Poll: Your Computer.

[Zersy]

Recently my brother got a new laptop. A Dell brand with intel i5 core inside. 300 GB. 4GB Ram. Windows 7.

It works perfectly and in my opinion it is far better then my Samsung net book. It occurred to me that he could all his work and manage all his media easily with no fuss with his new laptop, while mine would lag and struggle under simple commands, to me realization this laptop was better then all home desktop computers I've used so far.

So it got me thinking what was the point of the desktop computer now ? everything is now done through laptop devices which are just as fast at managing the workload. The only obvious advantage I see from desktop computers is games but from what i've seen most laptops can already play high end games to a good graphical level. (I mainly just play minecraft on the pc anyway)

So my question and discussion is, Are there any value in desktop computers today ? Do you own one ? What's the main difference.

 

[Hiphophippo]

I'll probably never buy a desktop again as portability is just too important to me. Many hearts for my ASUS G73 though. Such a beast.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

Generally, desktops are more powerful per dollar spent, and I personally prefer gaming seated at a desk, with a real mouse, full keyboard and a large screen, with nice big speakers.

Laptops have many advantages, but when it comes to gaming, I'm sticking by my big black box.

 

[Vault101]

Portability all that way!!!

 

[darth.pixie]

Except most laptops cannot measure up to a desktop computer you can make by yourself. I own both a laptop (I study engineering and wireless is useful not to mention I need a laptop for class) but I also have 2 computers. One for gaming and one I keep around the house(which supports older games as well as some new ones).

Main difference is that my desktop computer is perfect for gaming. I have over 1.2 TB of memory to hold said games which laptops don't have and the graphics card is one of the best.

For me, laptops get too hot, are uncomfortable, have too little memory,are hard to tinker with and their keyboards drive me nuts.

 

[VaudevillianVeteran]

I own a desktop and two laptops. I had the desktop since I was about 10 and now it has no internet and is slower than a motherbitch. I mainly use it to update my Ipod. No way I'm losing 5000 songs.
But now I mainly stick to my laptops as I can laze in bed while chatting. Much like now.

 

[Dark Sup3rn0va]

I'm using a laptop right now but I will be purchasing a Gaming Desktop over the summer once I'm finished school and I get into my job.

 

[GodsAndFishes]

I keep having this conversation with my housemates. They all prefer big desktop computers to play all new games on absolute maximum graphics. I prefer my laptop (its not a proper gaming laptop, but it can play most games), I can't live without the portability it has, in any given day I'll probably end up using it in at least 3 different rooms.

 

[Queen Michael]

I've got a desktop computer. My dad gave it to me for Christmas. It does all I need it to, so I'm happy with it. One thing I like about it is that I can move the screen far away from my eyes (in order to spare my eyesight) but still keep the keyboard close to me.

 

[Kevlar Eater]

I currently use a gaming desktop. I basically isolate myself to my home (when not working), so it's perfect for me.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

Our family desktop is basically so obsolete and old it doesn't even run basic programs like MS Word. We could have updated it but we all have at least one laptop which serves our needs just as well, and are in many ways better anyway.

I have an attachable keyboard for my computer as well, so I don't have to spend all day with my face shoved up against the monitor.

Of course, I also have my writing laptop, which is technically just my old laptop, but since it's five years old it also has reached the point of obsolence, and all it can do it run Word. This makes it perfect for writing because it cuts all all distractions by default.

 

[Sleekgiant]

I have a laptop for home use and light gaming. I also have a netbook that I use for working and when I want to browse on the couch.

 

[Sampler]

Your comparing a netbook to a laptop and surprised it's better? One designed to go on the road and last all day to do simple things like browse the net or whack out a word doc, the other designed to be a mobile desktop replacement for those whom buy desktops from retailers and can't build their own (not a slant, just is the case).

I still have my desktop for working from home and video editing, the large and expandable storage coupled with alot of memory (8GB) and a processor that would melt most laptops (2.4GHz OC'd to 3.6GHz) there's a lot of use over my two laptops. The relatively highend gpu is also far more suitable for gaming, as is the large screen (though most lappies allow you to hook up and external monitor)

I have another desktop with a blu-ray and dual DVB-S2/T card for sat freeview/terrestrial freeview timeshifting under my TV.

Finally I have a third desktop that sits behind the two, utilizing a low powered netbook cpu it runs as my fileserver whilst consuming very little electricity. 4x1.5TB drives in (hardware) RAID5 offer all the storage I need behind the desktop, tv hub and laptops and it also runs as a web server.

Again all things laptops are ill-suited to.

But that's my needs and wants - not everyone's, most people can get by on a notebook. Something they can pull out when needed and put away in a drawer when not, without having to dedicated a whole place in the house to.

If you don't need a desktop, good for you, but don't think your situation applies to everyone, just like mine doesn't apply to most people.

 

[Chased]

Macbook Pro, I can play for the most part all the Mac games available, like TF2, L4D, WoW.

I got it for college, needed it for Final Cut.

 

[GBlair88]

Laptops can be made to a similar standard as desktops when it comes to gaming but they tend to cost a good bit more. I wouldn't need the portability of a laptop very often so I'm sticking with the comparitively cheaper gaming desktop.

 

[joshuaayt]

Laptop, but only because it was a present, and I have no money to buy a good gaming PC. It can play Morrowind ok, I guess...

 

[Hiikuro]

I use a desktop computer made for gaming. I also have a laptop that is somewhat slower.

I only use my laptop if I absolutely have to. Mostly because I do some heavy processing on my desktop (like compiling), and I need the speed it can offer. I'd rather wait ~1 minute for my project to compile, instead of ~5 minutes on the laptop (not to mention libraries take ages to compile on my laptop).

In short, I need the extra speed a desktop computer can offer.

 

[AgentDarkmoon]

I have a thinkpad laptop from through my school, it's vital to survival here to have a laptop and it seems to be pretty quality. It will crash doing certain games/etc though, and only has 150GB of memory, which sucks when you have to have class-related programs. No way I can have my music all on it and all my games and the programs I need.

I also have a custom-built desktop, most of the parts are two years old and I should potentially upgrade some but it runs excellently for all the games I play. It has a 1TB HD, and I run it through my 27" tv monitor.

 

[Hiphophippo]

[quote="darth.pixie" post="18.275746.10697923" I have over 1.2 TB of memory to hold said games which laptops don't have and the graphics card is one of the best.
[/quote]

Mine does.

As for the laptop being uncomfortable, it sits on my desk like any other computer but it's a hundred times easier to pack and head to a friends house, the coffee joint downtown, or anywhere really.

I can't argue the bit about power to dollar ratio though. I'll admit that for what I spent on this I could have a much more powerful desktop, but for someone who lives the life I live portability is worth that extra cost. Besides, I've not found a game my computer won't run on the highest settings. I suppose if one exists I'm just not interested in playing it.

edit

As for the heat issue, my laptop stays nice and frosty. Partially due to the design of it and partially due to the cooling pad it sits on.

 

[vrbtny]

snip

..... Wow, and I thought I was being techy with my 500GB NAS-Box....That is one hell of a setup you got going there.