Desktop versus laptop

[Razor]

I'm thinking about getting rid of the desktop, my house is small and the desk and paraphenalia takes up too much space. My desktop PC is a pretty basic model, so I should be able to get a faster laptop. I was thinking about getting an external hard drive to archive all my files.

Any advice?

[Warren]

depends what you use your computer for to be honest, if its just for the internet and veiwing photo's, then yeah.

if its for watching movies, downloading, video editing, then no.

[Grinch]

I'm thinking about getting rid of the desktop, my house is small and the desk and paraphenalia takes up too much space. My desktop PC is a pretty basic model, so I should be able to get a faster laptop. I was thinking about getting an external hard drive to archive all my files.

Any advice?

Sounds like you have it covered to me... none of this should be a problem now a-days.

[Smurf]

if its for watching movies, downloading, video editing, then no.

Not sure why it should make any difference for downloading or editing. I have a couple of laptops and a PC and while the Dell laptop would struggle with high demand apps the Vaio would match up to most everyday PC benchmarks. I guess if you're after cuttiing edge performance then fair enough go with a PC.

Download speeds should be irrelevant, it's rare that the hardware at your end is the limiting factor in download speeds and I've got to say after watching a few movies on the Vaio's hi-res X black screen I don't miss my PC at all (might change my mind if I get that 30' Dell TFT though :twisted: )

[Razor]

I only use it for email, surfing, music and photos. I was thinking of getting a bullet cam and camcorder for recording bike rides, but only for uploading to youtube and similar sites.

[Devil Biccy]

PC if its for games definatley Graphics cards are much better and faster for PC also it is much easier to upgrade Hard drives, memory, soundcards etc.. on a home PC then Laptop.

Freedom of the laptop means you can take it with you where ever you go, Home PC's just havent got that portability! :shock:

External hard drive see that PC world are doing some for about £50

[Razor]

I never play games, well, not on the computer anyway.

[Grinch]

Novatech do cheap external drives.

[tigersaw]

I went down that road almost a year ago, I dont miss the big PC at all. I have a 250Gb plug in drive for archiving all the movies and music, and I keep my personal stuff on a dongle.
The only time I have to be in a particular place is for printing, when its easier to take the laptop to the printer.
I've always preferred to play games on a console anyway, its a level playing field, you have to join the pc hardware arms race if you want to play pc games.

[Smurf]

I keep my personal stuff on a dongle.



Fnaar Fnaar

[Razor]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongle

[gettin2dizzy]

they're so expensive though in comparisson to a pc, and they go wrong... alot! i've got a laptop which is great for sitting in front of the tv browsing the net (you need wireless if your getting a laptop) but theres a £500 premium for having a similar spec'd laptop to a pc. I would have rather kept the cash and got a cheap dell. Everytime i've sent mine back for repairs dhl turn up, laugh, and say its practically all they do nowadays. :)

[Cronos]

I switched to a laptop about 2 years ago and would never turn back. I use mine mostly for browsing, a few pics and music pieces and the occasional work from home. Keeping it powered up is a bit of a pain, but the wireless connection means I can work wherever I want. It does have limitations in terms of performance, but I don't do anything cutting edge.

[instigator]

I switched from PC (dual monitor number, pretty good) to cheap laptop to avoid having to use the computer in unheated rooms. I now only use the laptop for internet and normal non-cpu intensive stuff and with the wiFi it's great. Wish I had done it before. I use a 200gb external USB HD to backup info. Soon to get another (400GB)

[philipMac]

If you want laptop advice, I would recommend the VAIOs. Sony make nice machines IMO.

[Kate]

Have a look at the Dell website too, they do good laptops at decent prices and do good deals too.

[KrZ]

Definately Desktop. Its that much cheaper and easier to upgrade, you can make it into your media pc, you can connect it to your high def tv and record tv or watch hd movies (not the fake upscaled type, unless you have HDDvd or Blueray). Not a lot of laptops comes with DVI output, so if you ever want to create/edit HD movie and view it, you can't do that with laptop.

[tigersaw]

Definately Desktop. Its that much cheaper and easier to upgrade, you can make it into your media pc, you can connect it to your high def tv and record tv or watch hd movies (not the fake upscaled type, unless you have HDDvd or Blueray). Not a lot of laptops comes with DVI output, so if you ever want to create/edit HD movie and view it, you can't do that with laptop.

I'm only playing devils advocate here, but a lot of laptops are now equipped with DVI, even the sub £600 ones. ( Acer Aspire 5672WLMi for instance)

I know versatility and upgradeability is a worthwhile consideration - depends on what you want from your pc. For me, portability outweighs everything the desk pc has to offer.