Sell it all and buy a laptop?

[HannibalX]

I'm tired of 3/4 of my desk being taken up by the PC as well as all the light sockets on both walls around my PC. Is it worth is to sell off and buy a lap top? I don't play many games anymore as it is so that shouldn't be an issue. I also am interested in Cellular Internet. How are the speeds?

 

[MichaelD]

Good morning!

Well, this is an interesting post (to me anyway) and since no one's bit yet, I'll be the first.

Interestingly enough, I kind of feel the same way about the "desktop space thing". I'd like to be able to use my pc desk as a "real desk" to sit at and write out bills, read or whatever, but I can't because I've got my monitor, speakers, microphone, CDroms and other pc-related crap all over the place.....but I guess I'm whining because I can't afford a bigger apartment, so I could have a second bedroom, so i could get a real desk (L-shaped, one side for pc, other for "work&quot Oh well, someday.

Even though you don't game much anymore, I'm sure you're used to the full size keyboard and real mouse feel. As well as a decent monitor. I use laptops fairly often at/for work and I can tell you, I don't like it one bit. Usually, they have the touchpad-mouse thingee, which sucks bad no matter how you tinker with the "sensitivity adjustment" in the control panel. Also the display just rots. There's nothing like a real monitor to view text on. I know all about docking stations and things like that. If you're gonna go thru all that trouble, not to mention the $$$ to buy all that crap, why not just stick with a "real" pc to begin with?

I don't think you're a "casual user", simply because you're posting here! After seeing what you've seen and know ing what you know, do you really think you could be happy with a laptop? Do you travel a lot? I honestly would have to get a laptop if need be if work didn't loan one out when I travel on business. Even for just surfing and emailing, I need a real keyboard and mouse. Not to mention a screen that I can read w/o having to tilt my head exactly 34 degrees south because the laptop's screen doesnt' "angle" any farther. I say keep what you've got and get a bigger desk. Good luck.

 

[HannibalX]

Thanks for the reply man I'm still 50/50 on this but I am leaning torward keeping my mamoth Tbird a while longer!

 

[Zucchini]

if you can stand lcd monitors all the time They have the resolution now, but not the contrast and brightness so thats oone thing you'll be missing out on.. otherwise.. yea i guess that would be fine. u can use a laptop with an external monitor and keyboard etc. Not sure about the output though, my laptop maxes out at 1024x768 on analog monitors.

 

[MCS]

I tend to always feel more "hunched over" and "squinted" when working on a laptop. Its OK for a short time but its no comparison to a "real" PC, IMHO. Laptops are a convenience tool. Use a PC where you wouldn't be able to ordinarily use one, or if you travel a lot.

Instead of wasting all that time and effort in changing to a laptop why don't you just buy a bigger desk?

 

[Mixxen]

Maybe invest in a flat panel monitor and a surge protector with mutiple outlets.

But it's always cool to be able to work on your computer almost anywhere

 

[erub]

Personally I view laptops as mainly only being worthwhile when people are travelling. With a laptop you have to use their keyboard and either touchpad/eraser head mouse as well as look at the screen. I have never had a major problem viewing a laptop screen, but I don't like to type on a laptop keyboard very much.

If your main problem is desk space, why not put your PC slightly out of the way (buy some cheap extension cables) and get an LCD monitor? I have heard that major price cuts are coming for LCDs over the summer. Dell is now selling many LCDs for under $600 - the only reason I looked at Dell's site is that my dad told me they had a few onsale. I'm sure other sites are offering similar for just as good or better prices. If you can find a buyer for your monitor in the FS/FT or on E-bay, it probably would not be much of a hit on your wallet, compared to the cost of getting a laptop.

 

[chansen]

I don't know. My wife and I have a laptop with a 14" 1400x1050 screen and a desktop with a 19" monitor at 1280x960. When we both need to work on stuff, our first choice is often the laptop. Less desk space required, higher usable resolution, and if you use a USB mouse, still ergonomic enough to be productive. For similarly equipped machines, it's a tough call.

 

[kingz]

Invest in a Flat Panel. They are a lot cheaper nowdays, $430-600 for a 15" screen, which is closer to a 17" CRT then a 15" CRT space wise. If you need more viewing area, a 17" TFT will cost ya around $780 min.

I suggest this one:
SyncMaster 150T Monitor

Makes you go wow eh? only $614 (After 20% off)

You still have to get use to a TFT, but they are a lot brighter than most Laptops. You also get added deskspace, and you can keep that rig of yours.

 

[chansen]

Actually (not to sound incredulous), but kingz makes sense. We just bought my accountant mother-in-law a 15" flat panel (Viewsonic VG151) and it makes sense for her. Her desk setup will accomodate a 15" CRT, but is too cramped for a 17" CRT. With no room in her office to get a bigger desk (my first choice), we bought her the flat panel (well, she bought it - I picked it out).

I think it's excellent. Still too expensive for me - I'd rather have a 21" flat CRT for the money, but for an accountant it works. Plus, now she has the fastest and most modern computer among all her accountant friends (T-bird 1.2GHz). Really, it's quite crazy - but she loves it.

 

[perry]

I developed wrist problems using a laptop so long as a normal PC. My right wrist would be angled in to fit on the keyboard, and after about a year I developed tendonitis in the wrist. Hurt like hell to work on the computer. I bought a regular keyboard and mouse and hooked it up and that helped start the healing process. Then common sense took over, and I sold the laptop and built a desktop machine with the proceeds, just about breaking even except with a much more powerful desktop. I'd say for travelling a laptop is fine, but for a full time PC, it isn't worth the hassle.

 

[sirfergy]

I sold it all and got a laptop. I am very happy with the decision.

I bought the laptop and a port replicator, so I can have all the ports I need and keep the laptop portable. I love my 15" 1400x1050 display and the ability to "take it all with you" is an amazing plus.

One advantage people don't seem to mention that laptops have over full systems are costs. My electricity bill went down $10 a month since my old computer is gone.

The only thing that I don't like is that I am relegated to a 4x4x6 USB burner, but I can live with that.

 

[BassDominator]

Another vote for the laptop. I love my LCD screen. Sharp, perfectly flat, and very easy on the eyes. It's tons quieter and more energy efficient than my old desktop. I rarely travel with it, but nothing beats being able to take anywhere in the house you like.

 

[Tideman]

I like them both...I have my desktop (Athlon 900), my sons have my old 233MMX (great for a 10 and 7 year old to play their games on), and I have 2 WinBook XL2's. One for me and one for my wife.

I use my Winbook when traveling, but when I was upgrading my desktop, I used my Port Replicator to hook it up to my keyboard and monitor and it worked quite well as a substitute computer for 2 weeks.

 

[erikistired]

i got rid of all my desktop stuff and bought a nice laptop. and i love it. i play diablo 2 on the gaming side (works fine) and i got a thinkpad with the ~eraser head~ pointer (i hate hate hate touchpads) but i also have a mouse i can use if need be. i would never go back to a desktop machine, cuz i don't like being tied down to one area, i like to move around and i like having my pc with me. the 14" 1024x768 screen works for me, and the keyboard is fine as well. our desktop pc has become my wife's machine actually, as i don't use it anymore (which suits her just fine). she actually has 2 desks, one for the pc, and one to work on. i just use the coffee table.

anyway, it has it's differences (pointed out above, altho a bit exaggerated i think in some cases) but for me it's worth it.

~erik