Desktop vs Laptop

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OnceBitten

535 posts

Ultimate Geek

#99052 11-Mar-2012 23:13

We moved into a much smaller place last year and we don't really have a good place or space for our desktop computer and monitor / printer.
A friend of ours suggested we get a laptop and get everything transferred onto it.
We already have a wireless modem (brand new never been used), so internet connectivity won't be an issue.
Can everything just transfer over easily - we have MYOB, MS Office, Norton 360...etc... and I would hate to lose any of these programs.
We also download music (legally!), so we would need one with a bit of grunt / memory / good hard drive space.

What are the pros & cons of laptops over desktop computers?

any advise would be much appreciated! Thanks

gzt

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#593829 11-Mar-2012 23:52

Some people find laptops noisy, more so in summer when the small fan has to work harder to keep it cool. On average, performance of laptop boards is lower IHMO.

If you are comfortable with even less performance you could a get a $600 laptop each, and look at replacement every year or so for performance reasons.

A wireless printer would solve some space problems.

You could also consider all-in-one configurations and small form factor machines like the mac mini.

farcus

1554 posts

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#593844 12-Mar-2012 02:37

even a low to mid spec laptop would be perfectly acceptable for what you are using it for. You are unlikely to notice any kind of dip in performance with the kind of apps / usage you have specified.
Do you still have the install discs / licenses for each of your applications? If so, then it is just a matter of reinstalling the apps onto the laptop and away you go.

nix

147 posts

Master Geek

#593849 12-Mar-2012 06:49

It's not strictly true that you can merrily reinstall software on a new laptop. If you have OEM versions of Office for example iyt is tied to the original machine that it was purchased for.

heavenlywild

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#593855 12-Mar-2012 07:51

If you can afford to pay $1500, or up to $2000 for a laptop, then you should have no trouble running any of the programs you have, plus have the size and grunt to hold all of your other files.

I recommend getting a more expensive laptop as these things can't be upgraded (RAM and hard drive only).

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#593880 12-Mar-2012 09:06

As said... Do you have the original software key for Office? If not, then you won't be able to "transfer". Also, a $600 laptop is not going to perform as a desktop - it will have lower specs (although they are a lot better now than a few years back).

Because most laptops use slow HDD, make sure you get at least 8GB or you will be kicking yourself while the laptop keeps swapping things from the limited ram to a slow HDD. And if you get a low graphics (with "shared memory") you will need that memory.

Lias

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#593886 12-Mar-2012 09:11

The other thing to consider is that $600 laptops are consumer grade, and thus pretty much crap quality regardless of brand.

Get a Toshiba or HP buisness model and you are far less likely to have any longterm issues with it.

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Grant01

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#593891 12-Mar-2012 09:16

gzt: Some people find laptops noisy, more so in summer when the small fan has to work harder to keep it cool. On average, performance of laptop boards is lower IHMO.

If you are comfortable with even less performance you could a get a $600 laptop each, and look at replacement every year or so for performance reasons.

A wireless printer would solve some space problems.

You could also consider all-in-one configurations and small form factor machines like the mac mini.

Yearly replacement not needed at that price.

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D1023319

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#594101 12-Mar-2012 13:02

Some other thoughts

To me decision whether to use desktop vs tablet vs laptop is really about if you are
- consuming information i.e. watching utube, personal email, moving around house, etc or
- creating information such as maintaining business records, large amounts of typing, requirement to look at paperwork while typing, etc.

Hence as you say you use MYOB, I think your answer depends on what your use is for the PC as per above.

Depending on laptop size, I dont find them that good from a ergonomic perspective, e.g. keyboard comfort.

Aside from that, data backup is something your should think about. I like a desktop to have a second internal HDD for backup.

Also I like to leave PC on to act as house server which you wouldnt want to do with a laptop.