Advice on going from Desktop computers to Laptops

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › Advice on going from Desktop computers to Laptops

MikeB4

18435 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#192030 24-Feb-2016 17:32

I am considering doing away with my desktops. I currently have a Windows based PC (Tower, Monitor etc) and a 27” iMac and replacing them with a Laptop, in particular a MacBook Pro.

I will still have an iPad and a Surface 3.

I have always had desktops as my main driver but I think that is out of habit than actual need. I do not use my computer for gaming except for simple games. My main uses are photography, word processing, spread sheeting, house hold accounts and banking, email, calendar, media and social media stuff.

I would like to hear from others who have given up their desktop computers and gone to using a laptop as their main driver. How was the transition and how have you found it on a day to day basis. Are there any gotchas I would have to look for especially in regards to my disabilities.

My storage is done by means of cloud services, NAS and various external devices.

How have users found the ergonomics especially using the keyboard and trackpad and looking at the laptop screen?

I have thought of using a dock, monitor, keyboard and mouse but that seems to defeat the purpose somewhat as I would like to cut down on clutter on my desk and get rid of the spaghetti junction of wires.

Those who have used or using MacBook Pros how have you found these machines as daily drivers?

Thank you in advance for advice etc

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

28038 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1498691 24-Feb-2016 17:47

Tried it. Got some expensive small HP core i7 thing with 8 gigs and a fast m2 SSD.

Was dog slow compared to i5 desktop. Screen on it was horrible with image retention and seriously bad off axis viewing which became a huge problem for photo stuff. I guess apple will hopefully do better there. But the laptop CPUs are efficiant junk, not performance at all.

Richard rich.ms

Mighty Ape

Shop now on Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

MikeB4

18435 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1498696 24-Feb-2016 17:56

richms:

Tried it. Got some expensive small HP core i7 thing with 8 gigs and a fast m2 SSD.

Was dog slow compared to i5 desktop. Screen on it was horrible with image retention and seriously bad off axis viewing which became a huge problem for photo stuff. I guess apple will hopefully do better there. But the laptop CPUs are efficiant junk, not performance at all.

Thanks for that, was the display 1080 or better? also may I ask what activities did you do on the machine?

richms

28038 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1498703 24-Feb-2016 18:17

2560x1440p

Was going to use to edit and encode video, but was about 3x slower than a 2 gen old i5. Also just general laggyness when using it for things like browsing while spotifying and similar.

Richard rich.ms

tdgeek

29634 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1498724 24-Feb-2016 19:13

My purpose built gaming rig/PC is now hardly used. FSX, and 17yo daughter. I prefer the laptop on coffee table, using a mini mouse and mouse mat. Couple of years ago switch to rMBP 15", 8GB, 512 SSD. !2 seconds to be using it from cold. Screen great, quick, backlit keyboard, nice.

If I was happy at my desk Id probably stick with the i7 with 24" screen, but I prefer coffee table to be doing what I am doing right now. Apple trackpads are great, and I haven't really explored that a lot, I prefer a mouse.

If you will still be at the desk, relocate the tower to the floor, on a wood pad, ideally up a few inches, to clear the desk, so you just have a keyboard,mouse and screen?

MikeB4

18435 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1498759 24-Feb-2016 19:59

tdgeek:
My purpose built gaming rig/PC is now hardly used. FSX, and 17yo daughter. I prefer the laptop on coffee table, using a mini mouse and mouse mat. Couple of years ago switch to rMBP 15", 8GB, 512 SSD. !2 seconds to be using it from cold. Screen great, quick, backlit keyboard, nice.

If I was happy at my desk Id probably stick with the i7 with 24" screen, but I prefer coffee table to be doing what I am doing right now. Apple trackpads are great, and I haven't really explored that a lot, I prefer a mouse.

If you will still be at the desk, relocate the tower to the floor, on a wood pad, ideally up a few inches, to clear the desk, so you just have a keyboard,mouse and screen?

Using a laptop on a coffee table does not sound very ergonomic

richms

28038 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1498760 24-Feb-2016 20:07

Laptops are only slightly better than tablets for ergonomics. Both are terrible.

Richard rich.ms

Dynamic

3830 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1498786 24-Feb-2016 20:41

What's the motivation, Mike?

I would have trouble giving up that big beautiful iMac screen and dropping to a laptop screen as my only option.

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

Referral links to services I use, really like, and may be rewarded if you sign up:
PocketSmith for budgeting and personal finance management. A great Kiwi company.

MikeB4

18435 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1498793 24-Feb-2016 20:59

Dynamic:
What's the motivation, Mike?

I would have trouble giving up that big beautiful iMac screen and dropping to a laptop screen as my only option.

My iMac is old circa 2012 and is due for replacement, my Windows PC is annoying. Our home office is also my wife's work office so I want to free up space for her. I am setting up a desk in the lounge for me which will be warmer in the winter. I don't want a big mess in the lounge and want to minimise wires etc. with the pc being in the lounge it needs to be quiet, granted iMacs are very quiet but are large.

roobarb

652 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1498798 24-Feb-2016 21:07

I haven't used a desktop in over ten years. I use a laptop and connect to full screen, keyboard and mouse when in office or at home. If lose the laptop all data is in cloud, backup or some repository so can be back up and running in hours if disaster occurs.

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1498799 24-Feb-2016 21:10

I rarely ever use my 2gen old i5 desktop anymore either.
HP 17" screen and 240gb SSD with external 1tb usb drive when needed for 'bulk' storage (iTunes rentals mainly)

Rarely even use the laptop except for work and media playing to appleTV...

Main Browsing "PC" is now my 6" smartphone... Mainly cos I _always_ have it and it's my camera and 'social media' device too!

timmmay

20476 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1498801 24-Feb-2016 21:13

I use my desktop all the time. It has a lot of fast RAID storage, as well as a couple of SSDs and a fast processor. I have a nice keyboard, a good screen, and a comfortable mouse. Yes you can dock a laptop to this stuff, but laptops are slower for anything that requires much speed - photography, video, etc. For regular business stuff anything modern works fine, with sufficient RAM and SSD, but laptop keyboards, screens, and ergonomics aren't great.

Dynamic

3830 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1498805 24-Feb-2016 21:17

MikeB4:
Dynamic:

What's the motivation, Mike?

I would have trouble giving up that big beautiful iMac screen and dropping to a laptop screen as my only option.

My iMac is old circa 2012 and is due for replacement, my Windows PC is annoying. Our home office is also my wife's work office so I want to free up space for her. I am setting up a desk in the lounge for me which will be warmer in the winter. I don't want a big mess in the lounge and want to minimise wires etc. with the pc being in the lounge it needs to be quiet, granted iMacs are very quiet but are large.

Okie doke. We have a 2011 iMac (i3 processor but 16Gb RAM) and I opened it up and installed an SSD (actually a locally sourced WD Black2 Dual Drive but these are now out of production). It runs beautifully on Yosemite (yet to update to El Capitan but not for any good reason). I wasn't being careful enough and nearly broke the internal display connector, but thats another story. Upgrade options for you to consider are here: http://eshop.macsales.com/MyOWC/Upgrades.cfm?sort=pop&model=471&type=InternalDrives

You could consider wall-mounting or desk-mounting a nice big screen for your corner of the lounge to keep the desk space free and uncluttered, and buy an Intel NUC or a Gigabyte Brix or one of the new Shuttle machines (http://global.shuttle.com/products/products) and mounting this behind the screen or under the desk (those 3M Command Strips are flaming impressive given half a chance). Same grunt as a laptop CPU and just as quiet but with more easily swappable RAM and SSD. Cordless keyboard/mouse can be put in a drawer to make it even tidier. iPad or other tablet beside the couch for quick access, and a few steps across the lounge for more in-depth surfing or household finance work.

I've got so many gadgets available to me, but I move between the iPad for quick content consumption or the iMac for non-trivial stuff. I pull the laptop out only when the kids are hogging the iMac for homework, because its a bit of a pain (for me) to try and do 'real work' on a small screen. Possibly because I've been spoiled for a long time by generous screens at home and work.

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

Referral links to services I use, really like, and may be rewarded if you sign up:
PocketSmith for budgeting and personal finance management. A great Kiwi company.

MikeB4

18435 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1498823 24-Feb-2016 21:35

Lots of food thought. Is there any MacBook Pro users that can shed some light?

macuser

2120 posts

Uber Geek

#1498831 24-Feb-2016 21:42

If you do move to a laptop, keep it high on a stand with a monitor! Back pain comes pretty quickly if you're looking down so often

MikeB4

18435 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1498841 24-Feb-2016 21:52

I should have mentioned, being medically retired I don't spend long stretches of time on the computer. I do things in bursts. I carry my iPhone with me all the time and also have my iPad available. I would probably spend 30 to 40 minutes a time at the pc and would work at it say 3 times per day so average of 2 to 3 hours per day. Some days I don't touch it at all.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5