Get a Desktop or Laptop?

[Boss Tweed]

I know fairly little about computers, but I'm looking to buy a new one for less than $650. Being a college student, I thought I should get a new laptop, but I've found I never take my current laptop on campus. The times I do bring it around places I'm sure it would suffice. Plus, desktops seem to be able to get more for their money and have more available upgrades.

The big questions I have are:
What brand should I get? I've heard mixed reviews about a lot of brands like HP and Dell.
Should I get a laptop or desktop? Laptops are more portable, but the desktops I've looked at are more upgradable (processor and RAM)

The bulk of things I'd be doing on this computer would just be basic functions, like internet and documents for school. I'd also like it to be able to run Civ III and iTunes without being slow. Not too heavy usage.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Are you likely to spill beer/coffee/wine/vodka/meths on it? Don't get a laptop in that case

 

[Boss Tweed]

I don't typically eat at my computer for that reason...

 

[Maniacal]

I'd recommend a desktop then, since if you're taking a laptop to school to sue for schoolwork, it can just be the old one you have as you will only need it for writing assignments and stuff (a time when you don't need distractions).

I have a laptop that I got for college and I've only taken it there twice in a year and a half.

So for the desktop, what are you going to use it for? Do you intend to play games like Civ5 on it?

I've noticed that some pre-built computers you can buy in a store are relatively decent these days (except for the graphics card). Personally I prefer building my own (better selection, no hassle for extra fees and service plans).

 

[Boss Tweed]

Not planning on playing Civ 5 on it, just Civ III. The desktop and laptop would be for the same use as I said above, but to give me faster processing power, more space on the hard drive (right now I think I have 2 gb left on the 110 gb), as well as a better graphics card (I have a low end Toshiba laptop)

Its just time for an upgrade, because this computer is about 4-5 years old and getting slow

 

[Maniacal]

I'd go for a good desktop then, it will be cheaper and upgradeable than a laptop of equivalent power. And unless it has a really crappy integrated intel card then it should probably run Civ3 fine.

 

[shadowplay]

The desktop will come with more bang for the buck and can be upgraded in the future more easily. The portability of the laptop really is a lot of fun, but they're not usually upgradable (except usually RAM).

So if having a computer stuck in place doesn't bother you then go with the desktop, especially if value is what you're after and you plan to upgrade it eventually.

 

[El_Machinae]

I recommend a laptop. The world is moving towards portable computing.

 

[Souron]

Since it sounds like you already have a laptop, so get a desktop. Keep the laptop around for if you ever do need it for school.

As for what brand, on desktops it's better to shop around for parts then to get a pre-built one. You get a much better computer that way.

 

[illram]

A school laptop only needs to do note taking, word processing, and basic internet stuff, so it sounds like if you want that option, you already have it with your old laptop. I have an old Toshiba satellite Celeron from 2005 that I used in grad school for note taking and I still use it to this day for basic things.

If I were you I would get a desktop, since it sounds like the notebook is covered. Desktops can, theoretically, last forever and upgrading sounds like something you might be interested.

Building your own is fun but can be intimidating if it's your first time, and can be a royal pain in the butt if you get non-functional hardware since everything is mail-order. (Especially if you don't have another system with which to troubleshoot stuff to isolate the issue.) It sounds like your hardware demands are not very big so you can easily find something for less than $650 if its a desktop that will still pack a little punch. Not sure how others feel but if I were to buy a PC rather than build my own, I would probably go with ibuypower.com or cyberpower.com. For instance on this page there are more than a few options for below your price point that should be more than enough for what you want to do. (Civ III, basic school stuff. You don't need powerful hardware.) And you can customize them to save more money, such as eliminating liquid cooling or choosing a less fancy case or choosing less powerful hardware. That's why I like those sites. Only problem is their cases are fairly ugly, but you can pick and choose just about everything so for me it's the next best thing to building it myself.

 

[cidknee]

Id go with a desktop, in your case. Stay away from Dell, nothing but headaches with the "customer serivce". Look at best buy, frys, or target. i got one from a shop here, and its an HP, and its fairly decent for 379. and it came with a monitor everything.

But you can get laptops that are very nice for under 650. and will do more than you will need since you arent doing heavy gaming.

 

[Boss Tweed]

Thanks guys, I think I will end up getting a desktop. Since if I do need portability every once and a while, I do still have the older one I'm using now. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Maniacal]

Check out websites like Newegg as well, they also sell pre-built computers.

 

[mdwh]

I'd go for a good desktop then, it will be cheaper and upgradeable than a laptop of equivalent power. And unless it has a really crappy integrated intel card then it should probably run Civ3 fine.

Actually even crappy integrated Intel does Civ 3 fine (my old GMA 950 did it okay, and that was 4 years ago). They're crap for the latest games, but they still do okay for older games, and Civ 3 was never that graphically demanding anyway. (Not that there's any point getting Intel integrated graphics if he's going for a desktop.)