Should I eliminate the PC+Laptop for a Laptop+Dock+Monitors?

HustlinHard

HustlinHard

(M)ad Man
Oct 31, 2007
313
5
18
Vancouver
Recently I've been considering upgrading my PC and/or Laptop, and I have a small dilemma.

Basically I have 2 choices:

1. completely replace my PC+laptop combo by purchasing a powerful laptop and using it with some sort of a docking station and monitors when I'm at home. The laptops I was considering for this are either the HP ENVY 14 or Macbook Pro 13. (Both with SSD)
Pros:
​
  • convenient since everything is on one computer, so the same workstation is used when at home or on the move
  • takes up less space/clutter
Cons:
​
  • expensive to get a Laptop of equivalent power to be comparable to the PC I could get.
  • I've had many reliability problems with laptops in the past, if this was to be my only workstation, it would have to be a very good quality laptop without the risk of common laptop issues. (overheating, screen problems, etc..)

2. Buy a powerful PC and use my current laptop (which has some major overheating problems) for work on the go.

Pros:
​
  • I could get a ridiculously good PC for the price of the laptop. (I'm considering getting the Phenom X6 1055T 2.8GHz Six-Core (ONLY $189) for the processor)
  • No overheating/reliability issues
  • can be left turned on to run tasks/programs while I'm away
Cons:
​
  • No portability
  • Have to use separate workstations (PC+laptop) and sync them together
  • takes up more space and potentially creates clutter and redundancy

What do you guys think? Perhaps you have some good arguments for either option, things I may have overlooked.
 


Lappys dont have an extended shelf-life like desktops. If you do a lot of downloading, Id say you should stick with the desktop. Overheating tends to be an issue with Lappys but if you have the moolah to go big on a high end one, go ahead.
 
I have a pc in my Office that has 1tb Raid 1 truecrypted hard drives and has everything on it then use my laptop for portable work.

Got the desktop setup so I can remote connect and transfer files wireless via -n band network.

My laptop is a new Vaio and it's never overheated, battery life isn't too bad either, the only annoying thing is making sure you have the most recent files from your server on both pcs before editing and uploading but I just redownload them with filezilla which takes a couple of seconds.

If you base your setup around a laptop then it's very hard to upgrade 2 years down the line so your looking at a new laptop. Also got to think about if your laptop dies or the hard drives fuck up (less likely if SSD) or it's stolen then where's your backup? That's the best part about Raid 1 desktop.
 
I just built a beast of a desktop. 16gb ram, SSD, 6-core i7...After working the past year and a half off a laptop, I remember how much nicer it is to work off a desktop.
 
I'm using just a laptop at the moment and have also been checking out the cheap prices for an X6 cpu...

I'd go desktop. My 2cents.
 
AustinP said:
Lappys dont have an extended shelf-life like desktops. If you do a lot of downloading, Id say you should stick with the desktop. Overheating tends to be an issue with Lappys but if you have the moolah to go big on a high end one, go ahead.
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Yea, these are exactly some of the issues I'm consider with. I've never had a laptop nearly as reliable as any of my PC's

gbmack said:
Do both and you can been had computers
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Son I beeeeeen had computers, don't make me go track down my old x386.

ii silver ii said:
I have a pc in my Office that has 1tb Raid 1 truecrypted hard drives and has everything on it then use my laptop for portable work.

Got the desktop setup so I can remote connect and transfer files wireless via -n band network.

My laptop is a new Vaio and it's never overheated, battery life isn't too bad either, the only annoying thing is making sure you have the most recent files from your server on both pcs before editing and uploading but I just redownload them with filezilla which takes a couple of seconds.
Click to expand...

Nice setup, I'm kinda leaning towards this now..

ii silver ii said:
If you base your setup around a laptop then it's very hard to upgrade 2 years down the line so your looking at a new laptop. Also got to think about if your laptop dies or the hard drives fuck up (less likely if SSD) or it's stolen then where's your backup? That's the best part about Raid 1 desktop.
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This is a great point, especially about it being stolen, I never actually thought about that, nor had it happen, but it certainly is possible. Overheating is much more likely, and if it's your main machine it's definitely not a good look if that happens.

roclafamilia said:
I just built a beast of a desktop. 16gb ram, SSD, 6-core i7...After working the past year and a half off a laptop, I remember how much nicer it is to work off a desktop.
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That thing does sound like one hell of a beast, how much did that thing run you? I've read some pretty good reviews on the Phenom II X6 1055T and at $189 at newegg.ca it's pretty much a steal. Yea working on a laptop directly can definitely be a strain, especially with the size of the screen.
 
Get a good desktop and keep your regular laptop.

I don't know how much work you do or how long you work, but I can't stand working on a laptop and the only way i could actually work on one is if it was on a desk and i had a mouse hooked up to it. So I might as well of been working on a desktop anyway.

Not to mention laptops break down a lot (especially the high powered ones). I have cheap little notebooks i use to research and do simple stuff and never have problems with them, But the only time i buy power house laptop the thing breaks after 1 month. Plus Powerhouse laptops are heavy and get very hot.

I suggest you just stick with a good desktop and get a good computer chair. Unless you travel every month I wouldn't even think about getting a laptop and trying to work on it. Especially if you do design work and coding.
 
HustlinHard said:
That thing does sound like one hell of a beast, how much did that thing run you? I've read some pretty good reviews on the Phenom II X6 1055T and at $189 at newegg.ca it's pretty much a steal. Yea working on a laptop directly can definitely be a strain, especially with the size of the screen.
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around 1k...I got the processor at a huge discount because of my friend. Intel offers employees of retail stores that sell their products, (staples, bestbuy etc.) huge deals. I got the i7 970 ( that retails for around $880) for $220. The rest of the stuff I just got on black friday / cyber monday off newegg. I also got a windows 7 ultimate license for $15 from the microsoft employee program. Without the discounts I would say it would cost around 2k, maybe a little more.
 
Just keep a basic piece of crap laptop for when you absolutely need to go portable and get a kickass desktop. No matter how much you spend on a laptop, it's never a "desktop replacement" unless all you do is check your FaceBook and do other useless crap. I have the best 18.4" laptop you can get and I still prefer a desktop. You just can't beat it. You can get three times the power for the same price (this doesn't apply to $300 desktops and laptops mind you) and if something goes wrong it only costs $200 at most if something major goes wrong like the motherboard. You can upgrade literally everything with a desktop. Laptops...not so much. In fact when my laptop dies I don't think I'm going to get another one.

Laptops have been alongside desktops for 20+ years now and desktops are still around. Why do you think that is? Laptops have become somewhat of a marketing fad due to the fact that anyone can afford one nowadays. But people are beginning to realize how much nicer it was when they had a desktop and aren't replacing their laptops when they die in 2 years. The ONLY thing a laptop has over a desktop is portability. EVERY SINGLE THING is worse with a laptop. Price, expandability, repair costs, user experience. Laptops do have their place. If you're a college student and absolutely have to have one for classes then yeah that's a definite purpose. Or if your job keeps you on the road all the time then you definitely need a laptop. But never replace your desktop with a laptop. It's just not the same.
 
Get a new desktop and new laptop every year or so. The desktop makes way more sense if you work at the office/home most of the time.
 
I haven't owned a desktop for 6 years now, feels good man. I currently have two laptops and 1 netbook. Less clutter - and I find laptop screens are much, much easier on the eyes then monitors.
 
Both. I prefer working from my macbook and don't like sitting at my desktop for extended periods of time, however if I ever drop/break/lose my macbook I have another computer ready to work on inbetween purchasing another laptop.

If you're looking for easier ways to manage your files across multiple computers then check out DropBox.
 
I vote for powerful desktop PC...

I run all my stuff on 15 inch laptop that overheat to much.. And that is pain in the ass... I cant wait to buy desktop PC with 2 large widescreen monitors so I can throw this shitty laptop in trash... Hopefully soon..!
 
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