Laptops, really that useful?

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Aikouka

Lifer
Nov 27, 2001
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912
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My laptop is used mostly for remoting into my desktop when I'm not in my computer room. When I travel, I usually have it with me unless the trip isn't very long. It isn't nearly as speedy as my desktop, but it was a moderately-capable gaming machine in its day, and it still holds up. It's definitely a lot nicer since I added the SSD and upgraded from Vista to 7.
 

Mo0o

Lifer
Jul 31, 2001
24,227
3
76
why not own both. Stagger your computer purchases. You can get a reasonable desktop and a laptop for ~$1000 total. The laptop can be handy for travel, studying outside the house, just lounging on the couch etc.
 

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
why not own both. Stagger your computer purchases. You can get a reasonable desktop and a laptop for ~$1000 total. The laptop can be handy for travel, studying outside the house, just lounging on the couch etc.

Bolded is way off for me. The laptop alone would be $1k.

Desktop would be same or more. :whiste:

Again, I don't lounge on couches... so, using a laptop at home doesn't apply to me.
 
Oct 27, 2007
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Bolded is way off for me. The laptop alone would be $1k.

Desktop would be same or more. :whiste:

Again, I don't lounge on couches... so, using a laptop at home doesn't apply to me.
There's no need to spend that much on a non-gaming machine. Buy a cheaper laptop and a previous-gen gaming desktop. $1000 might be pushing it, but you could do this for not much more.
 

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
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There's no need to spend that much on a non-gaming machine. Buy a cheaper laptop and a previous-gen gaming desktop. $1000 might be pushing it, but you could do this for not much more.

For the laptop, if I wanted anywhere near decent performance or something really portable like a Macbook Air, then yeah... I would have to spend pretty money.

I already have a somewhat decent system if I put more ram in it (Crucial fucked up my RMA and sent my ram to the wrong fucking address so I am stuck with 2GBs), but I rather get a Core i7-920 and a 5870/5970/GTX580 or wait for sandy bridge if it's going to be any good... idk yet. :ninja:
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
Most people I know these days don't even have desktops. Just MBPs or PC lappy. Mostly professionals and do real work on them. Really all you need a desktop for is gaming at massive resolutions. Today's laptops are very powerful and can handle most software.

Desktops are dying.
 
Last edited:
Oct 27, 2007
17,009
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For the laptop, if I wanted anywhere near decent performance or something really portable like a Macbook Air, then yeah... I would have to spend pretty money.

I already have a somewhat decent system if I put more ram in it (Crucial fucked up my RMA and sent my ram to the wrong fucking address so I am stuck with 2GBs), but I rather get a Core i7-920 and a 5870/5970/GTX580 or wait for sandy bridge if it's going to be any good... idk yet. :ninja:
A cheap laptop has enough performance for 99% of tasks these days.
 
May 16, 2000
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I didn't need one until I started working on my history degree. Not only were there too many notes to do by hand, the ridiculous number of hours spent in archives and at remote libraries pretty much necessitated it.
 

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
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Most people I know these days don't even have desktops. Just MBPs or PC lappy. Mostly professionals and do real work on them. Really all you need a desktop for is gaming at massive resolutions. Today's laptops are very powerful and can handle most software.

Desktops are dying.

Well, you actually need a nice desktop for low resolutions too for a lot of new games, but still. Also, nothing beats a normal mouse + keyboard combo. omfg, that shit is an everlasting orgasm after being stuck with some shit keyboard and a trackpad.

MBP is too expensive. $1700+ is really more than what I want to pay for a laptop... desktop, alright... I can kick some virtual ass on that at least.
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
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Well, you actually need a nice desktop for low resolutions too for a lot of new games, but still. Also, nothing beats a normal mouse + keyboard combo. omfg, that shit is an everlasting orgasm after being stuck with some shit keyboard and a trackpad.

MBP is too expensive. $1700+ is really more than what I want to pay for a laptop... desktop, alright... I can kick some virtual ass on that at least.

What's stopping you from plugging KBM into a laptop? You don't need a MBP you have apple tax sure you have great ips screen, you have soild machine but there are plenty more powerful, cheaper, a lot cheaper PC laptops. Which, if you game you want anyway since PC gets all the games.

No you won't get the same graphics as a desktop but good enough for 95% of games with ATI 5870 mobility for less than $1000 in a laptop. Throw a SSD in there and I'd be happy to hook it up to my desktop monitor and play just about anything.
 

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
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What's stopping you from plugging KBM into a laptop? You don't need a MBP you have apple tax sure you have great ips screen, you have soild machine but there are plenty more powerful, cheaper, a lot cheaper PC laptops. Which, if you game you want anyway since PC gets all the games.

No you won't get the same graphics as a desktop but good enough for 95% of games with ATI 5870 mobility for less than $1000 in a laptop. Throw a SSD in there and I'd be happy to hook it up to my desktop monitor and play just about anything.

Kinda defeats the purpose of a laptop though if I have to plug it in all the time. :/
 

KDOG

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,525
14
81
For me its not having to be chained to an outlet. I primarily use it at home. Its my main computer so no matter where I go, I can always take it all with me. I'm also a paranoid person so if it ever hits the fan I can just grab it and go. Power outage? I got whatever is in my Back UPS 750 to run off of and then whatever time the battery will run (3.5hrs I think). I also go camping (or RVing if you prefer) and most campgrounds have wifi so of course thats gonna have to be a lappy.

Heck, you can even post on AT from the can if you wanted to...
 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
2
0
Uh, do my work at home or at the school computers... It's prettttty easy.

OK, you ask a questions, then you try to defend a stance as if you want to start a debate. If you already know the answer, do not bother asking it.
 

SSSnail

Lifer
Nov 29, 2006
17,458
83
86
OK, you ask a questions, then you try to defend a stance as if you want to start a debate. If you already know the answer, do not bother asking it.
It's called trolling and attention whoring (or crying for attention), everyone knows this.
 

James Bond

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2005
6,023
0
0
Maybe you never lounge around because you know that would mean leaving your computer behind?

Just a thought.
 

TridenT

Lifer
Sep 4, 2006
16,800
45
91
Maybe you never lounge around because you know that would mean leaving your computer behind?

Just a thought.

What's the point of lounging around with nothing to do? I don't watch TV. Oh surprise, I am different than you!
 

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
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What's the point of lounging around with nothing to do? I don't watch TV. Oh surprise, I am different than you!

Have you tried lounging around with a computer?

It's actually kind of nice. I did it while studying a lot, and getting comfortable can mean better studying. Of course, there is the risk of getting too comfortable and falling asleep. Did that on more than one occasion. :)

Have you tried lounging around and simply reading... anything?

You don't watch any tv shows or movies? Find nothing interesting on any learning channels either, like History, Discover, Science, anything?
I mean, don't have to watch them live or DVR them. Sometimes I get TV shows, ahem... and then load them up on my PS3 to watch on my TV... something you can also accomplish with a laptop. If you watch videos but only do so at your computer, I almost say you have a whole new world to learn if you change that up a bit. Watching videos while lounging around is awesome.