Reason for a laptop over a desktop PC?

Desktop PC's tend to be a bit faster than lappies in my experience, you also get more for your money buying a desktop. I've got three PC and a Sony vaio laptop and much prefer the desktops for speed and upgradability, I would only go for a laptop if you need something portable for collage Uni or say work.

just my thoughts, I'm sure someone will have a different take on it.

br

doggo
 
Ace Modder said:
Can people also tell me, whether they have a desktop PC as well, if so, why did you decide to buy a laptop also?
Click to expand...

I've always had desktops, but decided to get a notebook in May/June 2006. Got it fairly cheap because my step-dad needed one for just a couple of months while he was without his Sony VAIO, so he let me choose it ([URL="http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10273902&postcount=61]Dell 630m[/URL]) and then sold it to me for £100 off what he paid.

Have found it very useful, I'm a student so it's nice to be able to take my own machine in to Uni library to use without messing with the PCs they have there. Also means I can use my own apps, Office 2007 etc, and the 'laptop area' just has more space and tends to be a bit quieter too. Also means I can sit downstairs on the sofa with my notebook and watch TV or with other people, rather than being stuck in my room all the time!

I still have my PC though, and I still use it plenty. My notebook is just my secondary machine. Very nice to have both though.
 
How many of you actually game on a laptop?

I have always had a desktop myself, but I wanted to get the Mrs a PC too, so I got her a laptop to save on space. It was a 3.0Ghz P4, with a 9800pro with 2GB DDR Ram, included a DVD-RW and a 17inch screen (bought 3yrs ago) it didn't game very well for some reason, when my desktop was round about that spec my desktop seemed to perform better against it.

Maybe it was the crappy keyboard, cos laptops keyboards are very cramped.

After about 6months, I sold the laptop and bought her a desktop also, and modified my kitchen to incorporate the neccessary room.
 
I decided to go for a laptop over a desktop this time for a couple of reasons.

1. Size. I'm moving in with my girlfriend and her parents for a few months and space is a bit of a premium. When we eventually get our own place in 2008, space will again be at a premium.

2. Portability. I'm not rooted to a single place in the home. If I want to go downstairs and browse while watching football, I can.

3. Sociable. My girlfriends loves me to death but she'd soon get fed up of me locked away in another room in the house. With a laptop, I can do a bit of work, browse etc. while she's watching Eastenders of something.

I play games on my laptop but I'm no hardcore gamer. Gone are the days of me playing online for hours on end. Now I'll probably game for about an hour. The Vostro 1500 I purchased is more than capable of playing most games at a decent graphical quality that I find acceptable.

I spent £524 on my Vostro and probably could've built a superior spec desktop for the money, but it wouldn't have met the reasons I stated above. Once we get a larger home I'll no doubt go back to desktops. But for now, laptops suit my personal needs fine.:)
 
I needed something that could run some games but also something that was portable, had no wirey mess and had the ability to be "tidied away..."
Had a base unit at the time, but it was getting sold. Have another base unit that can run games very nicely right now but it's also going to be sold soon I think.

The fact that my laptop is a desktop replacement model makes it easier to live with, my previous laptop didn't have an amazingly great screen and couldn't run Guild Wars at max, which of course, was unacceptable. :D Sound wasn't too good on it either.
No such problems on this one though (Inspiron 9400), it's still a joy to use.
 
I've recently bought my first laptop and also have a gaming desktop PC. Part of the reason is I feel a bit guilty about using a power hungry desktop when just browsing the web for a few hours, or when downloading something. The whole laptop uses less power than my Dell monitor alone. Rather appauls me how much power gaming PCs use these days (esp with an 8800) and you really notice it when you're on an electric pre-payment meter. I'd say the main reason though is not being tied to a desk when using it. I wouldn't use a laptop for gaming though, so I still need both.
 
fish99 said:
The whole laptop uses less power than my Dell monitor alone. Rather appauls me how much power gaming PCs use these days
Click to expand...
They hardly use anything at all these days. Mine uses less than 120W when browsing the internet and the monitor uses less than 40W. Considering a normal lightbulb uses 60W thats not really much.
 
Energize said:
They hardly use anything at all these days. Mine uses less than 120W when browsing the internet and the monitor uses less than 40W. Considering a normal lightbulb uses 60W thats not really much.
Click to expand...
Our lightbulbs use 11W each. And 19W (the power consumption of my lappy) is a lot less than 120W, and my PC probably uses quite a bit more than 120W with the 8800. According to the link below an 8800 GTS system can use around 178W idle and 260W load. Not even the lowly 7600GT was near 120W-

http://techreport.com/articles.x/11211/16

Like I said when you're on a prepayment meter you notice how much power stuff uses more. Also when you say 'these days', PCs have never used as much power as they do today.
 
Last edited:
Sold the desktop and got a Dell 9400 about 16 months ago.
I game on the lappy (17" screen 1440x900, 7800go, Core Duo 1.83GHz, 2Gb RAM) and it runs HL2, CS:S & TF2 very well with highish settings.
Reason was due to space, got rid of the desk when i sold my desktop and only need the breakfast bar area to use my lappy, it can be moved very easily if extra space is required. If i want to game i just get the usb mouse and keyboard out (i dont like gaming with the lappy kb) and i'm away....wouldnt go back to a desktop anytime soon.
 
Pretty much the exact same laptop as you InQ, I am currently swapping between T2300, T2350 and T5500 CPU's though.
Have you tried clocking the 7800go at all? Mine got stupidly hot until I cleaned off the thermal gunk and swapped for AS5. Now I run it at 310/740 for performance 3d, haven't tested max clocks but it's a noticeable boost in newer games. :)
 
fish99 said:
Part of the reason is I feel a bit guilty about using a power hungry desktop when just browsing the web for a few hours, or when downloading something.
Click to expand...
That's one of my reason too. My PC is left on most of the day and just doing my bit to reduce my carbon footprint. Also my desktop was very noise and having a silent laptop is amazing.

I don't play games anymore, as I have a 360 for that. My laptop is pretty fast, if not faster then my old desktop. Love having the extra space and being mobile if needed. Not sure if I could go back to a desktop again.
 
Energize said:
The whole point of getting a laptop is portability.
Click to expand...

Not for me it isn't!!

I recently switched to a laptop because I have a small flat and my computer takes up too much space in my living room with the desk, chair, monitor and all the associated junk.

For me it's purely a space saving thing. I can use iit sat on the sofa, or with it on my table, but it doesn't need a whole desk for itself. I will only very rarely take it outside the flat, so portability and weight etc isn't a big issue for me.
 
Ace Modder said:
How many of you actually game on a laptop?

I have always had a desktop myself, but I wanted to get the Mrs a PC too, so I got her a laptop to save on space. It was a 3.0Ghz P4, with a 9800pro with 2GB DDR Ram, included a DVD-RW and a 17inch screen (bought 3yrs ago) it didn't game very well for some reason, when my desktop was round about that spec my desktop seemed to perform better against it.

Maybe it was the crappy keyboard, cos laptops keyboards are very cramped.

After about 6months, I sold the laptop and bought her a desktop also, and modified my kitchen to incorporate the neccessary room.
Click to expand...

I use my Laptop for gaming.. been playing Crysis demo on it just now infact and runs suprisingly well on Decent settings.. Otherwise i use my laptop for TF2 and work.. Which is 3D art, so also very intensive. My laptop is a lot better han my Desktop, but then again it did cost a lot more.

Main reason for a laptop was so i can use it at work and home, and even in comfort on the sofa infront of the TV if needs be.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom