Could you live without your desktop PC?

Pincher

The hogging of the desk top real estate is the main problem.
I attempted to tackle this problem over the years.

I mounted the screen on the wall, then by creating a screen mount on the back of the desk.

By using wireless keyboard and mouse, I can stash them away when not in use.

I even started a project to customise a metal desk which tilts open and a platform rises. I think originally a typewriter was supposed to come up, for the 1960s secretary.

In the end, there is no substitute for a corner desk, and a swivel chair. Don't need to move a thing, just lots of space. A long wall with two desks doesn't really work.

For the loft, with the wedge shaped space, I removed the studs and put in a steel Toblerone shaped cage, to hold up the roof. Very important to insulate before you close up the roof . Intended for a three screen gaming rig.

compmad1

I have got everything, but would choose a pc if I could only have one thing.
I just bought this. Three year warranty, but only for another couple of days. All in One - just like having a monitor only. Bigger screen than laptop:
http://www.johnlewis.com/lenovo-c50-all-in-one-desktop-pc-intel-core-i5-8gb-ram-1tb-23-/p2116098?colour=Black#login-overlay-register_show

Jivesinger

It's all a case of what is a priority for you, with many advantages and disadvantages as stated above.

Personally I have a laptop which for serious work is propped up on some old yellow pages (so the screen is the right height), with cheap external keyboard and mouse. My TV will plug in as a monitor if I need a big screen. It's less maintainable and a bit more expensive than a desktop, but gives portability, better use of space, and isn't too bad ergonomically, so the compromise suits me.

Nilrem

I couldn't manage without my Desktop, largely because of what I use it for (Gaming and main PC in the house), and the costs of getting a laptop for the same task, especially costs when it goes wrong as I can fix the PC and if need be drop a single part in for <£100, whilst with a laptop if almost anything goes wrong other than one of the drives it's several hundred (or new laptop time).

As an example of my usage pattern, I've had to fit an extra USB card into my machine, which already had a generous number of USB ports (as it had the default Intel usb ports, then a third party usb controller on the motherboard), as I simply ran out of "USB resources"* and had to keep unplugging say a printer or hard drive to get a game controller or external DVD drive to be recognised.

The simple fact that laptops only have 2-4 usb ports in itself would rule them out for my normal use.


*I've probably got about 20 or 30 things plugged in, multiple input devices, multiple external drives, several printers, including specialist ones, memory sticks, camera, ebook.

ferry

Pincher wrote: »

The hogging of the desk top real estate is the main problem.
I attempted to tackle this problem over the years.

I mounted the screen on the wall, then by creating a screen mount on the back of the desk.

By using wireless keyboard and mouse, I can stash them away when not in use.

I even started a project to customise a metal desk which tilts open and a platform rises. I think originally a typewriter was supposed to come up, for the 1960s secretary.

In the end, there is no substitute for a corner desk, and a swivel chair. Don't need to move a thing, just lots of space. A long wall with two desks doesn't really work.

For the loft, with the wedge shaped space, I removed the studs and put in a steel Toblerone shaped cage, to hold up the roof. Very important to insulate before you close up the roof . Intended for a three screen gaming rig.

Ah, right now I get it .
Upgrade your house rather than upgrade your PC:D

esuhl

I wonder if the new gaming laptop with a liquid-cooler docking block will convert any desktop die-hards?!

http://www.kitguru.net/laptops/anton-shilov/asus-rog-gx700-worlds-first-liquid-cooled-laptop-with-4k-ips-screen/

RobTang

No, although I did a while through uni but it just ended up being a lot cheaper and faster to get a desktop.

esuhl wrote: »

I wonder if the new gaming laptop with a liquid-cooler docking block will convert any desktop die-hards?!

http://www.kitguru.net/laptops/anton-shilov/asus-rog-gx700-worlds-first-liquid-cooled-laptop-with-4k-ips-screen/

Not me, I can build a really nice machine for the cost of that thing and I bet no one will bother to stock it either.

Nilrem

esuhl wrote: »

I wonder if the new gaming laptop with a liquid-cooler docking block will convert any desktop die-hards?!

http://www.kitguru.net/laptops/anton-shilov/asus-rog-gx700-worlds-first-liquid-cooled-laptop-with-4k-ips-screen/

Why would I want a very expensive laptop that if something goes wrong I can't easily fix, as opposed to my custom built desktop that I can repair and keep up to date for the next 5 years for less than that thing?

It's also worth remembering that "desktop replacement" laptops have the worst of all worlds, they have the poor input devices, serviceability/upgrade-ability of a laptop, whilst at the same time tending to be far bulkier than normal laptop, and far more expensive than the equivalent specification PC.

About the only thing they tend to have going for them is that they're good if you need something approaching the power of a desktop but also need to be able to move it from one location to another easier than a desktop (IE if you work in two different locations at desks, or take it to LAN parties), or if you need more power than a normal laptop in a smaller package than a desktop - although if that is the case than some form of mini PC may be better (a mini ATX/Micro ATX motherboard with a desktop CPU, often with a desktop GPU and a single drive can be had far cheaper yet still be small).

Double_V

I cannot leave my multi screen setup.
And as mentioned by some, I am also more productive on desktop and specially with multi screen.

I just bought laptop for uni work.
And will be using cloud drive so I can access all documents from both places.

Thanks

General_query

Desktop PCs forever! Hate laptops/netbooks. Love a full size monitor, big clunky keyboard and proper mouse - not some naff trackball.

Have always had a tower and always will, until they stop making them.

And I also HATE websites that are redesigned for bloody tablets and mobiles.

Latest one we found that has switched is now Virgin trains

Give us the option of what we're viewing it on please.

And yes, I still use a PAYG mobile phone!

Just wish we could still buy a decent desktop PC that comes with Windows 7 on.

I do NOT want Windows 10 thank you very much!