Why laptops will kick desktop PCs to the curb

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080810-opinion-why-laptops-will-kick-desktop-pcs-to-the-curb.html

by makimaki • 18 years ago

8 21 18 years ago

arstechnica.com

STHayden2• 18 years ago

they haven't already? Last I heard Laptop greatly out sell desktops.

I think boxes will be around for a long time. Servers. Custom made systems.

But as a consumer devise it's been in trouble for a while.

hhm2• 18 years ago

Am I the only one who finds notebooks less confortable for coding, than desktop computers? The position of the keyboard and screen isn't very good for my back and hands...

wmf• 18 years ago

So plug in a keyboard and monitor. One point of the article is that laptops are now good enough to be most people's primary "desktop" computer and they're also portable.

attack2• 18 years ago

No, I like the keyboard to be a lot closer to the monitor, maybe even under where the laptop would be. That would be quite awkward.

Plus, laptop screens -> much more money for the same quality screen.

jfornear• 18 years ago

plug in a keyboard, monitor, mouse, and speakers?

http://noobindex.com/setup.jpg is my setup

mrtron• 18 years ago

I have an almost identical setup - but a Macbook and bluetooth keyboard/mouse. I believe I have the same screen - those Samsungs are really great.

I am currently working at home - but I still unplug the laptop daily to move around. The extra screen is extremely helpful.

I have recently been considering getting a new desktop however - since I would prefer 3+ large monitors.

jonknee• 18 years ago

I got tired of the screens being at different heights, so I got one of these. Also keeps the desk looking sharp.

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/elevator

hhm2• 18 years ago

Thank you, that's useful.

enra• 18 years ago

I also find desktops more comfortable. I don't see the point of using a laptop when you have to setup mouse, keyboard, external display + everything else you might need, everyday or atleast quite often.

I like that my desktop has lots of juice, nicely set up with multiple displays and ready when I need it.

Likewise, I like that laptops are portable as they can, light, have a small footprint and long batterylife. Usually you can't get both ultra-portable and ultra-speed.

Fiddling with the files and settings can be painful though, but I think its less painful than alternatives.

noor420• 18 years ago

According to National Post (Canadian Newspaper), 270 million PCs were sold all around the world in 2007.

I wonder how many were built by hand , like I did.

stcredzero2• 18 years ago

Small form factor and all-in-one will ensure that desktops never quite disappear. Heck, the all-powerful bleeding-edge no-holds barred desktop will always have a place somewhere. Anyone who programs or creates content will want as much screen real estate as possible.

To really see a disappearance of the desktop will require a revolution in user interface and display technology. So long as we're still doing stuff that looks like working on a "workstation" from the 1990s (or Xerox Parc in the 1970's) we'll still have desktops. I guess that's almost tautological. We'll have desktops (computers) so long as we have desktops. (The table-like places to sit and do our work)

aofstad• 18 years ago

As they mentioned, laptops used to only be useful for sending emails, browsing the web, writing documents, etc. Mobile phones are now taking this simple portable computing role that laptops used to hold, and then some. Only problem with portability is screen space and ergonomics. Somebody needs to come up with a universal way to dock portable devices (laptops, mobile phones, etc.) to a desktop keyboard/mouse/speaker/monitor setup quickly and easily. I guess they have proprietary docking stations that do this but something standardized would be nice.

noonespecial• 18 years ago

I use those "laptops that are too big to be laptops" as desktop machines. I just hook up a keyboard and monitor and leave them closed as if they were a tower.

The advantages: Quieter (much), built in UPS (battery), more power efficient, portable when they need to be, less desk/floor space wasted. The only disadvantage is the lack of PCI slots if you're into that sort of thing. I find USB takes care of just about everything I need to plug in.

Haven't used a "desktop" in years.

bbgm• 18 years ago

The workstation (specialized high end desktop I suppose) will stay on, mostly as your powerhouse machine under the table for certain specific uses. For most applications and usage patterns, I can't see myself justifying a desktop over a laptop in the future.

acgourley• 18 years ago

I wish this article would have touched on gaming and the emerging external video card market.

SwellJoe• 18 years ago

I'm going to show my age and say that you will never, ever, find me saying, "I like working on a laptop better than a desktop machine". Big monitor, nice keyboard, big mouse pad, all in exactly the same place every day. That's what I need to be happy in my computing experience.

Almost every other hacker I know prefers a laptop and they're quite content to roam with their work. I just don't get anything done that way. I guess I'm just too much of a princess.

I can see the argument that one can plug in a proper monitor and keyboard...but why? My desktop is nearly a year old, and still probably about twice as fast as any laptop anyone in this discussion owns and has more RAM and disk space, and it only cost about $1000 to build. To get close to the performance of this desktop machine in a lappy, you'd spend $3000 or more (and your memory bus will still be 50% slower).

Then again, most of the folks in this discussion aren't compiling software every day...so maybe I'll change my tune when I no longer have that task as part of my core job.

Why laptops will kick desktop PCs to the curb

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