# Desktop, Laptop, Tablet, Smartphone **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 25, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822 "2012-10-25T14:38:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/21 "2012-10-25T18:10:52Z")
I use virtualbox to run Virtual Machines/Slices, which is why I have so much. Normal usage outside of video editing or very large image manipulation requires no more than 8gb. Ivy Bridge is the latest intel processors, and the i5-3570k is the current sweet spot for price/performance - they sell faster processors, but the performance increase isn’t worth it outside of server workloads (i7-3770k, Sandy Bridge-E, various Xeons, at least when on multi-cpu boards). ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/22 "2012-10-25T18:18:37Z")
1. Phone. Besides the obvious uses of phoning and texting, I use it check emails, the Dope and occasionally FB. Complete annotated Google in my pocket at all times, great for a history and math nerd. I feel naked without it, even though I’m not one of those that sit and stare at a phone screen all day long. 2. Laptop. Used almost exclusively to create word documents, PowerPoints and spreadsheets / graphs in Excel. A glorified word processor, but one I use often. I don’t play games or keep music or videos on it. 3. Desktop. Rarely use it, but it’s my “mothership”. Not connected to the internet, it’s used as a backup hard drive. I use the cloud for documents and other school projects, but music, old school papers, videos and other etc. I keep on the desktop. It’s also the only computer in the house that has a printer. Not a big deal as I’m at school all week and utilize the printers in the library, saving me big bucks. Never owned or used a tablet and see no reason to change that. My phone does basically everything that a tablet would do. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/23 "2012-10-25T19:45:20Z")
> [@truthSeeker2](#): > > Rank them in order of importance for you. > > Rank them also in order of the time you spent on each f them daily. Desktop Gets used every day to do my homework, submit assignments, etc. I probably spend 3 hours each night. Laptop It’s actually a netbook and we use it when we travel. Don’t have a smartphone or a tablet. We want to buy a tablet but it will be a while. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/24 "2012-10-25T20:31:15Z")
Laptop for work and home, phone for most recreational surfing. I will be getting a detachable (laptop where the screen pops off to become a tablet) out of the current Windows 8 wave real soon to cover work, home and travel. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/25 "2012-10-25T20:33:43Z")
1. Desktop. It’s most important because I’m on it all day, it’s the source of the work that I have to do for my company, and on those rare occasions when the power goes out or the internet is down, I’m pretty much stuck in the stone ages. 2. Smartphone. The majority of my communications, but many of its functions are redundant with my desktop. 3. Laptop. My personal computer is a MacBook, which I only go on when I’m home, and generally for non-job related tasks. 4. Tablet. I don’t have one. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/26 "2012-10-25T20:41:48Z")
Desktop = own, use 1-2 hrs / day. Laptop, Tablet, Smartphone = do not own. Steam-powered flip phone = own and use. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/27 "2012-10-25T21:33:31Z")
1. Laptop #1 (at work) - I am on it 9-10 hours per day, 5 days per week 2. Laptop #2 (personal at home) - I am on it 1-3 hours per day on weekdays; varying amounts on weekends 3. Laptop #3 (work at home) - Varies widely, from 1-2 hours per week to 16 or more. 4. Smartphone (work provided - essentially usable only for checking work email) - Probably 2 hours per week, in 15 second increments Don’t own a desktop or tablet. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/28 "2012-10-25T21:39:20Z")
Tablet Laptop Smartphone Desktop (retired) ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/29 "2012-10-25T21:56:33Z")
laptop constantly desktop when I need to scan or print, and when I’m on the house phone because my MagicJack is hooked up to it smartphone I don’t have right now tablet I’ve never had ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/30 "2012-10-25T21:59:35Z")
Desktop Smartphone Netbook I don’t own the other things. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/31 "2012-10-26T11:26:52Z")
Laptop \> phone \>\> tablet \>\> desktop Laptop is my primary work and gaming machine I use the phone for lots of social networking & utility (maps, traffic, weather) stuff tablet is work’s, but also plays Angry Birds and runs my sketch software. I only use the desktop to play Morrowind and WOW, and I haven’t done a lot of that lately. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/32 "2012-10-26T11:43:20Z")
1. Laptop. On my desk at work, replaced my old desktop. 2. Tablet. Got an iPad as a gift, and love it. 3. Phone. Mostly in the car. 4. Desktop. At home, rarely used except for days my gf works from home. I’ll use it if it’s already running. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/33 "2012-10-26T12:12:43Z")
1. Smartphone. It’s my primary communications device. 2. Desktop. It’s my primary entertainment device. 3. Laptop. I need this for work but work isn’t as important to me as life. 4. Tablet. I like my iPad but it’s the first thing I’d sell if I needed money fast. ---
**Author:** ![Krouget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b38774/32.png) [@Krouget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krouget)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/34 "2012-10-26T12:25:36Z")
1. Smartphone (can just as well be 2nd, but I also communicate heavily with it) 2. Desktop (can just as well be 1st, but I don’t need to use it daily, as I do with my phone) . . . 3. Tablet 4. Laptop ---
**Author:** ![Lunar\_Saltlick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/977dab/32.png) [@Lunar\_Saltlick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunar_Saltlick)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/35 "2012-10-26T17:58:09Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Fucking hell. I hope you aren’t salaried and get paid overtime. Alas, no. I am a salaried IT drone and there is no overtime. Our company’s profit is derived strictly through unpaid overtime. The 14-hour days are fewer now than they used to be, thanks to the economy, but I used to pull plenty of them. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/36 "2012-10-28T01:26:54Z")
Desktop is the only one of those things that I own. I spend several hours a day on it. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/37 "2012-10-28T02:54:51Z")
I’m not counting my use of my phone as an MP3 player; I listen to music through it about 10 hours a day (one earphone in at work, streaming to car or home stereo). Also not counting devices used at work (which would be [Mobile PC](http://www.barcodesinc.com/symbol/mc9090-series.htm) \> smart phone \> desktop \> laptop \> tablet). Importance: Smart phone \> laptop \> desktop The phone is how I stay in contact with friends (mostly through text), and stay in contact in general when out of the house. I use it to check the news daily, and entertainment on my breaks and lunch. The laptop is mostly used for amusement – watching videos, reading this and other forums, playing games – and to sync the phone. When I was in school, the two positions would have been reversed, though, and the laptop was rarely used for entertainment. Desktop comes in a distant third. The desktop at home is an old one, and I use it simply as a torrent server. If I ever build a HTPC, it’ll move up in importance, but will probably still not come in second. Finally, if I ever get a tablet, I think it’ll come in between the laptop and desktop; it will simply be used for entertainment, and probably only used in bed. Time spent: Laptop \> Smart phone (not counting music) \> Desktop On work days, the laptop is my primary method to unwind after work, and I spend at least two hours a day on it. On days off, it’s my go-to when I’m not out of the house, and I can spend eight+ hours a day on it. The phone is used more sporadically; perhaps half an hour a day of texting, looking things up on the internet for a minute or two. Discounting music, the phone probably sees less than an hour of use a day. The desktop is rarely touched; the hypothetical HTPC would get used only on weekends. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/38 "2012-10-28T04:34:45Z")
Desktop- 8 hours at work and when I game / photo edit at home Laptop- several hours a day at home. Never had a Smartphone or Tablet. ---
**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/39 "2012-10-28T19:48:01Z")
Desktop on work days (9 hours minimum) Smartphone (have it with me most of my waking hours; used primarily for phone calls and texting which might be only one or two a day) Lap at home (a couple of hours a day, three or four days a week) ---
**Author:** ![Aestivalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Aestivalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aestivalis)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822/40 "2012-10-29T17:37:28Z")
My laptop is the most important - I spend probably 12 hours a day on it. I can make calls from it if I need to, making the smartphone useful only when I’m away from home/work. Smartphone gives my email and browsing capability, and sometimes I make calls too! I have a couple of desktops at home, one for video editing and kid stuff, the other as my file server. They see pretty minimal use from me, but I could use one to work from home too if my laptop is unavailable. My tablet is just for reading comics and news, and is largely irrelevant since I upgraded my smartphone. I have a handful of old smartphones as well that I use to entertain the kids, with no phone service on them, but could be considered mini-tablets. In a pinch I can even make calls via VOIP. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desktop-laptop-tablet-smartphone/638822.md?page=3)