Hi all,

This week's poll question is about the seeming decline of desktop usage. Discuss here what you think about desktops vs. laptops, and, if you like, the poll results themselves.

Thanks!
Justin

At the time of writing this comment, 91% of the voters said their PC is a workhorse. I'm not going anywhere with that, because it's still early, but I would love to see this disparity continue, if just because of the OP.

While the internet, is by no small means responsible for the exponential increase in computer sales -- both mobile & desktops -- in general. Wireless internet access remains the major catalyst for the steadily increasing ubiquity of notebooks.

The fact that a solid notebook can be had without spending a fortune is another plus & an averagely decent one is about the one month's car payment or car gas bill. Once upon a time, solid notebooks typically go for an arm & a leg compared to desktops.

There are more reasons too, like portability, the technological advancements in notebook design regarding things like battery life, magnetic & optical storage media & other features are making the switch from desktop to laptop easy for many folks.

Ironically, it is predicted that by 2012, notebooks (I assume this include netbooks) will in fact account for more than 80% of the consumer market & that's not even that far into the future at all ... we'll see.

Jabbering Idiots: Everywhere You Look!

While most computers are still business oriented, I can't see where the laptop will ever override this aspect. granted that more and more individuals may purchase laptops, including business personel, The core business will never subject themselves to just laptops and will always support the workstation/desktop as the main stay in computering.

I have been in many a conference with major corps that refuse to allow laptops except for a few of the top echolon for fear of theft and possible corruption due to the laptop and use of flash drives and such.

In fact there are lots of support groups that demand that no MOBILE or WIRELESS devices be used at all...this includes many work at home persons because of the vulnerabilities involved.

That will stop the major part of laptop consumer other than for just personal use.

Obama's Spread the Wealth
I gave my waitress' tip to a homeless person. She has a better understanding!

Laptops are very handy machines that have revolutionized the computer industry.

I don't know if this is still true with todays powerful laptops, but I once read that Desktops are more powerful than laptops, because they don't need to be optimized for battery power.

I also read that desktops are more popular than laptops for gamers because they have better graphics performance. Again, I don't know what kind of graphics power today's laptops have and if this is true.

I'm definate for one thing, desktops are a heck of a lot more fun to tinker around with inside!

I don't doubt that laptops will dominate 80% of the market by 2012, but by then, you will probably be able to get a desktop brand new for less than 100 bucks.

"If at first you don't succeed, skydiving may not be for you."

-Our tour guide at Fenway Park in Boston, MA.

"...but by then, you will probably be able to get a desktop brand new for less than 100 bucks."

This is not going to happen, unless you are expecting PC manufacturers to be handing out their monitors practically for free & this is just not feasible. It is a cut-throat market & the profit margin on these white-boxes aren't as generous as you think ... they can only lower prices so much before they, in fact, start losing money hand over fist.

Jabbering Idiots: Everywhere You Look!

I still prefer using a desktop to a laptop any day. The only reason I have a laptop is so I can take it to and from TAFE with my work on it. I think desktop PC's biggest savior (At least at consumer level) will be gaming and home theater.

Mattwizz3
Gigabyte P35-DS3R
E4500 @ 3.2
4GB DDR2 800
9800GT

Until they can figure out a way to cram a high end GPU into a laptop, I'll always have a desktop as my workhorse.

MOS 6510 rockin @ 1MHz!!!

adz929,

You might be behind times there buddy ;-)

If you have the money to pay, you can find a laptop with a high end GPU with little or no effort ... you just need to know where to look.

Jabbering Idiots: Everywhere You Look!

Didn't know they made a mobile GTX 280 or 4870x2.

MOS 6510 rockin @ 1MHz!!!

The Desktop:

-Overclockable
-Upgradeable
-Large hard drives and room for lots of them
-Much, much better audio (if using a PCI(e) soundcard)
-Big, bright screen, connected to a fast videocard
-Great for home theater.

Laptops are pretty boring computers. :)

Main System:
Dual core Opteron 185 @ 3.2GHz
Two 8800GTS cards
4GB PC3200
Blu-Ray
X-Fi Titanium Pro
A8N32-SLI Deluxe
Samsung 24" LCD
Vista 64 SP1

The best thing about a laptop is it can be plugged in to a docking station which connects it to: >monitor>keyboard>mouse>external HD>speakers>printer>webcam

"I don't want the labor pains, just give me the baby"
Willy Banks (Al Pacino)-Ocean's 13

Personally I think both desktop and laptop are necessary, I own both and most of the time I use my desktop, with good specifications and more convenicent for me.

"Laptops are pretty boring computers. :) "

I agree, for me anyway. I love tinkering with my main PC and my numerous desktop PC's, but I'm completely uninterested in even touching my laptop. Pretty much only use it at TAFE and it never leaves my backpack when I'm home.

Mattwizz3
Gigabyte P35-DS3R
E4500 @ 3.2
4GB DDR2 800
9800GT

I agree too. IMO, the desktop still rules. I sure do enjoy building them!

WinSimple Software

I agree, the desktop rules. Sure the laptop has its advantages, but will it ever be that easy to build your own laptop ? I use a laptop at work, but even if I owned my own, I don't think I would want to messs with the insides(except for some basic stuff). It takes a lot of effort to get to soem of the components in a laptop(and then you have to put everything back together).

Well, I'm a computer geek by trade so as you can imagine I have several desktop's in my office at home. I try to keep it to a minimum so I have 4 on the KVM switch and then my main PC which is frequently used for heavy gaming as well as it's normal duties.

I do own a laptop.......it used to be my wife's (she travels a lot for her job) and when she got a big promotion, the company bought her both (PC and laptop) to use in her home office and while travelling so I inherited her laptop.

The only thing I use the laptop for is if I have to work out of town so I can keep up on my email. But other than that, I have no use for a laptop.