Laptop or Desktop?

[-0MEGA-] · 09-10-2006, 03:43 AM

I'm having a really tough time deciding this... I can either upgrade my computer and get a Core 2 Duo, and a high end graphics card (among other parts). Or I can buy an E1705 from dell, with the Core 2 Duo 2Ghz, 7900GS, and many other parts for around $1400.

If I had the desktop, I would still need to buy a semi-decent laptop for college, but if I had the laptop, I could get rid of my desktop since the laptop would have decent gaming power.

So what do you guys think?

Yasu · 09-10-2006, 03:50 AM

Go for the desktop and get a low-end laptop, you don't want to be tempted to play any games in class lol. On a side note, I don't think you really need a laptop for college. I'm in college right now and a journal and pen is working it out just fine. You hardly see anyone use a laptop anyways. I've seen only one person use a laptop in class and he turned it off after 3 minutes.

Death By Bass · 09-10-2006, 03:52 AM

yeah, depends if you're playing games, or just need portability...

I ended up upgrading my desktop a year or two ago, and I NEVER play games anymore!!! so it was just a waste!!!

I have a laptop or two aswell anywya, but it was just a waste of money...

**The_Other_One** · 09-10-2006, 03:55 AM

I agree with Yasu. That's basically what I did. Of course, being a college student, I use mine all the time at school. But even when I'm not at school, I like carrying it around with me. Plus, it's nice to get a TRUE portable laptop, not one of these 17lbs gamming ones that lasts about 1 hour on the battery.

Hylian · 09-10-2006, 04:00 AM

To be honest, I'd say keep school/work and personal computing separated. Upgrade your desktop, and see what options your school offers (ie. loaner laptops).

I did a programming course and could never imagine combining what I want (entertainment, music, gaming, etc), with what my school wanted (MySQL servers, Java dev programs, linux partitions, etc). Plus, if something ever went wrong, you'd loose a lot of information.

Another thing to think about, is if you'd ever need to use the advanced features of the laptop outside of your home. Like, do you ever watch DVD's, or play video games out in public? If not, stick with a cheap laptop that'll get you through your course, and do your own thing at home.

Hope you make the right choice for you.

[-0MEGA-] · 09-10-2006, 04:40 AM

Thanks for your opinions.

Im going for IT, so alot of my classes are computer related, so about half or more students use their laptops in class. Our teachers also encourage us to use laptops for not taking, and we also get free internet via wi-fi.

T_O_O, I used to have an E1505 which was a mid-level gaming rig, and i got around 4-6 hours of battery life when just using normal things, like IE and MS Word, and that was when the settings were around medium. I had a low-end Acer that had a PM in it, and i only got about 1.5 hours on it on low settings.

SirKenin · 09-10-2006, 04:41 AM

I'll make the choice easy for you. What would you rather have stolen? A low end or high end laptop? Hmm?

The_Beast · 09-10-2006, 04:58 AM

High end desktop and a low end laptop. Just get a really basic laptop just to get by with.

[-0MEGA-] · 09-10-2006, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirKenin

I'll make the choice easy for you. What would you rather have stolen? A low end or high end laptop? Hmm?

Believe it or not, thats why I sold my $2000 E1505, I had this feeling that in the next couple of days, I would either lose it or have it stolen, since the day before i left it in my classroom (luckily i realized it and went back).

Thanks again for all your input, as of now it looks like i should just use a low/mid-level notebook, and have my desktop for gaming and such. Feel free to keep the comments and suggestions comming.

4W4K3 · 09-10-2006, 05:17 AM

Exactly what I would have done. Actually I went with a low/mid-range laptop and jsut got rid of my desktop. I've stopped gaming for the most part so there was no real reason to upgrade/keep the desktop.

View Poll Results: What should I buy?
High-end desktop parts, and a low-end laptop	14	77.78%
High-end laptop, and no desktop	1	5.56%
Im poor, give the money to me...	3	16.67%
Voters: 18. You may not vote on this poll

09-10-2006, 03:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
[-0MEGA-] Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Concord, NH Age: 20 Posts: 27,082	Laptop or Desktop? I'm having a really tough time deciding this... I can either upgrade my computer and get a Core 2 Duo, and a high end graphics card (among other parts). Or I can buy an E1705 from dell, with the Core 2 Duo 2Ghz, 7900GS, and many other parts for around $1400. If I had the desktop, I would still need to buy a semi-decent laptop for college, but if I had the laptop, I could get rid of my desktop since the laptop would have decent gaming power. So what do you guys think? __________________ Desktop // Laptop Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ 4.0GHz // Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz Asus Rampage Formula X48 // Intel PM45 ATI 4870X2 2GB GDDR5 // 512MB GDDR3 9800M GTS 4GB (2x 2GB) DDR2 940 // 4GB DDR3 800 750GB SATAII w/32MB // 200GB SATAII 7200RPM Creative SB X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty SilverStone 750W +12V@60A 3DMark06: 21391 // 9179

09-10-2006, 03:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
Yasu Diamond Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: TX Age: 20 Posts: 1,199	Go for the desktop and get a low-end laptop, you don't want to be tempted to play any games in class lol. On a side note, I don't think you really need a laptop for college. I'm in college right now and a journal and pen is working it out just fine. You hardly see anyone use a laptop anyways. I've seen only one person use a laptop in class and he turned it off after 3 minutes. __________________ CPU: Intel P4 3.0 HT Mobo: ASUS P5P800 RAM: 2x512 PC3200 VC: ATI Radeon X850PRO HDD: 160GB Seagate SATA PSU: 500watt Ultra X-connect

09-10-2006, 03:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,368	I agree with Yasu. That's basically what I did. Of course, being a college student, I use mine all the time at school. But even when I'm not at school, I like carrying it around with me. Plus, it's nice to get a TRUE portable laptop, not one of these 17lbs gamming ones that lasts about 1 hour on the battery. __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

09-10-2006, 04:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
Hylian Bronze Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 89	To be honest, I'd say keep school/work and personal computing separated. Upgrade your desktop, and see what options your school offers (ie. loaner laptops). I did a programming course and could never imagine combining what I want (entertainment, music, gaming, etc), with what my school wanted (MySQL servers, Java dev programs, linux partitions, etc). Plus, if something ever went wrong, you'd loose a lot of information. Another thing to think about, is if you'd ever need to use the advanced features of the laptop outside of your home. Like, do you ever watch DVD's, or play video games out in public? If not, stick with a cheap laptop that'll get you through your course, and do your own thing at home. Hope you make the right choice for you. __________________ X-Blade ATX Window Case - Enermax Liberty 620W Power Supply Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 - ASUS P5n32-SLI SE Deluxe OCZ 2GB 800MHz RAM 80GB Seagate SATA - 320GB Seagate SATA BFG GeForce 7950 GX2 1024MB PCI-E - LG L204WT 20.1" Widescreen Flatron LCD Sound Blaster Audigy 2 - Altec Lansing 5.1 Surround Sound Windows XP Pro - SP2

09-10-2006, 03:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
Death By Bass New Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 18	yeah, depends if you're playing games, or just need portability... I ended up upgrading my desktop a year or two ago, and I NEVER play games anymore!!! so it was just a waste!!! I have a laptop or two aswell anywya, but it was just a waste of money...

09-10-2006, 04:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
[-0MEGA-] Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Concord, NH Age: 20 Posts: 27,082	Thanks for your opinions. Im going for IT, so alot of my classes are computer related, so about half or more students use their laptops in class. Our teachers also encourage us to use laptops for not taking, and we also get free internet via wi-fi. T_O_O, I used to have an E1505 which was a mid-level gaming rig, and i got around 4-6 hours of battery life when just using normal things, like IE and MS Word, and that was when the settings were around medium. I had a low-end Acer that had a PM in it, and i only got about 1.5 hours on it on low settings. __________________ Desktop // Laptop Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ 4.0GHz // Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz Asus Rampage Formula X48 // Intel PM45 ATI 4870X2 2GB GDDR5 // 512MB GDDR3 9800M GTS 4GB (2x 2GB) DDR2 940 // 4GB DDR3 800 750GB SATAII w/32MB // 200GB SATAII 7200RPM Creative SB X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty SilverStone 750W +12V@60A 3DMark06: 21391 // 9179

09-10-2006, 04:41 AM	#7 (permalink)
SirKenin banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4,711	I'll make the choice easy for you. What would you rather have stolen? A low end or high end laptop? Hmm?

09-10-2006, 04:58 AM	#8 (permalink)
The_Beast Diamond Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wisconsin Age: 17 Posts: 3,300	High end desktop and a low end laptop. Just get a really basic laptop just to get by with. __________________ Rendering Machine - Gigabyte DS3L P35 - - C2D E6550 - - Corsair XMS2 2Gb - Seagate 'Cuda 320Gb - Sapphire 2600 XT 256mb - - Antec Earthwatt 430 watt - - Antec New Solution Series Case - - Hp w1907 monitor - Check Out My Custom Clock Picture 1/\Picture 2

09-10-2006, 05:17 AM	#10 (permalink)
4W4K3 VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Lewisville, TX Age: 20 Posts: 6,876	Exactly what I would have done. Actually I went with a low/mid-range laptop and jsut got rid of my desktop. I've stopped gaming for the most part so there was no real reason to upgrade/keep the desktop. __________________ My Computer I choose to believe what I was programmed to believe. Can I eat your brain? FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358

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