Laptop or desktop?

mutter

Thanks for all the comments so far.

My current machine is an iQon (rememebr them?) with an AMD Sempron Processor 3000+
1.80 GHz, 192 of RAM, running XP Home Edition version 2002.

It's had a couple of extra drives installed for storage of music and pictures too.

I'm warming to the idea of getting the laptop to work on and maybe keeping the desktop for the music etc.
Sadly I'm not loaded. This is a big purchase for me so I want to get it right, and that laptop did look like quite a bargain.

I used to be indecisive but now I'm not so sure.
:embarasse

GlynD

I can't be bothered with a laptop. I prefer to be at my desk to work. I suppose it's a mindset issue but I certainly wouldn't be influenced by friends to buy a laptop simply because it's more trendy; I buy what suits me.

macman

Which was why I specifically mentioned portability as ruling out a desktop. However, not many 17" laptops can be considered as portable. And I wouldn't ever recommend a 15" laptop as a desktop replacement-it's a different tool entirely.

closed

A 17" laptop is far more portable than a desktop. ie can be used anywhere in the house, can also be used as a TV/Radio.

192 MB of ram is on the low side, if it's slow, an upgrade may be beneficial.

Keep the music on both, then you have a backup.

Not a good idea to buy a laptop from a website before seeing it, if the mousepad or keyboard is not comfortable, it will lead to lots of frustration. Some have numeric keypads, some don't, so the spacing and layout can be very different from one machine to the next.

GlynD

closed wrote: »

A 17" laptop is far more portable than a desktop.

192 MB of ram is on the low side, if it's slow, an upgrade may be beneficial.

I find a 22" desktop much better than any laptop. For a start laptop keys are spaced far too close together for me making typing a nightmare.

HeadAboveWater

Personally I'm a laptop fan rather than desktop. I've never really had the room for a computer desk come to think of it!

The laptop stays in the house and doesn't get lugged about the country, but I love being able to move from room to room. Can sit at the breakfast bar if I'm doing 'serious' work/typing. Bed if I'm looking a more comfy seat for just browsing/ebaying etc. Big plus is in the winter I can curl up on the sofa in front of a big roaring open fire...

Ahhhhh the simple things in life...!

(and laptop is 17" and a tonne weight!!)

cajef

I have both but much prefer the desktop and use it 95% of the time, bought the laptop when I was having problems with an old desktop thinking to use it as the main computer but in the end bought a new desktop, only use the laptop when the OH has claimed the desktop for a while, just keep it as back up and the odd occasions we are away.

mutter

closed wrote: »

192 MB of ram is on the low side, if it's slow, an upgrade may be beneficial.

How exactly would I go about that?

closed wrote: »

Not a good idea to buy a laptop from a website before seeing it, if the mousepad or keyboard is not comfortable, it will lead to lots of frustration.

I understand that, but from my so far limited experience of laptops, a wireless/usb mouse would be absolutely the first thing I'd add to it.

NiftyDigits

mutter wrote: »

How exactly would I go about that?



I understand that, but from my so far limited experience of laptops, a wireless/usb mouse would be absolutely the first thing I'd add to it.

You unscrew the side panel, after disconnecting the PC from the mains and slot the new RAM in.

You'll be surprised at the performance boost, especially after a clean up.

A couple of these should do it.

mutter

GunJack wrote: »

.........but you sound like you're getting some whacking great discounts with tesco, so first place to start would be there

Yes, but the Tesco range of desktops is pitiful.

http://www.tesco.com/direct/technology-gaming/desktop-pc/cat3374244.cat?catId=4294960207&sortBy=1