desktop or labtop?

[porkchop]

My desk top is past its sell by date and i am going to upgrade. Apart from the convenience of being able to carry a labtop around is there any real difference between the two. I would not be taking a labtop outdoors. Any suggestions would be welcome.

[AlBags]

Lots .. if you ask me.
If up to me, and I wanted something portable .. I would buy a reasonable PC AND a Netbook.
Personally I always build a PC .. easy really. You can build something OK now for a couple of hundred.

[rccatnap]

Like AlBags I enjoy making my own computers, though really nowadays it's more like an assmbly of parts. You just have to be careful to start with the Motherboard/processor and work from there to achieve the performance you want, or can afford. Laptops are not quite so versatile that way, but obviously very convenient because of their portability. You can buy laptops that easily equal the performance of most PCs. Though generally one is more or less stuck with the bag of bits you buy in a laptop. The RAM is about the only thing you can help improve the peformance. One does pay a bit more for the miniaturisation of course.
Just Google for 'How to choose a Laptop' and you'll see what Albags means by "Lots".
Good luck with whatever you decide upon.

[NazNomad]

Seriously, if I were you, I'd go for a desktop computer.

[porkchop]

thanks, i will go shopping in the new year, thats if i have any money left over!

[VHG]

Note it is laptop not labtop.

Generally you get more for your money with a desktop than a laptop (faster CPU, faster hard disks, larger hard disks etc).

You also get a bigger screen and bigger keyboard.

Plus it is easier to fix a desktop than a laptop, and also far easier to upgrade a desktop.

However a desktop is going to take up more room, and you can only use it in the one place.

If you are mainly "desk" based (and not moving around) then a desktop wins hands down every time.

But if you want to use your computer in your bedroom, and living room, and garden, and outdoors, then it has to be a laptop.

Note laptops break down more often than desktops, probably because people drop them or mistreat them, so you may need to replace it sooner than a desktop.

A laptop will also cost more to fix than a desktop.

There are pro and cons with both, so it is really down to how you plan to use it.

[carlton23]

I prefer a Desktop as it is in my own little room which gives me my own place and peace and quiet.

[welshlibranr]

I have a 17 inch laptop, love it,it has HD, I can watch films etc on it, use it anywhere in the house!..........laptop for me every time!.........

[wilkesneil]

laptops are good as there portable but if you're having performance then it has to be a desktop.
laptops don't really play games unless you buy a gaming laptop which is a stupid amount of money, but a desktop will has you can have better graphics, more ram etc..
i only browse the net so i had a laptop a few years ago (as i didn't need nothing special) and got rid of my desktop.