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My PC is about to die. The CD/DVD drive is no longer working. IE regularly freezes up (though I mostly use Firefox). I've had it for around five years. I might just need to de-virus it, but it's doing all the stuff it did before it crashed last time.
So I am preparing myself; I was going to just pay to have it checked out, but I'm thinking, maybe it's time for a new one.
Here's the thing though. I have this spiffy new laptop that I just got in May. I also have a work laptop that they're setting up for me. I have a computer in my office.
Practically speaking, do I need a desktop?
It's in my mind, I know. I don't think of laptops as "real" computers. Even here at home, I will type on the laptop, but I have to go to the "big" computer for printing or using spreadsheets or whatever.
Of course, while I'm not exactly technology phobic, my expertise extends to, "Kim, what is..." and "Kim, how does..."
What I'm asking is, would a desktop be a wasteful expense?
And please don't ask me for specifications about the laptops. All I can tell you is that they have memory (no, I don't know how much), Windows Vista, and Microsoft Office. Asking a question that requires an answer that ends in "bytes" will be treated as an insult. :-P
11 comments:
I don't think you need a desktop. As long as your Laptop has sufficient storage and memory, you should be good to go. We have both a laptop (mine) and a desktop (his by default) at home. I never use the desktop. In fact, the internet connection hasn't worked on it since we switched providers and the hubby (VERY computer illiterate) is yacking at me all the time to get it fixed, but it's not high on my list.....because mine works just fine. LOL!
If you're nervous about storage, buy an external hard drive to keep your info backed up on (call me).
Someone may disagree, but you should use that money for something else. I don't think you need a desktop!
I agree with Kimberly. Laptops these days are just as powerful as desktops. By todays standards, your laptop is more of a "real" computer than your 5 year old desktop. You should be using the desktop for typing and the laptop for the "big" stuff.
If you are comfortable working at your laptop, I would just stick with it. If you need more memory, you can always get an external hard drive. If you want a bigger keyboard, you can buy a keyboard that can work with the laptop - they are pretty common. Same goes for the mouse. Same goes for the monitor if you'd rather have a larger one. You don't need a new cpu if the laptop does what you need.
Having said that, if you don't have an extended warranty on the laptop, get one. This is one of the few items worth having one on. Laptops get moved around, jostled, etc.
ok, the wise ones (i think it no coincidence that i highly value what all three of you think) have spoken.
i think i will get another keyboard though. my personal laptop is not a small one, so the screen is pretty big. but I have thick, chubby fingers and keyboards give me fits sometimes!
I'm with k8. I inherited Spouse's laptop when my computer died (and he got a spiffy new desktop), and it served all my purposes... which should be vaguely similar to your purposes, I assume. I did hook it up to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse for a desktoppy feel, but it's just as fast and powerful as anything I had before.
I am the wrong person to ask because there are 4 people living in my home and three functioning computers. I suspect when my two years gets just a wee bit older that there will be a computer for each person. We are all terribly addicted. I love my laptop and my hubby and oldest both have desktops. It really is all about what you are comfortable with.
I agree with everyone else. You can plug your printer into your laptop and print from there just as easily as from a desktop. I also bought a usb mouse since I don't like that touchpad that passes for a mouse on my laptop. This laptop is more powerful than my last desktop, meaning faster and more memory. I'm with you though, there is a sort of cognitive dissonance going on, in that how can something so much smaller be as good? But it can be and in my case really is.
Oh and I want to mention not just any keyboard or mouse will work with your laptop, look for USB when you go shopping. Those are the skinny rectangular looking ports to plug things in on your computer. If you check your laptop it doesn't have the round type plug ins for keyboard/mouse. You might also get away with a wireless keyboard/mouse but make sure to buy rechargeable batteries if you do or you'll go broke buying the regular kind.
I'll just chime in here with another pro-laptop comment. I've been desktop-free for about three years now, and can't imagine going back. Amy has both, and but her desktop is rarely used these days--she's pretty much moved over exclusively to a laptop as well, and when her desktop eventually dies, we won't replace it.
Agreed with the previous commenters -- the only computer I have is a laptop, to which I add a mouse, speakers, a keyboard, and a printer. If you do find that your laptop doesn't have enough memory (no, I'm not asking!), you can add an external hard drive for a fraction of the cost of a new computer.
Thanks for all the advice y'all. I'm taking it to heart.
if your labtop has the ability to do what you need to and your comftable with it then stay with it and perhaps add an external harddrive to it. but if your going to be using the labtop exclusively then make sure to get an extended warranty on it. your labtop is probably faster then your desktop. the only downside to using a laptop as your primary computer is that you need to make sure that it's cooled because labtops do tend to run hot, so a cooling pad might be a good investment for prolonging the life of it.
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