aimeeandbeatles
watermelon
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- Apr 5, 2007
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Let the debates go. (Hopefully without flaming -- but you're all probably better-behaved -- I hope.) 
Desktop vs Laptop
- Thread starter aimeeandbeatles
- Start date
GenMarshall
High Elven ISB Capt & Ghost Agent
Laptops aren't good for gaming. Yes there are gaming desktop replacement laptops, but speaking from experiance, they can't handle heat very well and won't be long before you have to replace a video card or another component.
aimeeandbeatles
watermelon
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- Apr 5, 2007
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I heard laptops aren't that great for gaming either. Haven't used one except in school and we sure aren't allowed to game there. LOL.
Laptops could be useful for business for their portability. But then, the portability makes it easier to steal. Is it true you can get this GPS thingy so you know where laptop is?
Laptops could be useful for business for their portability. But then, the portability makes it easier to steal. Is it true you can get this GPS thingy so you know where laptop is?
Genocidicbunny
Bug squasher
Most people who get a laptop get it for the 'freedom' it offers. And 70% of those people ( or something like that) end up having it sit on the table, never moving.
Personally, I have both a laptop and a desktop. My desktop is a powerful gaming machine, and my laptop is an old Dell C600. I can't play many games on it, but usually, when I'm traveling I only need access to the internet. There are other things that I can d o to keep myself entertained. (Like go out and play in the snow at this moment)
Laptops also lack the longetivity that a desktop has. I can still use my old P3 desktop with a few upgrades. Throw in a few old HDD's and it can be a file server for home. Stick it in a cabinet in the kitchen somewhere and my mom can use it to look up recipies without leaving the kitchen. Laptops on the other hand, save for RAM, HDD and on older laptops, cpu, cannot be really upgraded. Sure, you can still use it for something, but in general, as your primary machine it will need to be replaced every 2 years or so.
There is also the idea of fixing either one. A PC is relatively easy to fix, plug in a new component and you should be fine. Laptop you either gotta know how to take it apart, or send it in to the manufacturer.
Having one of each is good though. Gives you the most options.
Personally, I have both a laptop and a desktop. My desktop is a powerful gaming machine, and my laptop is an old Dell C600. I can't play many games on it, but usually, when I'm traveling I only need access to the internet. There are other things that I can d o to keep myself entertained. (Like go out and play in the snow at this moment)
Laptops also lack the longetivity that a desktop has. I can still use my old P3 desktop with a few upgrades. Throw in a few old HDD's and it can be a file server for home. Stick it in a cabinet in the kitchen somewhere and my mom can use it to look up recipies without leaving the kitchen. Laptops on the other hand, save for RAM, HDD and on older laptops, cpu, cannot be really upgraded. Sure, you can still use it for something, but in general, as your primary machine it will need to be replaced every 2 years or so.
There is also the idea of fixing either one. A PC is relatively easy to fix, plug in a new component and you should be fine. Laptop you either gotta know how to take it apart, or send it in to the manufacturer.
Having one of each is good though. Gives you the most options.
Having both is best. Here is how I would rank having varying quality of both, from best to worst alternative:
1) Having a good Desktop, a light weight laptop for internet and word processing, and a heavy laptop for gaming during long plane, train, or bus trips.
2) A light weight laptop for internet and word processing, and a heavy laptop for gaming during long plane, train, or bus trips.
3) Having a good Desktop and a medium weight laptop. (What I have)
4) Having a good Desktop and a cheap laptop.
5) Having a good Laptop only.
6) Having a medium quality laptop.
Troubles with a laptops are:
- Weight is proportional to quality. You can't have a good light weight laptop.
- Easy to damage, hard to fix. Especially from bad spills.
- Can't upgrade.
1) Having a good Desktop, a light weight laptop for internet and word processing, and a heavy laptop for gaming during long plane, train, or bus trips.
2) A light weight laptop for internet and word processing, and a heavy laptop for gaming during long plane, train, or bus trips.
3) Having a good Desktop and a medium weight laptop. (What I have)
4) Having a good Desktop and a cheap laptop.
5) Having a good Laptop only.
6) Having a medium quality laptop.
Troubles with a laptops are:
- Weight is proportional to quality. You can't have a good light weight laptop.
- Easy to damage, hard to fix. Especially from bad spills.
- Can't upgrade.
No, weight is proportional to speed, not quality. The macbook air is quality build, it just isn't useful for anything other than word processing and internet browsing.
Aramazd
Deity
In general, I prefer to use a laptop, and use a desktop only for things like gaming.
MajorGeneral2
Just happy to be here
Um, it depends on what you need? If portability is an issue, go with a laptop. If not, a desktop is probably preferable. Just because one has two or more options, doesn't mean they're mutually exclusive or that one is the all-around superior of the other.
Personally, I have a laptop only because I got it for an especially good price and it's all I need. When it kicks the bucket, I'll probably get a desktop, because portability isn't an issue.
GenMarshall
High Elven ISB Capt & Ghost Agent
Laptops are only good for internet surfing and productivity software. That's why I migrated back to a Desktop after my laptop ate three video cards due to overheating issues (and I used to use a laptop for gaming).
azzaman333
meh
Desktops are cheaper.
Stormrage
Ever Present Taskmaster
Laptop for Business, Desktop for Everything Else.
GoodGame
Red, White, & Blue, baby!
- Joined
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- 13,725
Laptops are for the travelling person or someone with limited space.
All other power potential is in the desktop.
EDIT: also the laptop has very little component reconfigurability, and if the laptop breaks there's very little chance of a DIY repair.
All other power potential is in the desktop.
EDIT: also the laptop has very little component reconfigurability, and if the laptop breaks there's very little chance of a DIY repair.
not quite true. Many newer generation Notebooks are quite powerful. Of course, you don't get the same power for the same buck in a notebook that you would get in a Desktop.
As for Notebooks not being good for gameing. That of course depends a lot on what types of games you're playing. Most games but FPS run perfectly well on a semi-recent notebook, if you pick the right configuration. I hardly use my desktop anymore, despite it being quite a bit more powerful.
Performance is the word I was thinking of. It's not just speed.
Good enough, I just don't differentiate between the two, since it gives me the liberty of calling "faster" products that perform poorly, slow.
PeteAtoms
FormulaRandom
I have a laptop, and it absolutely sucks for gaming. I only use it to surf the web, photoshop (slow) and listening to music (with speakers).
I got it because I was going to college and thought it would be convenient to have a portable pc, but it ended up sitting on my desk all year.
I got it because I was going to college and thought it would be convenient to have a portable pc, but it ended up sitting on my desk all year.
GenMarshall
High Elven ISB Capt & Ghost Agent
My argument sides on the lines for using laptops for gaming. Dont tell me that newer generation notebooks are powerful when yet they crap out after a year or two and eats up video cards like there is no tommorow. Sure you can play non graphic insensive games on a notebook, but it can only go so far if you play a graphics intensive game (Half Life 2, Garry's Mod, Crysis, etc) before finaly the video card just craps out on you due to overheating issues.
Genocidicbunny
Bug squasher
Overheating issues are entirely the fault of the specific laptop manufacturer.
A friend of mine has a high-end HP notebook thats 1.5 years old. When it was bought, it was very well a gaming machine, and the only reason that its relegated to light duty now is that games have moved ahead. (Note, he can play HL2 and GMOD perfectly fine on that notebook, as well as some other fairly graphically intensive games such as Company of Heroes)
Even in desktops, if you want to stay on top of the gaming scene, you need to upgrade your components at least once every two years. Primarily the graphics card.
