Desktop or laptop for main computer?

D

dm76

New Member
Hi all. I have a 6 year old Dell desktop and it is time for a new one. It is not terribly slow, but it is time for a new one because I have a lot of photos I want to start editing and organizing, and now am starting to gather more home videos as well that need to be dealt with. The old one will be good still for a second computer in the house to surf the web and stuff. While sometimes it seems it would be nice to have a laptop so I can lay on the couch and stuff and work on it, even if I were to get one I would still get a bigger screen and keyboard to use with it. So am I better off just getting a new desktop since you can get a lot more bang for the buck? Also, I do have an IT background and deal with some IT issues and troubleshooting at my current job, and it seems like a lot of the laptops people have there do not last very long. Even the Dell I use for work which is taken very good care of and mostly stays in one place at home in the docking station and used 2-3 times per week only lasted 2 1/2 years. So does the desktop sound the best way to go? And maybe if I want something to lay on the couch with to surf the web, get a net book or cheaper laptop later on? I guess I can even remote to my desktop with that if I need something off of it. Thanks in advance for the input.
 
I don't like dell. So I can't give opinions about the laptop at work without it being biased. I say, go with the desktop. If you want to sit on the couch and surf the web, just get a nice large hd tv and use that as your monitor, and get a wireless mouse and keyboard. I did this for a long time and it worked great for me. and I'm sure if you don't want to do it that way, that there is a way to remotely view your desktop on your tv. I don't know. I'm a big desktop fan. I keep telling myself to get a laptop, but I really would rather get upgrades for my pc.
 
I would say go with the desktop, as you said, much more bang for buck. You said you were storing photo's and stuff on it, well with a desktop it is much more customisable with the option of having extra HDD's. Just my opinion, unless you really have your heart set on that couch! Or maybe instead of an expensive laptop, split the price and get a netbook and budget PC. I dunno, your choice
 
Yeah I hear you. I would much rather work on a 24" screen than on a 15" laptop screen if I am messing with my photos and stuff. So I think the laptop would sit in the docking station a lot anyways. About Dell, I have noticed 3 laptops at work not last very long. But I have bought 3 Dell desktops since about 1998 and I find them to be very good. I only had one DVD drive go out during that time one one of them and their customer service was great. They shipped me a new one overnight without any hassles. But from my experiences with the work ones, I wouldn't get the Dell laptops.
 
You want a desktop for your main computer they are much more powerful than any laptop and you can do so much more on a desktop than with a laptop. For gaming, overclocking, speedier system you want a desktop :). If you build a machine yourself instead of going with dell you will get much better bang for your buck + your machine will last even longer. This is a great forum if you choose to build the machine yourself and we can help you every step of the way.
 
Desktop + Netbook/old laptop is a good combination. And yeah, you're right, laptops don't last particularly long.
 
get a desktop, the last thing you want is a computer that degrades quickly and will be no good for what you want.
 
Ok I think you all helped me validate which I was leaning. Thank you. That build idea might be something I would consider. I'll make another post regarding that.
 
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