Should I Opt for a Desktop Rather than a Laptop.

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gilead

Member
Been considering purchase of a desktop to replace my still usable laptop. Comes with 32GB memory, 3,26 MG speed, wired keyboard- wireless mouse, wifi, bluetooth, 1TB HD, I7 processing chip, 27” in monitor. SFP case, DVD/CD drive, 10 USB ports. 3 HDMI ports. Serial port, plus many if not all the bells & whistles.

When first started my career we had PS2’s, mainframe access. 13” monitors. New one beats the laptop hands down, all for less than $300. Free shipping. Space is not an issue, I watch movies extensively on my wife’s night to howl.. Thinking they will play better on a 27” rather than a 15.6” monitor. No laptop CD/DVD drive

The laptop it’s replacing has only a 16GB memory & 15.6” screen, 256GB HD. Do I need it? - NO. Want it? Obviously. Price is not a show stopper. It’s not new, is renewed, will install a Linux System, comes with Win 10 Pro (not supported). Had been looking at a newer, more powerful laptop. They want $400+ for those. FOMO! Not a gamer either.
 

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I personally much prefer desktops, I've got 2 desktops I had built 3 years ago, both run Linux(of course!), both have 11th Gen Intel i5 processors, 32GB DDR4, nVidia RTX series GPus. Both have 27 in. Viewsonic displays, which at the time was the sweet spot price wise.

gilead said:
The laptop it’s replacing has only a 16GB memory & 15.6” screen, 256GB HD. Do I need it? - NO Want it? Obviously. Price is not a show stopper. It’s not new, is renewed, will install a Linux System, comes with Win 10 Pro (not supported). Had been looking at a newer, more powerful laptop. They want $400+ for those. FOMO! Not a gamer either.
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That laptop is still a power house, I have a 7yr. old Dell_Inspiron_15_7657 with similar specs.
 
Nathan said:
I personally much prefer desktops, I've got 2 desktops I had built 3 years ago, both run Linux(of course!), both have 11th Gen Intel i5 processors, 32GB DDR4, nVidia RTX series GPus. Both have 27 in. Viewsonic displays, which at the time was the sweet spot price wise.


That laptop is still a power house, I have a 7yr. old Dell_Inspiron_15_7657 with similar specs.
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OK you convinced me.
 

I had laptops for many years and then a desktop. I went back to a laptop. The big reason is the power supply. My laptop is always plugged in, but when there is a power outage, the battery keeps the laptop running. For the desktop, a power outage shuts off the computer and sometimes I would have difficulties starting it again.

Also, if thunderstorms are threatening, I unplug the laptop and protect it from any power surge. The desktop had to be shut down. There are surge protectors, I know, but unplugging is the only sure protection.

My laptop is a Wipemik that I got for a little over $300 and it has been great so far after 13 months of use.
 
Only reason, back when I 1st went with a laptop was space, We had a full house with grandkids & such. My grandson moved in & claimed all the bedroom where my desktops resided. I had to move upstairs & kept my laptop on a TV tray. We moved again & somehow gained back the space with no takers. Now I have a desk for my laptop on castors that no one wants to use so I can occupy all the space myself. I still like desktops, it's what I trained on. I plan keeping my old laptop as a backup sys.
 
I prefer my desktop MAC all in one.. no tower ....

I have 2 laptops but they're never used and one is only a few months old because I prefer the desktop..

this is where I'm sitting right this minute....

office-room-1-HD.jpg
 
hollydolly said:
I prefer my desktop MAC all in one.. no tower ....

I have 2 laptops but they're never used and one is only a few months old because I prefer the desktop..

this is where I'm sitting right this minute....

office-room-1-HD.jpg
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The only thing that looks the same between my & your setup is the mouse looks alike. You have a nice setup.

I did look at all-in-ones but with my luck something would go wrong so the whole unit would be down. Of course I haven't saved enough money for a MAC anyway. All my ancestors have passed on taking whatever money was set aside for me. And my walls are grey.
 
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Michael Z said:
I had laptops for many years and then a desktop. I went back to a laptop. The big reason is the power supply. My laptop is always plugged in, but when there is a power outage, the battery keeps the laptop running. For the desktop, a power outage shuts off the computer and sometimes I would have difficulties starting it again.

Also, if thunderstorms are threatening, I unplug the laptop and protect it from any power surge. The desktop had to be shut down. There are surge protectors, I know, but unplugging is the only sure protection.

My laptop is a Wipemik that I got for a little over $300 and it has been great so far after 13 months of use.
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I have my desktop PC and monitor plugged into an uninterruptable power supply (UPS). When the house power goes out the UPS can keep them running for an hour ,,, plenty of time to do an orderly shut down.
 
In the 15-20 years I used desktops I can't remember any problems with power and the desktops. But of course I was using Linux, I don't think Linux uses power, I think it uses solar panels. I could be wrong. LOL. For $135 you can purchase an UPS power supply that would meet your needs & possible to keep power flowing around your house. Might not be a bad idea, & it's tariff free after limited usage. My kindle is about 700 miles from home, going to be hard getting to it in an emergency.

UPS.jpg
 
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Yes, a UPS works for a short outage. I had one in the past. But for an overnight of storms, I need more than an hour. I just don’t trust anything to hold up against lightning.
 
Michael Z said:
Yes, a UPS works for a short outage. I had one in the past. But for an overnight of storms, I need more than an hour. I just don’t trust anything to hold up against lightning.
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I can't remember the last time I left desktop/laptop running overnight. Being OCD! comes in handy at times.
 
Michael Z said:
I had laptops for many years and then a desktop. I went back to a laptop. The big reason is the power supply. My laptop is always plugged in, but when there is a power outage, the battery keeps the laptop running. For the desktop, a power outage shuts off the computer and sometimes I would have difficulties starting it again.

I know, but unplugging is the only sure protection.
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I use a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for my desktop PC. In fact, I use it to power my PC, my monitor, and my desk lamp. I worry more about the cumulative effects of smaller power surges and lags over the years rather than the occasional power failure but this protects against both.
 
gilead said:
I can't remember the last time I left desktop/laptop running overnight. Being OCD! comes in handy at times.
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I rarely turn my PC off. I leave it in sleep mode when I'm not using it and reboot it after updates or if something gets a bit grumpy. Of course being a windows system, something is always acting up!
 
Rich said:
I rarely turn my PC off. I leave it in sleep mode when I'm not using it and reboot it after updates or if something gets a bit grumpy. Of course being a windows system, something is always acting up!
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My 35 year career was built around my association with all things tech. When the RIFs began in 86, we had 80 associates in my section. When I retired there were less than 20. I stayed on through thick & thin. I wasn't sure they were releasing me in 09 until the day before the RIF. I had volunteered & I toiled as a PCAM/Windows/Vax specialist advancing to UNIX/Linux administration.

There were 4 of us left to help with problems for 17,000. In all that time I had a habit completely shutting down all my equipment when leaving. I never had issues the others had, all whom left their units powered on. I controlled all updates, refreshed everything daily, never had a problem for maintenance personnel. I will continue to follow those guidelines personally.

There are 2 camps when the question arises about, 'Should we shutdown or leave it powered on 24/7?' What works for me, works for me.
 
gilead said:
There are 2 camps when the question arises about, 'Should we shutdown or leave it powered on 24/7?' What works for me, works for me.
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Understood, the IT guys where I worked always asked me to shut down daily. And I do recognize that a reboot cures most glitches.
 
I had desktops for years because laptops developed problems like where the lid hinges.

But after working from home for 2 years on a work provided laptop, I discovered that the very little space it takes up and the flexibility in where I want to sit down and use it was a great advantage over the desktop.

Just before retiring last May, I went out and bought a bought a brand new laptop since my last desktop died a couple years ago.


I don't get into computers even though I started back when you had to be more aware of their inner workings. A desktop is great if you want to upgrade or replace components.

But I only get on the internet. I don't need all the monitors, keyboards, wires, and whatever.
A lot of the time I'm using my phone to check emails and forums. I use the laptop when I anticipate having to do a lot of typing or when I want to listen to music/videos.
 
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Space is NOT! the issue, larger screen, adequate USB ports, More bells & whistles are. The laptop is not as mobile as the powers that be want. I hate my touch pad (1st item disabled in settings). Like my wireless mouse. Used a desktop at work, grew accustomed to it. My laptop is a stationary unit at best. Besides I'm a klutz when trying to use as a laptop, keeps sliding to the floor.

Never liked a tablet, my fingers quit working at 60 (the damned stylus is never where I laid it), I self-destruct with a smartphone (only used to receive the OTC for my financials), granddaughter has my kindle. I have a scanner for my tax backups, printer sits in the closet unused because it's a PITA to setup & the toner is always going dry. Talk to me about inconvenience.

I bought a 51 inch ROKU TV because of the larger screen, my sight is failing because of age and my reading glasses slide down my nose, the fonts are too small without adjusting them. USB hubs are a favorite of the tariff cops, they're only made in China. I forgot to ask, what happened to the CD/DVD drive?

Every movie I get from the library comes on a DVD, I don't know happened to my DVD player drive unless GoodWill has or had it?

What's wrong with liking a desktop?
 
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hollydolly said:
I prefer my desktop MAC all in one.. no tower ....

I have 2 laptops but they're never used and one is only a few months old because I prefer the desktop..

this is where I'm sitting right this minute....

office-room-1-HD.jpg
Click to expand...
As do I! I dragged my feet on getting a desktop Mac, but now I am SO thrilled that DH insisted.
The laptops are obsolete, as we have tablets for that.
 
I had an all-in-one desktop. It got very old and cranky, like its owner, so I gave to my genius son. Of course he rebuilt it, but I have a laptop running a large monitor on my desk now, with wireless mouse and keyboard. Far more efficient.
 
gilead said:
There are 2 camps when the question arises about, 'Should we shutdown or leave it powered on 24/7?' What works for me, works for me.
Click to expand...
Understood, the IT guys where I worked always asked me to shut down daily. And I do recognize that a reboot cures an awful
 

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