Using a Laptop as your "Main Computer"?

Alexis18

New Member
Hi all!

Me and my mom and sis are moving into an apartments next month. We've always used a desktop. Been using a desktop for 5 years now, at least 12 hours a day.

There won't be much room in the apartment. I wanted to know, would it be a good idea to use the laptop as a computer? I mean, it will be operating at least 12 hours a day.

We don't do any heavuy gaming or anything, but some downloads.

Your input is greatly appreciated.

Thank you!!
 
...it's a computer, i dont see why it wont work. it can stay on just as long and do just as much as a desktop...it's not like laptops are delicate unless you get a POS or something. i use my laptop as my main computer and game on it for hours on end...no problems yet.
 
You should be good with a laptop. Just get a mouse so you can work as easily as a desktop pc. You shouldn't have too much problem running on it for 12 hours, except that it'll get hot. And can heat up your room quicker than a desktop.
 
Modern laptops don't overheat, you shouldn't even need a laptop cooler or anything. I can run games on mine for 3-4 hours non-stop and it gets "warm". If you're having stability problems due to heat you need to return it, or consider another model. If you don't care about your warranty, apply some good thermal paste and lap your heatsink...that's the best thing you can do IMHO.
 
maybe a proper keyboard as well, i use my laptop for everything and it is great, i just have new speakers keyboard and mouse
 
if you want to convert youre laptop into a desktop you can use an ergo station, which includes a usb hub, which means that you can plug a keyoard etc. into it, and just use the laptop as a screen, this will be like using a computer that is stuck into a monitor a bit like the sony vaio multimedia centre desktop computer
me? i use a asus laptop as my main computer, and regularly leave it on all night to download big files, as well as playing games on it for at least 3hrs before leaving it, i have no problems.
 
If you're are using a laptop make sure you get a laptop with a usb cable. Also get a hp printer all in one with a usb corred. It is very useful. It helped me alot.
 
4W4K3 said:
Modern laptops don't overheat

Um...have you not read the past about 100 laptop posts :rolleyes: They need pretty good cooling. Even if you didn't get a cooling pad, definetly make sure the vents are nice and open, perhaps clean them out every so often... The keyboard probably won't last as long as a standard keyboard, so it may be wise to find an external or even replacement for it...

The big problem is just the life expectancy of laptops. They do tend to get more hot than desktops due to their lack of air flow. On top of that, most laptop hardware just doesn't last as long as desktop hardware. The 2.5" harddrives typically die much sooner than 3.5" drives.

Now my old Averatec has lasted over a year with pretty heavy use, and I have a friend who put his though hell(while in the service) and it's still running just fine. But still, laptops just aren't made to run as long as desktops...
 
Dunno what kinds of laptops people are buying, but out of the 3-4 we've had/have none of them have overheating problems. My dad's IBM Thinkpad is probably the coolest of them all. Maybe everyone is getting the "desktop replacement" laptops, which have far too much power and not enough airflow like you are saying. Mine is not a desktop replacement, and I can game on it for hours and it does not overheat.

Regardless of performance and styling, and modern laptop that has heat issues is (in my mind) of poor quality and cheap build. Don't care if it cost $4000, it should not overheat if it's being manufactured. But I guess my standards are too high :rolleyes:
 
i am 13 year's old and use a laptop for school and replace sleep with more laptop, meaning i am on it about 19 hours a day. I do heavy gaming and massive downloading.
 
Um...thanks for sharing... O.o;

The problem is with desktop replacements, they have hardware more like desktop hardware. This coupled with limited air flow means it'll get HOT... Laptops were never meant to be desktop replacements. If they were, they wouldn't get so damn hot :P
 
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