Should I sell my PC and go laptop?

andy_fozzy

andy_fozzy

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Just thinking about it.....

Would be great to have a decent laptop, but would I miss my PC?
My PC spec wise is pretty darn good, and the one thing that puts me off straight away is my 5.1 sound. I have a Creative Audigy sound card and Creative 5.1's. They sound terrific, so is there anyway I can hook up my 5.1's to work on a laptop?

The other thing putting me off a bit is the maintenance.
If say the PSU blew, or memory, or mobo whatever, I can replace it pretty easily. How easy (and expensive!) is it to replace a piece of hardware on a laptop?

Would really appreciate your thoughts on this one......
 
Why do you want a laptop?

Another negative point that you haven't mentioned is that screens on laptops are pants.

Why not get a cheap netbook to use alongside your main PC? That has the advantage of portability, but for processing etc a desktop is much better.

(FWIW I use a laptop, but work from 3 or 4 different places and need the portability, when I'm in my home office I have external monitor, keyboard and mouse, so it may as well be a desktop).
 
I would stick to the pc and maybe get a cheap laptop for the side.

I have both, use the laptop mainly for surfing but editing photos etc is much easier on the pc.
 
I agree.
I use a laptop as i travel regular and it does have its place.
However for photo editing etc it has to be a desktop for me.
Trying to work without as mouse, small screen and compacted keyboard is very frustrating
 
laptops are handy for travelling, college/uni and for using wi-fi but a base desktop machine is a must. as asked above why do you want to swap?
 
I ditched my desktop and got a pretty powerful laptop in its place. Never looked back since. As for screens being pants, well, that just depends on who you go for. My Dell XPS has a fantastic screen, as does my macbook pro. I ditched my desk and my desktop and do all my work and processing including programming on a laptop. I can take it with me anywhere and everything else I need like extra storage I can buy in the form of external drives. I'm still amazed at how many people buy ridiculously over powered desktop machines.

Unless you're a 3D artist, animator, gamer or games developer then I don't see the need in a desktop. But that's just my personal opinion.

A 17 inch laptop is very handy indeed. And you'll soon start to notice a trend. People are starting to stop buying over powered machines and instead buying technology that was available a year ago for much less. That's why net books are proving so popular just now.
 
There's no reason why he can't have a TFT monitor hooked up to the laptop. You can get some really good ones for not much money.
 
I went from a PC to a lappy but found it difficult to get on with the keyboard position & small screen. I soon went back.
 
17" Macbook Pro and a docking station (TFT, keyboard, etc) desk - sorted :)

EDIT: sorry, that's just what i'd like :D
 
Thankyou all for your replies.......

The reasons I'm considering it is mainly the portability issues.
And at the moment, my PC is taking up allot of space in a spare room, which we are going to need if we have any more kids!
I'd like to get mobile broadband, so I'm not tied to this room while surfing.

Also like to take the laptop to certain places to show off my pictures!!

And the PC is just so messy. There's millions of cables and wires all over the place, which sometimes drive me mad :bang:

I do already have a laptop actually........
But it really is carp. The screen is very dull, doesn't want to connect to the net, and doesn't even have USB2!!!
And it's very slow. Needs a memory upgrade I think.
Oh and the battery doesn't hold any power.

It's a HP Pavilion ZE4130........

If I did sell and go for it, I'd have to use a USB mouse :)
 
I swapped to a laptop a few years ago and haven't looked back. Currently use a Sony Vaio 17" Xblack screen which is superb. Like you Andy, I was fed up with the space the PC took up and all the wires everywhere. Also nice and easy, when going out on a job, to pick up the laptop and take it with me.
 
I've got a laptop, but I do a lot of writing (and will be doing even more when I start Uni) so I have a full size keyboard aswell that I plug in when I'm in 'stationary' position, typing on the baby laptop keyboard does my head in!
 
PC and laptop... laptop only used when have to send pics from events/games so has minimum software installed..

Always nicer on the PC though :)
 
andy_fozzy said:
Thankyou all for your replies.......

The reasons I'm considering it is mainly the portability issues.
And at the moment, my PC is taking up allot of space in a spare room, which we are going to need if we have any more kids!
I'd like to get mobile broadband, so I'm not tied to this room while surfing.

Also like to take the laptop to certain places to show off my pictures!!

And the PC is just so messy. There's millions of cables and wires all over the place, which sometimes drive me mad :bang:

I do already have a laptop actually........
But it really is carp. The screen is very dull, doesn't want to connect to the net, and doesn't even have USB2!!!
And it's very slow. Needs a memory upgrade I think.
Oh and the battery doesn't hold any power.

It's a HP Pavilion ZE4130........

If I did sell and go for it, I'd have to use a USB mouse :)
Click to expand...

get a mac :geek:
 
Since I had my back operation I find myself unable to sit comfortably for any length of time and now I do everything on my laptop - mostly laying down with it on my lap. I went from a 19" monitor (which was large at that time before the 22" became more common) down to a 15" and soon got used to it. Just means a bit more scrolling around the page to see everything. If I want to show images to clients at home I can plug in the larger monitor and use that for viewing purposes. I use a tablet and pen and would be reluctant to go back to a desktop now.
 
fabs said:
I swapped to a laptop a few years ago and haven't looked back. Currently use a Sony Vaio 17" Xblack screen which is superb. Like you Andy, I was fed up with the space the PC took up and all the wires everywhere. Also nice and easy, when going out on a job, to pick up the laptop and take it with me.
Click to expand...

That's another thing, when I turn pro to take the laptop with me :D
 
Thanks again for your replies.......

So how about my 5.1's then. Can I get them to run on a laptop?
 
andy_fozzy said:
Would really appreciate your thoughts on this one......
Click to expand...

Well, last November I was faced with having to upgrade my home system (Intel Imac 1.83ghz), there was nothing wrong with it per say, it still worked perfectly but I wanted a little more speed. However, just before shelling out, along came a job offer with Getty images that required on location editing and immediate image upload via FTP.

So I chose a macbook pro (as I'm a mac kinda chap) instead of a desktop set up.

Initially I was worried about having to edit on smaller screens but this worry was quickly put to bed by the addition of a secondary display. A 24" Samsung jobbie, not too expensive and not the best panel ever but it does the job for now.

Whether windows or mac, a laptop with a secondary display is a great set up IMO, you have dual displays for stationary/office/home use and you also have the option to be mobile.

Personally I'm so much better off, I have my own personal wireless internet connection from my cell phone provider, a little USB stick type thing and off I go. It's great! I'm well happy. :D

Craikeybaby said:
Another negative point that you haven't mentioned is that screens on laptops are pants.
Click to expand...

My screen is B E A Utiful! :razz:
 
andy_fozzy said:
Thankyou all for your replies.......

The reasons I'm considering it is mainly the portability issues.
And at the moment, my PC is taking up allot of space in a spare room, which we are going to need if we have any more kids!
I'd like to get mobile broadband, so I'm not tied to this room while surfing.

Also like to take the laptop to certain places to show off my pictures!!

And the PC is just so messy. There's millions of cables and wires all over the place, which sometimes drive me mad :bang:

I do already have a laptop actually........
But it really is carp. The screen is very dull, doesn't want to connect to the net, and doesn't even have USB2!!!
And it's very slow. Needs a memory upgrade I think.
Oh and the battery doesn't hold any power.

It's a HP Pavilion ZE4130........

If I did sell and go for it, I'd have to use a USB mouse :)
Click to expand...
.
Ok... i work part time in currys and will tell you that mobile broadband is rubbish, for anything other than surfing + checking emails. Its only only really of use if you are going to be doing ALOT of traveling and need to use the internet outside you house and since you dont have a (current/regularly used) laptop already then i would say there is very little need.

I'd go for a laptop if you really want to but get a wireless router in and a proper internet connection for when you are home. And you can always drop into wifi points in cafes and work etc if you need to.

Regarding maintenance you are correct, swapping the ram and hdd are easy, anything else and it is either, send it off and pay quite a bit (in comparison to a desktop where you DIY it) or buy a new one.

5.1's --> i've seen external sound card things for laptops but couldnt see them just now when i had a quick look, there might be something here but i'm not 100% sure if they are 5.1 because you cant see in the picture. How much 5.1 stuff do you have though? because you could just drop back to stereo which would still sound pretty decent on good speakers.
 
tbh i've found if you can take apart a normal computer you can do the same with a laptop, it's just smaller screws, the occasional sticky tab, mini ribbon cables and such so wouldn't worry about that...

but hey if you've got the money and want to be portable do it.

but make sure whatever you get does what you want it to. rather than just getting something because you fancy browsing tp whilst watching tv :)
 
Blue Eagle said:
.
Ok... i work part time in currys and will tell you that mobile broadband is rubbish, for anything other than surfing + checking emails.
Click to expand...

Really? I though the UK had picked up the pace with mobile net, over here there are many options with some getting pretty darn fast, at a price of course. :)
As far as I can remember, my mobile net is a 2MB speed connection, 20 euro a month and it sustains video calls via skype to my folks in the West mids and 24MB images take around 10 to minutes to send. I use it as a on location connection and also a back up if our hard lines are down.

It really comes in handy if all the wireless signals are encrypted, which I've found most are.
 
Cheers all :thumbs:
Some excellent advice. I have read all posts, but I'm being lazy by not replying to them all individually :bonk:

But if I were to do it, I think the router idea would be best......

I just happened to go to Novatech today, and they had a beauty of a laptop in there. Came to just under £500 with an O/S.
Appeared to have lots of functions, and could be just what I'd need.

Anyway, have a little problem with the desktop PC right now, which needs sorting before I can even consider it any further.

Thanks again for your advice......
 
Hi all. :wave:

Well I've spent a bit of time tarting up my old Pavilion ze4130. Clean windows install, drivers ets, and it seems to be working pretty good.
Even managed to get on the net with it, which is a first!!

So I might just keep my desktop and this laptop, and get a wireless router.

I've already got a USB WLAN adapter up and running, all I need now is the router!!

I think this is a better idea, as I get to keep my nice desktop PC and get wireless internet without spending a fortune!
 
Nought wrong with using lappys, get one with a decent screen and it can be calibrated just like a pc screen.
You get usb 5.1 sound cards for your audio
It saves having to keep two sets of software set up the way you like em, I have a lappy and desktop and I use my lappy for nearly everything and just use my pc for gaming and watching tv
Back-up externally just like you would a pc and leave the back up drive at home ;)
 
Tomas Whitehouse said:
Really? I though the UK had picked up the pace with mobile net, over here there are many options with some getting pretty darn fast, at a price of course. :)
As far as I can remember, my mobile net is a 2MB speed connection, 20 euro a month and it sustains video calls via skype to my folks in the West mids and 24MB images take around 10 to minutes to send. I use it as a on location connection and also a back up if our hard lines are down.

It really comes in handy if all the wireless signals are encrypted, which I've found most are.
Click to expand...
Heh, well i also live in northern ireland and the speeds+reception are considerably worse here. And also i'm on a 10meg line so i suppose i consider meg a bit slow if it was you only connection. The point i was trying to make is that if the OP hasnt already got a laptop etc then there probably isn't a great need for mobile broadband since you could drop into wifi-hotspots when required.
 
on the mobile broadband I use hspda modem in my phone which gives me 7.2mbps, not sure about the cost in a dedicated package though, for me it is about 7 pounds a month for unlimited (which i don't have - I have 250mb free to see if it is enough)
 
My 2p worth.

If you do get a laptop, and i think you have already made up your mind to get one :D, get the biggest screen you can afford. If you use a normal keyboard the screen will be a fair distance away from you. Also don't get a PC World own brand jobby as they are not well built at all. My sons Advent is suffering from the keys just falling off! Fortuenately they are ones he doesnt need to use. Saying that, the Vista OS runs very well considering it only has 2GB of RAM.
 
god no not advent... :D

the advice i usually give people is to look on dells website and decide on a model. then phone them up and haggle on price, especially towards the end of the month as they will budge to hit sales targets.
 
Thanks for your input chaps :thumbs:

I think for the time being at least, I shall stick with this Pavilion.
It's not too bad, and hopefully getting some more memory for it, so that should speed it up a bit!
Got it working just fine on the internet now, so what I might do it go the router option, as I only really need internet at home.......

I don't think I'd get that many £££ for my PC sadly.
But then it appears I can get a decent lappy second hand for not many £££.

It's a very scary thought selling my PC.
But I'm getting on much better with the lappy than I thought I would!
 
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