is it over for PC desktops?

B

brianluce

Carbonite Member
Apparently notebooks are outselling desktops these days.

My PC desktop is on it's way to the ICU and most likely will end up in the morgue.

The only big software I use is Vegas 6.0d. But I do use it a lot. So, Should I bother with a desktop for my next computer? What, with external Hdd's and all?
 
I think in general laptops are becoming more popular than desktops. You can have basically the same amount of processing power and do everything that desktops can do, but in a portable configuration. So it's really not surprising at all. My new computer shall be a new Macbook Pro, which will actually be faster and better than my current G5 desktop.
 
I went the laptop route this time. They call mine a "desktop replacement" and it will run any software that a regular desktop would. It's so much nicer to have than a tower. And if I want to sit down and work on something, it's simple to hook up a keyboard and mouse (or Wacom tablet) and run it to my desktop LCD monitor. It's also got an SVideo out to run to my production monitor.
 
Desktops still give you tons of advantages over laptops, particularly in the areas of customization and upgradeability. And they cost less.

But, as with most things in this realm, it doesn't have to be either/or.
 
Is it me but desktops seem to perform much better given comparable stats? My laptop has more powerful features but my desktop outperforms in every way. Is this standard? Am I the only one whose experienced this or did I get a lemon-laptop?
 
I like to squeeze every last drop of performance for my money (read: I'm cheap) so desktops are the way to go for me right now.
 
Rick Meyer said:
Is it me but desktops seem to perform much better given comparable stats? My laptop has more powerful features but my desktop outperforms in every way. Is this standard? Am I the only one whose experienced this or did I get a lemon-laptop?
Click to expand...

Are you running Vista on you laptop?

How do your specs match up on you desktop versus laptop?
 
well, lets see...my desktop just turned 5 this month. 2.8mhz hyperthread...yes i do have a raid but im not factoring that in with performance because i also have a main harddrive formatted to house my programs and primary storage...5 year old plextor dvd burner...1 gig sdram...really it wasnt until recently did personal computer technology make some major leaps...

laptop will be 2 in april...2mhz dual core processor...5400rpm hard drive...1 gig ram...much fast burner...spec wise cant remember...

i used both to render MAYA stuff....no contest. In fact, my laptop is slower in every way...shoot...burning a DVD takes a 1/2 hour at least.

Both have windows xp.
 
No:

(1) Built for heavy abuse, For example in an office environment, PCs need to run 24 hours, 365 days a year

(2) Upgradeability, Desktops can be configured 1000s of different ways, different business situations demand different setup.

(3) Maintainence, Desktop modular construction means, things are easy to replace

(4) Security, Desktops are easier to constrain into an office desk (PC desk Housing with locks), with laptops this would be harder.

(5) Performance/Price, size is not such an issue, because of this PCs will always have a lead, because a laptop will always have to squeeze performance into a very limited space. For desktops a large space is always available.

If you are just using it for surfing/email/words just basic home use then the aruguments may swing over. for bussiness its a different ball game.
 
Anhar nailed it.

Just because something might be selling more, doesn't mean it's rendering something else obsolete by any means. You have to consider WHY they may be selling more or to whom. And, do these people ALSO own a Desktop?
 
It's all about what fits your needs. Todays laptops can run rings around the desktops of a few years ago. What has kept me from making the change has been the 7200RPM drives on desktops. But that technology is changing anyway.

An interesting note though is that desktop model sales have fallen off below new purchases of handheld devices and laptops in Japan to the point where some manufacturers are thinking of abandoning them altogether. SO at some point, you might not even have a choice to make.
 
Laptops are becoming more popular because they are "good enough" to run common apps, no longer cost an arm and a leg, and have become very light and portable. I like having a pure editing rig and a "daily driver" computer and my next daily driver will be a laptop 'cause its portable, takes up much less space and will handle my day-to-day tasks (Word, internet, e-mail, etc.,.) just as good a desktop.


-A
 
When a laptop can run a Quad Core and a GPU capable of handlin visually intense applications is when I'll cast off a Desktop. Not like anybody ASKED me, but still. The point is that the Quad Core laps are just now hitting the market, and word is that they don't last more than 20 minutes off the charger.

No good.

It'll come, but, it'll be a while before they hit AND they're affordable to the masses. Til then, I'll take my Quad Core desktop over such anyday.
 
Jim Brennan said:
I think the power issues will be solved as we move to solid state memory drives.
Click to expand...

Well yes and no,

you will still need to power those fans to cool the CPUs, and then there is Wifi (if your using it) and TFT screens to sap energy.

The more powerful the CPU the more power it requires to cool it. But yes SSD is a step in the right direction.

You can of course get your hands on SuperPolymer LiIons from Electroyava (Candadian Company) they have the highest Watt/Density of any battery.

They have 12+ hours LiIon battery packs, that are about same dimensionas as yout laptop and half inch thick.
 
Sure Tom. Just send it to me, along with a bottle of Bushmmills Single Malt, some Guinness, and a few pictures of Rhea Perlman in a thong. I'll take care of it for you.
:beer:
 
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