I bought my desktop computer about three or four years ago. It has a 500mHz processor and a 20gB hard drive. Okay, so it’s not the latest and greatest; but it works for me. Even the cheapest laptop computer is more powerful than the computer I have. They have at least 1gHz processors, and half-again the storage capacity. And they’re getting cheaper.
Given that I can plug my flat-screen monitor, mouse and keyboard into a laptop, why would I need to have the big box on the floor? A laptop would be just as powerful as any desktop computer I’d get, and it would take up much less space.
Aside from price (desktops still have the edge there), is there any reason to buy a desktop computer instead of a laptop?
For people who just need a computer to browse the Web, write emails, and do some word processing, a laptop is fine if you don’t mind spending the cash (as you pointed out, they’re almost always more expensive). However, the most technically advanced desktop is always more powerful than the most technically advanced laptop. So for those of us who want raw power, a desktop is the better choice.
Desktops are also more upgradable. I tend to buy high-end desktops, near the top of the technology curve. With strategic upgrades, I can keep a desktop working well for 3-5 years after I buy it. In contrast, I need to replace laptops after a year or two.
I use my computer for gaming (believe it or not, computer games are one of the most taxing uses of computers nowadays), the occasional programming job (the last big gig I had was writing a GUI for a database application that routinely searched 20Gig of data - a fast machine was essential), and basic Web surfing, email, and word processing. I’m also a technology nerd, and I want my machines running fast and powerful. I bought a laptop once, and I doubt I’ll buy another unless I become independently wealthy - it just got slow too fast. I’d have to buy a laptop every year to keep me happy, and I just don’t have that kind of cash to throw away.
Cost aand durabilty. there is no way on Gods green eath I would give a notebook to my 17 and 14 year old kids. I’ve replaced damaged mice (cord sliced up) , 2 keyboards (one for spills + one for impace damage spills) , hard drives (dropping the unit on it’s side while operating) .
I have been playing everquest and dark age of camelot just fine on a 3 year old HP ze4100 just fine, even with the shared vid ram. It is great, when I go somewhere I can not only get my email and have all my bookmarks with me, I have all my everquest UIs and logs as well [i copy the files back and forth from my desktop as I 2-box frequently, so the files are the same on both boxes.]
Well, I am a gamer, and thus need the extra power in a desktop machine. For ~$1,000 I could build a desktop gaming machine more powerful than laptops that cost 3 times as much. You just can’t get a laptop right now with Geforce 6800 level or better graphics.
But even with upgrading your CPU and mainboard, it’s at least possible with a desktop and cheaper than “upgrading” your laptop (there isn’t really such a thing, you can change the HD and memory…that’s it).
You can get “gaming” laptops (like the Dell XPS Inspirion) but it’s much more expensive. I have a $2500 desktop machine consisting of the best videocard (BFG 6800 GTOC) and much more HD space than what is possible in a laptop (450+ Gigs). The closest match for a laptop is $3700+ (Prices in CAN).
You must be much less picky than I. I replaced my Inspiron 8000 a year after I got it because I couldn’t turn on all the new character animations when PoP came out. I want all graphic features on, and a damn high resolution.
The corporation I work for has been replacing most everyone’s machines with laptops as we work toward moving toward a new location (brand new building). The new building has wireless capabilities throughout the campus, which is definitely a good reason for a laptop. If you’re a serious gamer, you’re probably going to want a desktop, but if you’re running a 3 year old computer, you’re not a serious gamer.
Dont know if it is less picky, I have the spell effects turned off, and I dont use the new shadows [they dont look right, have you seen the shadows turned on in skyshrine? dont know what they think, but the shadows dont look right for dragons wings flapping=] but other than that I have all the character mods turned on except male ogre [i like the way it scratches its ass, and I can tease my ogre buddys about it=)] I do get a bit of lag in PoK and bazaar, but nothing too bothersome. FWIW, my game hubbys computer is designed for gaming [3k ram, seriously hot video card, dual processers and all, he made it when he was working for Arlt so it wasnt that costly] and he gets lag in bazaar and POK the same as I do.
ROFL, I would be in game right now except the server routers are having trouble today and I have had 2 hours of 1017 errors on all 4 play accounts, and my guide account.
Odd. I see a huge difference between my Inspiron laptop and my desktop machine. What resolution do you play in? How long does it take you to zone?
My desktop is a 2.53 Ghz machine with a Geforce Ti4600 (soon to be upgraded to a Geforce 6800 GT), 1 Gig of RAM.
Laptop is 1 Ghz processor, Gefore Mobility M4, 1 Gig of RAM.
Laptop gets weird mouse movement (lots of lag, etc) when pushed above 1024x768. Zoning takes up to 2 minutes. I have to turn the clip plane waaaaay down in places like Dawnshroud Peaks and Burning Wood. Not that I’ve been to either place in forever, but those are the zones I noticed the big difference on when I moved to my desktop.
Desktop runs at 1880x1440 no problem. Zoning takes maybe 15 secs. DSP has nice waving trees and no lag.
Dunno about shadows, since I gave up on EQ1 right when OOW came out.
Not only are desktops more upgradeable, you can just plain add compenents to them. Although I could upgrade my laptop’s 40 Gig hard drive to an 80 for about $150 probably, I would only be getting a 40 Gig increase for that money, because there’s nowhere to put my old drive. My desktop, on the other hand, can support 4 IDE devices and if I fill those up, I can just add a card with more. That way I can get use out of all my old hardware too.
My desktop has two G4 processors, a dual-head ATI video card, an addditional NVidia video card, 1.5GB of RAM, a four-channel audio input card, an IDE RAID array totalling 340GB of storage, and three monitors. Of course, I need that stuff. I really do. I swear.
Fastest computers are always desktops. Even a year and a half ago I was able to get this one with 2 GB of ram.
Desktop keyboard is less of a compromise for fast comfortable typing.
Desktop monitors are bigger, and if they are CRT type they can render color better for graphical design work and photography projects.
If you opt for the advantages of keeping all your files on a network, laptop computers offer much less transportability.
Desktop computers are less weird. For example the com ports are liklier to work with instruments, and oddball antipiracy schemes are liklier to work right. I have had several programs and instruments that should have worked with laptops based on everybody’s specs, but only worked on desktops.
When you close up a laptop, all the yellow post-it notes around the screen get messed up and stick out around the edges.
