Laptop or desktop?

mutter

I need to replace the desktop which I bought in 2004!

Although I'm constantly being told to get with the times and get a laptop, I wonder if it's true that you get more for your money with a desktop.

Points to consider are - I do an awful lot of typing and research, which I prefer to sit at a desk for (it doesn't feel like work if I'm on the sofa).
I'd like a lot of storage for music and photos (though important stuff is backed up elsewhere).
And whatever I get will be connected (almost permanently) to a printer and a hifi system, so portability isn't an issue.

Things have come to a head as a relative working for Tesco has 20% discount this weekend only, so I've looked at their site and seen this -

http://www.tesco.com/direct/packard-bell-ts-laptop-intel-core-i3-6gb-1tb-156-display-red/215-1687.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=215-1687

I could buy it for around £320, which is a bit over budget, but possibly doable.

Could I get a better desktop for that sort of money?

I should mention I have a fairly new and perfectly useable 18" monitor, so wouldn't need a new one.

GunJack

I'd definitely go for a desktop with your stated useage and preferences....bang for buck should be better in a desktop, but you sound like you're getting some whacking great discounts with tesco, so first place to start would be there

NiftyDigits

mutter wrote: »

I need to replace the desktop which I bought in 2004!

Although I'm constantly being told to get with the times and get a laptop, I wonder if it's true that you get more for your money with a desktop.

Points to consider are - I do an awful lot of typing and research, which I prefer to sit at a desk for (it doesn't feel like work if I'm on the sofa).
I'd like a lot of storage for music and photos (though important stuff is backed up elsewhere).
And whatever I get will be connected (almost permanently) to a printer and a hifi system, so portability isn't an issue.

Things have come to a head as a relative working for Tesco has 20% discount this weekend only, so I've looked at their site and seen this -

http://www.tesco.com/direct/packard-bell-ts-laptop-intel-core-i3-6gb-1tb-156-display-red/215-1687.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=215-1687

I could buy it for around £320, which is a bit over budget, but possibly doable.

Could I get a better desktop for that sort of money?

I should mention I have a fairly new and perfectly useable 18" monitor, so wouldn't need a new one.

HP have discounts floating around. For instance; This Compaq CQ2870EA with an i3-2120T processor for £259.99 using SEPT20OFF for 20% off.

If you want dedicated Graphics(though a less powerful processor), there is the HP Pavilion p6-2200ea for £263.21

If you would prefer dedicated Graphics and built-in WiFi with a comparable processor to the i3, there is the HP Pavilion p6-2235ea for £295.20

gonzo127

the laptop you have linked contains the i3 2350 scoring a cpu benchmark of 2909, 6gb of ram and 1tb hard drive

http://www.ebuyer.com/395307-zoostorm-desktop-pc-7873-1073 with the core i3 3220 scoring 4546 on cpu benchmark, 8gb of ram and 1tb hard drive (add windows 7 too it and comes to about £350 - quidco cashback of 2 or 6% (dont know which applies to desktops)

http://www.ebuyer.com/398449-packard-bell-imedia-desktop-pc-dt-u74ek-008 with a core i5 2320 scoring 6020 on cpu benchmark, but only 4gb ram and 500gb hard drive - however these are cheap and easy upgrades in future if you find you need more in these departments, this for £330 plus the quidco cashback

AJ84

I had the same argument with myself a few years back and ended up getting both.
Having said that, the desktop quickly went on sale and have used only the laptop every since.

Appreciate you type etc so why not mix it up a bit? Get a laptop, and a monitor/keyboard/mouse.

When you're mobile or want to take the laptop into bed/kitchen etc, you can otherwise you sit it at the desk and hook up the monitor and bits to it to use as a desktop.

If budget can stretch, see if you can pick up a port replicator/docking station that way you can keep your monitor/keyboard/mouse always plugged in and all you do is sit your laptop on it when you're at the desk...otherwise, "eject" it and you're mobile.
Saves the plugging/unplugging each time.

Just my thoughts on it :- )

grumpycrab

Simple answer. Desktop. Laptops just aren't as reliable as desktops. More bang for buck.
There's some great deals above. Shame the HP ones don't give 2 years warranty (as they have been doing with laptops).

Cisco001

Desktop is generally faster than laptop. Also, you can upgrade desktop if you want to.
If you already got a monitor, I do recommend desktop over laptop.

http://www.ebuyer.com/389624-zoostorm-desktop-pc-7873-1067
http://www.ebuyer.com/259863-microsoft-windows-7-home-premium-w-sp1-licence-and-media-1-gfc-02050

closed

Get a laptop (try out the keyboard/mouse in a shop first), and (if your old machine seems slow) backup and reinstall windows on your old machine, then you have the best of both worlds. You can still plug a laptop into a big screen and keyboard if you want the sit at a desk experience. A new laptop will probably have a lot more storage than an 8 year old PC.

grumpycrab

closed wrote: »

(if your old machine seems slow) backup and reinstall windows on your old machine

Unless you're loaded I'd do that.
What model is your dekstop? Add more memory, bigger hard drive (if needed) and upgrade your OS (if required) to W8 in Oct for £25.

macman

I cannot see any advantage to a laptop if portability and space available are not relevant factors.

closed

they use less electricity for one

portability may prove useful.