Laptop v Desktop

[iankirby]

Advice please. My son is wanting a laptop. I have concerns over reliabilty and practicality as he will not be carting it around with him - it will be sitting in his room or used downstairs when connected to the Internet.
He intends using it for school work, music files, video files and some games.
What is best - laptop or desktop?
Also what should we look for - processor / hard drive capacity etc.
Thanks in advance.
Ian

[eyebrows]

defo a desktop.....a laptop is for if you need to cart it from different workplaces etc.....

additionaly a desktop will (normally) have more space for him misic/video/porn etc......

[vehelpfulguy]

A similar question about laptop or desktop was answered a while ago.

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Comp uters/Question421241.html

[Youravonlady]

We have a hard wired desktop in the 'den' and a wifi laptop for use around the house. The (Dell) laptop gets used most and the only gripe we have is that under battery power alone the screen brightness is iffy. It can be a pain being limited to the length of the mains cable.

[vehelpfulguy]

>Also what should we look for - processor / hard drive capacity etc.

This is difficult as the specs for a laptop and a desktop are different so it is hard to advise until you decide which you are going to buy.

If your son wants to play games the graphics capability is the most important thing.

To be honest most laptops are not suitable for playing games. Laptop graphics are usualy desgined for people who want to do office based tasks (word processing etc).

Even desktop PCs can come with "basic" graphics (where the graphics is built into the motherboard) and they are only suitable for the most basic games.

You need to find a PC that has a decent graphics card if he wants to play games.

Once you have decided between a dekstop or laptop come back here and ask again and we will give you some advice on the specs.

[m4rtyn_]

I have both however I defer to the laptop, I can go somewhere quiet, I can go to another address, take it on holliday or I can place it where my kids cannot keep using it. Most places I use it has a power outlet, so long term use is no problem. you need to make sure it has a good graphics card as it is more usefull i.e. games etc. Mine is a hp pavilion dv9000. Excellent 10/10. I use it for all your needs and more.

[vehelpfulguy]

You may find this site useful for finding a PC or laptop.

It is called HotUKDeals and people post useful deals (not JUST for computers).

Thursday tends to be the day Dell update their web site and there are quite a few Dell deals posted today, both PCs and laptops.

http://www.hotukdeals.com/?merchant_filter=All &category_filter=All&type_filter=All&availabil ity_filter=All&status_filter=Active&order_by=N ewest

[OBonio]

You'll get more for your money with a desktop in terms of raw power, reliability and durability. One little drop can kill a laptop. Admittedly, dropping PCs per se is likely to kill them, but with a desktop you're not carting it around.

I looked at laptops recently and was disappointed in what was on offer for my budget, so I would go with a Desktop personally.

[meredith101]

I have a superbudget laptop. OK it is really a desktop, but if I carry it in a bag with me and use it on my lap==laptop, no?

I would not buy a new PC. They are so dirt cheap second hand on them auction sites, and what can go wrong with them really? A 2 year old PC....decent spec. If a bit breaks just buy a new bit and pop it in.
Just demand authentic XP, with recovery disk and COA.

So so cheap.
I had a garbage old machine and bought the bits to upgrade it, 60 quid on ebay, now I'm brand spanking new.

Sore lap though :(