help me decide

[fruitsalad]

i am about to treat myself to either a laptop or a desktop pc i have about �400 to spend, what concerns me is if i get a laptop which the purpose would be to use in difference rooms etc would i have to take the modem to dial up to aol with me everywhere i go as well as the laptop. or would i just be better off with the desktop pc? thanks in advance guys. i realise its not a great deal to spend on a computer but will be enough for what i need to use it for.

[Ethel]

If you are on dial up modem you will not be able to use a wireless router. In which case you will be far better off with a desktop.

Desktop pcs are far easier and cheaper to upgrade than laptops.

If you leave it a month or so, you will find prices dropping even more, so hang on if you can.

[vehelpfulguy]

Pound for pound, you actually get more for your money with a desktop than with a laptop.

Desktops tend to be made from off-the-shelf components, whereas laptops have to be specially designed and made.

Also laptop monitors are usually smaller, with 15 inch about the standard for laptops whereas desktops are usually 17" or even 19".

For �400 you can get a pretty good general purpose desktop PC. I bought two desktops from Dell recently for relatives and both cost me about �425 pounds.

Like Ethel says, perhaps wait till after Xmas. Windows Vista comes out in January and many shops will be trying to sell off their Windows XP computers for when the Vista machines arrive.

Or you could just wait for Windows Vista anyway.
For that I got good processor, good memory, 80Gb hard disk, and a 17" TFT monitor.

[bloaterbum]

Duuno what you get for your money these days but Ipaid well over a grand for me laptops each.Value for money the desk type are better but at least you can stick them away in the cupboard when you get fed up with them

[indie1978]

if you choose to buy a laptop you could get a wire less router and a dongle that goes in the usb port to creat a network alternatavley if a wire less network sounds expensive and trouble some fear not ther is an other solution instead of loosing your broad band speed with a wi fi connection i reconmend http://www.max.tv/product-detail.asp?number=48 6GB hop this helps