new Computer

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I need a new computer, my current one has been dying for quite some time.

The problem is I can't decide on Notebook or Desktop.

Notebooks are more expensive, harder to upgrade, and portable
Whereas, the Desktop is the comparative opposite.

I want to use some emulators and NEED it for my job, statistical regressions, so whatever I get needs at least 128mb GPU.

I am torn and need some advice.

 

[Urza]

If you need to take it with you, get a laptop.

Otherwise, don't.

Simple enough.

 

[ZeWarrior]

Get a Desktop, really. It's Customizable, you can upgrade easier.. You can get bigger monitors than any laptop can provide.... and they just plain beat laptops in everything other than portability and weight.

 

[ZAFDeltaForce]

If you need power, desktops are upgradable and cheaper than laptops, packing more power as well(more bang for your buck).

If portability is your main concern, get a laptop. For the record, I voted desktop

 

[adgloride]

A desktop as you can upgrade it. Get a laptop if your actually going to go outside with it. Also you should be able to play all the PC games on a new desktop.

 

[RiotShooter]

how much are u willing to spend is probably the most important question right now?

 

[MC DUI]

I'd get a desktop as well, unless you really need the portability.

So many people I know have had problems with their laptops, and when parts die they are a pain to replace/upgrade.

 

[jtroye32]

if you absolutely need to take it to your job or travel a lot and want a computer with you when you're away from home laptop is the obvious choice. if you're home most the time when needing/wanting a computer get a desktop and invest in a usb flash drive to transport your work files from home to work. there's no reason to get a laptop if you're home 90% of the time you're not at work.

 

[xalphax]

notebooks are cool!

i got an old one from my dad.

 

[nintendofreak]

Im going to join the desktop group. ive got a laptop right now that I bought for school. I wish I would have used the money to buy a desktop, because now im stuck with a old (but still good) computer that I cant upgrade the graphics on, which is many times the bottleneck for games. Im going to say go desktop, and then with the money you have left over from having bought a laptop, buy a cheap, and im taking 512mb max memory, celeron processor laptop on ebay to take with you, just to watch a movie, or type up a report on the road.

 

[mthrnite]

I'd go with a desktop as well, and with the money you save, you may want to look into a Nokia 810 for travel basics.. a friend of mine just got one and he's loving it. I've always been a fan of small mobile devices for notes and lists and such. Phones nowadays do a halfway decent job, and if the iPhone continues to evolve, it may be a great PIM one day. Until then, the price is pretty nice on the Noki's. Something to think about anyway, I know I am.

 

[square]

Well the models I am looking at the Desktop is $900, and the laptop is $1400.

I just don't know if portabaility of a weaker, less upgradable, system is worth it, but then again I hate having to recompile everything when I get home, it adds hours of work a week for me.

AS of now still undecided.

Edit- I can't do advanced calculations yet on a phone. The software I use requires at least a P4 and 128MB GPU, and it drains my ram as well.

My current laptop is too old to have internet and my Desktop is almost 8 years.
So, if I look at what is older I would replace the laptop first.

 

[FAST6191]

Desktop as well. Get an LCD monitor and a small case and portability is right back up (by the time you get a mouse, your power brick, assorted USB devices (external drives, USB sticks, leads....), headphones and the like stashed it is not that much different. If you are moving around with it can I assume you have a car at your disposal (bus, bike or taxi can get a bit annoying this way).

Also others have hit on the fun that results in trying to fix and upgrade stuff for laptops (I found myself building stuff to fix my laptop (a needed a ribbon and a new section of PCB), not that hard and quite fun as far as I am concerned but I should not have to do this in 2007 (I started out on early 80s stuff so it is not entirely new)).

 

[Nero]

Desktop, hands down.

You can get a better screen (LCD), and not have to stick with a screen on a Notebook that you can't replace if you don't like it.

First of all, Notebooks are a bitch when it comes to power. If you do choose a Notebook, you'll have to charge pretty much two hours.

All down to you now.

~Nero

 

[Psyfira]

As a laptop owner, I'd say get a desktop as your main machine and opt for a small cheap laptop on the side if you need one. Chances are the kind of applications you'd use while away from a desk won't need the same amount of kick.

My laptop was great while it was a laptop. The batteries die after 2-3 years and they don't come cheap. Also when parts break it's a nightmare to replace them. Desktops can have larger screens, upgrades, well you know the rest.

However in your case you mentioned your job. Isn't it possible to transfer the compiled data from one machine to another? With the kind of processing power you say you need I can't understand why the company you work for would expect you to be able to perfom on a laptop. Besides, if the company want you to have a laptop they should pay for it.

Or would an external hard drive be any good for transferring work to and fro?

 

[square]

So I ended up geting a MacbookPro. A big difference I know, especially in price I got the $2500 model for close to half off. Teacher discounts FTW! I know use bootcamp to run my statistics, I needed the extra memory. I just need to make sure this investment lasts, I don't want my new computer (haven't named it yet) to die an early death.