My latest laptop (bought it about a month ago) is a 17" widescreen Sony Vaio with 2gb RAM, 200 Gb HDD (as 2 x 100 Gb disks running at 5400 rpm... fast enough to use for DJing without skipping) which cost me just under ?900.
I already had 2x 250Gb external hard drives before I bought it for storing photos etc (both cost about ?75 each at the time).
I don't have a desktop machine any more (except an old Atari 1040ST on which I play some of my favourite old games) and wouldn't consider one now.
There was a time when the price difference between a desktop and a laptop was so big that laptops only made sense if your company supplied it. Now the price difference between machines with comparable specs is much smaller. That's why laptop sales have grown whilst desktop sales have slowed down recently.
Laptop or Desktop?
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Bob Singleton
- Posts: 1975
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Re: Laptop or Desktop?
"But how to make Liverpool economically prosperous? If only there was some way for Liverpudlians to profit from going on and on about the past in a whiny voice."
- Stewart Lee
- Stewart Lee
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Sam Slater
- Posts: 11624
- Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:40 am
Re: Laptop or Desktop?
I personally prefer screens over 19'' so have stuck with a desktop pc.
You could get a decent spec laptop, but there's one important thing to consider............
WINDOWS VISTA !hmmm! !thumbsdown!
The lesser important things to consider are what you going to use your new pc for?
A destop with a widescreen lcd is better for:
1 - Porn video and pics. (Lolly Badcock & Michelle B in wide-screen is waay better !smile!)
2 - Games
3 - Easier to upgrade
4 - Adding extra hard drives, speaker set-ups etc. (i.e. 'more configurable')
A laptop is better for:
1 - Portability
2 - Err...that's it.
Remember that a dodgy keyboard on a desktop pc just means you spend ?10-?20 on a new one. A dodgy keyboard on a lap top means phone calls to customer support, packaging, posting, time at a warehouse etc etc etc.
Sounds like I'm plumping for desktops eh? !grin!
Seriously, if portability is important and you don't mind small screens, 2 channel on-board audio, and the extra hassle if anything (even simple) goes wrong, then get a laptop.
Personally I'd have a nice desktop with a good screen for most stuff, and just buy a small lightweight 15" notebook, that's pretty cheap for checking e-mail and browsing on the move.
Both with Windows XP, and not Vista!
You could get a decent spec laptop, but there's one important thing to consider............
WINDOWS VISTA !hmmm! !thumbsdown!
The lesser important things to consider are what you going to use your new pc for?
A destop with a widescreen lcd is better for:
1 - Porn video and pics. (Lolly Badcock & Michelle B in wide-screen is waay better !smile!)
2 - Games
3 - Easier to upgrade
4 - Adding extra hard drives, speaker set-ups etc. (i.e. 'more configurable')
A laptop is better for:
1 - Portability
2 - Err...that's it.
Remember that a dodgy keyboard on a desktop pc just means you spend ?10-?20 on a new one. A dodgy keyboard on a lap top means phone calls to customer support, packaging, posting, time at a warehouse etc etc etc.
Sounds like I'm plumping for desktops eh? !grin!
Seriously, if portability is important and you don't mind small screens, 2 channel on-board audio, and the extra hassle if anything (even simple) goes wrong, then get a laptop.
Personally I'd have a nice desktop with a good screen for most stuff, and just buy a small lightweight 15" notebook, that's pretty cheap for checking e-mail and browsing on the move.
Both with Windows XP, and not Vista!
[i]I used to spend a lot of time criticizing Islam on here in the noughties - but things are much better now.[/i]
Re: Laptop or Desktop?
Well first, you actually get more for your money with a desktop than a laptop.
If you spent the same amount on both then the desktop PC would be a better spec than the laptop.
If you get a desktop that uses standard parts then it is far easier and cheaper to repair or upgrade than a laptop.
A laptop tends to be made of special built parts (because of the laptop size) so they will be difficult and expensive to replace.
Laptop hard disks tend to run slower than desktop hard disks, making the device slower overall.
It is easy to add a second hard disk inside a desktop PC case, not very easy (maybe even impossible) on a laptop.
As someone has pointed out, if anything goes wrong on the laptop (keyboard, screen, etc) then it is complex to fix it, with a desktop it is simply a case of buying a new one and plugging it in.
Although you can get laptops with 17" screens that is about the biggest, but dekstop TFTs now come in 19", 20" even 22".
Laptops are easier to steal !
So the main two advantages of a laptops are less desk space, and portability.
If they are important to you go for a laptop.
If they are NOT important to you then overall a dekstop PC is better.
If you spent the same amount on both then the desktop PC would be a better spec than the laptop.
If you get a desktop that uses standard parts then it is far easier and cheaper to repair or upgrade than a laptop.
A laptop tends to be made of special built parts (because of the laptop size) so they will be difficult and expensive to replace.
Laptop hard disks tend to run slower than desktop hard disks, making the device slower overall.
It is easy to add a second hard disk inside a desktop PC case, not very easy (maybe even impossible) on a laptop.
As someone has pointed out, if anything goes wrong on the laptop (keyboard, screen, etc) then it is complex to fix it, with a desktop it is simply a case of buying a new one and plugging it in.
Although you can get laptops with 17" screens that is about the biggest, but dekstop TFTs now come in 19", 20" even 22".
Laptops are easier to steal !
So the main two advantages of a laptops are less desk space, and portability.
If they are important to you go for a laptop.
If they are NOT important to you then overall a dekstop PC is better.
Re: Laptop or Desktop?
Ok Brutal, this is the truth!!! your a tight fisted fanny fiddler, get yourself down to Curry,s or Pee Cee world and pick yourself up a good spec lappy for less than the price of ?450, then you can have the best of both PC worlds, put the office stuff on your laptop and watch the porn on your PC.
These are the brutal facts. Can you handle them.?
These are the brutal facts. Can you handle them.?
[_]> No Liberals were harmed during the making of this post.
Re: Laptop or Desktop?
Dunno if anyone has mentioned this yet because I only skimmed the page, but I'm on my third laptop now. Two previous Sony Vaios both lasting almost exactly two years , both breaking on almost exactly the one year anniversary. This Dell is approaching its first anniversary soon and im treating it a lot better internally and externally than the predecessors, but what I would say is that laptops do seem to have a much shorter shelf life. Its common sense in a way - the parts overheat easier...and its harder to get them replaced so you end up just replacing the whole thing....
Having said that I wouldnt be without a laptop and wouldnt want a PC because its just so clumsy. I like to move my laptop into bed to watch films and etc. work anywhere etc etc etc. I would just seriously recommend an external hard drive to backup everything so you dont lose it if/when it goes wrong. & dont spend too much, theres no point. i only spend ?500-1000 now on laptops, the very first one cost me ?1800 and lasted just as long as the following one (?900)
good luck eihter way
Having said that I wouldnt be without a laptop and wouldnt want a PC because its just so clumsy. I like to move my laptop into bed to watch films and etc. work anywhere etc etc etc. I would just seriously recommend an external hard drive to backup everything so you dont lose it if/when it goes wrong. & dont spend too much, theres no point. i only spend ?500-1000 now on laptops, the very first one cost me ?1800 and lasted just as long as the following one (?900)
good luck eihter way
mmm Alex Kramer
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Bob Singleton
- Posts: 1975
- Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:40 am
Re: Laptop or Desktop?
A couple of you mentioned keyboards on laptops, and what if they go wrong...
I use a Belkin wireless keyboard and mouse with my laptop (everything fits easily in my bag and it only takes an extra 15-20 seconds to set up).
I chose a laptop because I need to have a machine I can use in various rooms around the house, take into the garden at night when I'm stargazing, for taking with me to stag/hen nights when I also need to DJ, to photo shoots for downloading and showing the pics there and then and for when I do my own shows where I need to have guest lists, membership details etc to hand.
Sure, if you only rarely think "I wish I had my PC with me" then get a desk top (but please stay away from Comet or PC World etc).
As for other components going wrong, I've only ever had one failure and that was a hard disk a year or so ago, which was easy to replace. I've never had problems with displays, keyboards, touchpads etc. but then again, I take care of my equipment!
I use a Belkin wireless keyboard and mouse with my laptop (everything fits easily in my bag and it only takes an extra 15-20 seconds to set up).
I chose a laptop because I need to have a machine I can use in various rooms around the house, take into the garden at night when I'm stargazing, for taking with me to stag/hen nights when I also need to DJ, to photo shoots for downloading and showing the pics there and then and for when I do my own shows where I need to have guest lists, membership details etc to hand.
Sure, if you only rarely think "I wish I had my PC with me" then get a desk top (but please stay away from Comet or PC World etc).
As for other components going wrong, I've only ever had one failure and that was a hard disk a year or so ago, which was easy to replace. I've never had problems with displays, keyboards, touchpads etc. but then again, I take care of my equipment!
"But how to make Liverpool economically prosperous? If only there was some way for Liverpudlians to profit from going on and on about the past in a whiny voice."
- Stewart Lee
- Stewart Lee
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The Last Word
- Posts: 1644
- Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:40 am
Re: Laptop or Desktop?
Do remember that unlike a laptop, a desktop doesn't offer the opportunity to sit in a Starbucks or wherever tapping away as you sup your latte.
Consequently, you also miss the opportunity of looking like the world's biggest tosser.
Consequently, you also miss the opportunity of looking like the world's biggest tosser.
"Let's do it..."
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tommy dickfingers
- Posts: 451
- Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:40 am
Re: Laptop or Desktop?
i've got both and the main problem for me with laptops are the touch pad,mine is intermmitent after 6 months or so but i bought a wireless mini mouse which is easier to use anyway.the thing about desktops is to upgrade them after a few years probably costs as much to replace them these days.