home computer-laptop or PC?

[rfuerst911sc]

My home PC took a dump the other day, I just get a black screen when its on. The computer is about 6 years old ( AMD 750 ) and a 17 inch standard monitor. I may just pay to have it fixed but I'm thinking maybe not. I am writing this on my Dell Lattitude that I purchased to run/tune my Megasquirt ECU for my EFI conversion on my 911SC. Anyway I find I am useing the laptop all the time and never useing the PC, I was basically useing the PC for storage for digital pics.But I would like to have another computer,either PC or laptop, for the wife to use. So do I fix the PC, buy a replacement PC and flat panel screen or another laptop? I have wireless cable for the laptop and it works great. Maybe I'll buy a external hard drive to store pics? Any advice guys?

[gassy]

I'd go with the laptop...we never use our iMac anymore...just our laptops in the kitchen, living room, basement.
Christian.

[slodave]

I have a desktop upstairs in my house. The T.V. is downstairs. I have a ten yearold laptop the sits at the side of the couch. I rarely touch the desktop.

[Joeaksa]

No way that the laptop will ever be as fast or do as much as a good desktop. You already have a good laptop and would either fix the old one (but its 6 years old now) or get a good deal on a new desktop.

You can find deals on various models for $500 or so and go from there. I live on my laptop when out on the road and come home and still cannot believe how much faster the desktop is. They both are 2 years old or so and the laptop works fine, but its just not the same thing.

[slodave]

Joe is right, but it just depends on what you plan on doing with it. My laptop is old, but I manage to use photoshop on it. It is a PII with 96 RAM. I am getting another laptop soon and plan on checking out the CoreDuos.

[Mr Beau]

If your old computer suited your needs OK, then basically any modern laptop should suffice. Get a wireless internet connection and you'll never look back...

[pwd72s]

Are you sure the black screen isn't just a dead monitor?

[Por_sha911]

Originally posted by pwd72s
Are you sure the black screen isn't just a dead monitor?

That was the first thing I thought.
Laptops are more money, slower, have less features, and are harder to fix (you can't fix one yourself so you would have to send it off to replace anything). If you sit in the same place all the time and don't need to hide the machine get a desktop and save money.

[stomachmonkey]

Laptops do not need to be slower than Desktops. The hard drives are generally what kills their performance. If you get a laptop spend a couple of bucks more and get it with a 7200 rpm drive if it's an option or just buy one and stick it in.

It'll make a huge difference. Also ram, get as much as you can afford, goes for laptops and desktops.

[rfuerst911sc]

Thanks guys. No I'm not sure the monitor might be the problem I'll check that out. I must say my 2 year old laptop with Pentium III 1.0 processor is quite a bit faster than my PC but the PC is older with slower processor.The PC has a CD burner which my laptop does not and that's a nice feature and I realize newer laptops have this also. If I purchase something I want to keep the price around $500.00 and in that price range I think the bigger bang for the buck is a PC but I purchased my Dell laptop used for around that and have been happy with it and have the wireless to enjoy. Looks like I have to figure out what's wrong with my PC and then go from there.

[coloradoporsche]

I work for a company that supplies us new laptops every 24 months. I have also maintained various desktops at home for personal use.

HANDS DOWN, desktops are more bang for the buck, and more reliable than laptops. I have sent my laptop (Gateway, Micron and IBM) back and forth to our IT department on average every 5 months for serious hardware and software problems.

My somewhat homemade desktops have been virtually flawless over the same time period.

Cramming all the functionality of a computer into a small space has a cost. You don't get something for nothing. Unless you are going to travel a lot, why not get a nice desktop and a Blackberry for the same (or less) money?

[JavaBrewer]

I was looking to replace my *ancient* P3 550Mhz system. Last weekend I picked up a used PC workstation from a local gamer itching to upgrade. P4 3Ghz, 1 GB Ram, DVD dual layer burner, video card, lan, firewire, beautiful aluminum case, all top stuff, cables, keyboard, optical mouse, XP pro, for get this...$325. Dude still had the boxes and carried it to my car. Check Craigs list for good deals and you can afford both.

[HardDrive]

I have both (er.....we have 6 machines total...). I still think there is a place for a desktop machine. They last longer, they are easier to fix, and they are cheaper out the door. I can put 500 GB of storage in my desktop, and that would require carrying around an external drive for my laptop.

[89911]

Nobody mentioned high demand usage like Video editing or Gaming. To get the right laptop to do these would cost 2 to 3 times the price of a desktop. And you still would have a little keyboard and small display. Just got a Dell 24" monitor. Love it.

[notfarnow]

Here's a consideration:

I have both at home, and I don't use the laptop unless it's just for a few minutes... I get a seriously sore neck from having to look down at it.

At work we only use laptops, and I have mine plugged into a monitor so I'm looking straight ahead.

My doctor says he sees tons of people every month who are have neck/back issues due to poor computer ergonomics.

[Hetmann]

Only advantage to a laptop is that they are mobile. That's the only reason to get one over a desktop.

[yellowline]

Mac Mini. Has the latest Intel processors, dual-boots Windows or Mac OS, can be put just about anywhere (it isn't some hulking box), and there's nothing out there for $6-700 matching its hardware specs. (new)