at the front of my apartment on my couch and watch TV would beat this roller chair and a desk.

I find myself still using my desktop more.

 

[DocTalk]

I bought a laptop a couple months ago and got a wireless router, figuring being able to sit at the front of my apartment on my couch and watch TV would beat this roller chair and a desk.

I find myself still using my desktop more.

Behavior modification just takes time.

 

[Pastor]

I have two laptops and three desktops in the house. Next year it is likely that a new desktop and laptop will be added. Each PC serves its own purpose.

Desktops are better. They are more stable, easier to upgrade and do not run on batteries. The laptops are portable so they are necessary for vacations and travel so that pictures can be downloaded or emails sent out.

 

[Ace]

We have a laptop and desktop in the house. The laptop gets a lot more use.

 

[imjustagirl2]

I bought a laptop a couple months ago and got a wireless router, figuring being able to sit at the front of my apartment on my couch and watch TV would beat this roller chair and a desk.

I find myself still using my desktop more.

Behavior modification just takes time.

Eh, I think it's just that I'm more comfortable with PCs. I spent about the first three weeks on the laptop nonstop, now I just turn it on if I'm on my couch on the phone and get reminded of something.