New computer: Desktop or Laptop?

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redfishsc

redfishsc

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2006
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North Charleston , SC
Howdy all.

Lately I have been getting the "blue screen of death" on my old fossil PC. Hopefully today I narrowed it down to a driver on the 320g hard disk I installed a month ago-- I updated the driver, and the blue screen crash hasn't happened all day (would have expected 3 or 4 of them by now).



Anyhow, if the problem resurfaces, I'm just tossing this one and getting a new one.


So. Here are my options. Desktop or laptop/notebook. PLEASE SHARE YOUR OPINIONS ;)

I cannot afford anything "top of the line", and my biggest concern is reliability. I don't PC game or run any high-demand graphics programs.


Desktop unit--- the only thing I've ever had. They tend to last me around 5 years, usually with some upgrades along the way.

Laptop/notebook---- would be nice for use in class, but I fear that they are not as reliable as desktop units, nor as "user friendly" when doing upgrades on internal components (RAM, etc...).



Lastly, if I can afford to go Mac, I'm going to get as far away from Micropsycho as I can.
 
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Personal comments, this is just me and is always open to other ideas.
At work before I was forced to use a Mac (Macintrash), I never liked them they were not for me. By the same token I have never liked laptops, I agree they have their uses, they are just not for me.
For me IE is easier for me to use than any Mac that I have ever used.
Do I like Vista-NO!!!
 
Desktop: Easy access to upgrades, very open in expansion, can get a very very good one for very little investment (white box).

Laptop: Easy of portability, upgrades limited to small amount of memory and a larger harddrive. Quickly outdated.

It all depends on your use. If you want, shoot me a PM with your number and I will give you a call and can help you pick the right pc. I am a IT professional, and have been for 20 years.

dennis

As for the above on vista, YES bad, very bad, BUT windows 7 releases in 18 days and I can tell everyone, it rocks! Been beta testing it from day one and the final verson is great. Also hosting a windows 7 launch party..
 
They just upgraded my work machine to an Asus laptop. This thing is faster than any of my HPs or Toshibas and I would not go back to a desktop no matter what. The laptops can do everything a desktop can do and so much more, if you ever have the need to work away from the desk you should have a laptop. The prices have come way down also, so it is now a reasonable option.
 
DennisM said:
As for the above on vista, YES bad, very bad, BUT windows 7 releases in 18 days and I can tell everyone, it rocks! Been beta testing it from day one and the final verson is great. Also hosting a windows 7 launch party..
Click to expand...

Dennis, I have a friend that is a developer for CNC software, Vista has been nothing but trouble, He says 7 is a good stable platform , I hope it as good or better than XP Pro or 2000 I'm about ready to build a new system.
 
bitshird said:
Dennis, I have a friend that is a developer for CNC software, Vista has been nothing but trouble, He says 7 is a good stable platform , I hope it as good or better than XP Pro or 2000 I'm about ready to build a new system.
Click to expand...

It is a great platform. M$ did in 7 what they wanted to do in vista but never made it...

Its basicly vista done right, but they were afraid to us the vista name for obvious reasons, so went with 7. It was completly overhauled and re-wrote, kernal up!

I love it!


As for the comment a latop can do everything a desktop can, yes untill you want to upgrade it then its a bic lighter.

I advise if upgradeabilty is a must as well as portability to look into both! I can get anyone both a great desktop and latop for under 1100.00! Desktop fully upgradable, and current, no last years model blah blah, and notebook a nice entrylevel 15" screen wi-fi etc....
 
MAC MAC MAC!!!!!!!

Won't go "blue screen" on you. Very user friendly after the week or so of getting use to everything. The filing system on mac is about 1000 time better. If you do any pictures or movies, you will love it.

If you go to the apple store website, on the bottom left, there is a refurbished mac section. If you do decide to go with mac, use this option! That's were I got mine, and you can save $200-300. But you have to check it day-to-day because new stuff is always coming and going. Plus with refurbished, you know its been checked and everything is up to standards unlike the ones right of the "assembly line"
 
THANKS!!

This is just the stuff I wanted to hear.

Dennis, PM sent!!

I look forward to getting something other than XP, I really don't care for it.


Does 7 eat up as much memory (RAM/virtual) as XP does? The current desktop I'm using came with only 133mb of RAM, trying to run XP (obviously not good) so I upgraded the RAM to 1G of Crucial many years ago, which was one of the best upgrades I've ever done on a computer.
 
DennisM said:
Desktop: Easy access to upgrades, very open in expansion, can get a very very good one for very little investment (white box).

Laptop: Easy of portability, upgrades limited to small amount of memory and a larger harddrive. Quickly outdated.

It all depends on your use. If you want, shoot me a PM with your number and I will give you a call and can help you pick the right pc. I am a IT professional, and have been for 20 years.

dennis

As for the above on vista, YES bad, very bad, BUT windows 7 releases in 18 days and I can tell everyone, it rocks! Been beta testing it from day one and the final verson is great. Also hosting a windows 7 launch party..
Click to expand...

True.
We have a laptop- ASUS- and take it around with us. At home I have a desktop, old but reliable.
 
redfishsc said:
Hmmm. By your avatar and comments, one might gather you are partial to Macs ;)

I have a few buddies with Macs, maybe I need to hop on theirs and take a test drive.
Click to expand...

Haha, ME? Partial? No way! Just the facts. :biggrin:

But, I did the same thing with a friend before I bought mine. I would highly recommend doing that before laying down the cash.
 
I believe it all boils down to your preference.

Me, I would never buy a desktop again because I like portability. We have 3 laptops at home and the next one will be a laptop again. I am almost due for an upgrade anyway :D

The posts about upgrade-ability is correct BUT judging from your OP, you probably will never need an upgrade from a current laptop anyway.

The prices have gone way down (both PC and laptop) and if you are savvy enough bargain hunting, can easily get real steal.

Good luck with your choice!
 
Thanks Dario!

Unfortunately I did not locate the problem driver. I just got a blue screen crash a minute ago. I'm about to install the "maul hammer update"!!
 
redfishsc said:
Thanks Dario!

Unfortunately I did not locate the problem driver. I just got a blue screen crash a minute ago. I'm about to install the "maul hammer update"!!
Click to expand...


Write down the info from the BSD and let me know what it is, I can then trace it down to the problem driver..
 
I would only get a laptop if potability is a must. You get more bang for the buck with a desktop. Between my wife, my daughter, and myself, in the past 5 years, we have owned, or do still own 3 laptops and 3 desktops. All HP Pavilion refurbished models. All extreamly reliable, and all at extreamly good prices over new. All were purchased at either eCost.com, Tigerdirect.com, or EBay (whoever had the best deal at the time). You sound like you like to keep a machine for a while. I'd recommend buying as much power as you can afford now, and upgrade it to Windows7...you wont need to upgrade for a long time after that. Feel free to email me if you have questions or want some buying tips (like making sure you take advantage of Bing Cashback...I got $35 coming back to me from my last laptop purchase).
 
I have both a MAX laptop and a PC. Love the Mac, it is easy and you can connect anywhere. It normally has all the drivers for printers and connects to them wirelessly. I still like the PC because this is where I learned to work on computers. In fact I am buying another one as soon as Windows 7 comes out. Two things to remember is how much RAM you have (min 2 gigs but more is better) and the size of your hard drive.

Most computers are good or fair, I only keep them for 5 years or less before I get rid of them. To many changes to systems and more improvements.

good luck I'm sure that what ever you purchase will give you the service you want.
 
I have been a Mac user since '89 but also a PC user because of company proprietary software. I have used Windows 98, XP and Vista and I also support a few fellows with their XP and Vista. I can tell you that I spend more time on two fellows XP and Vista than on 6 Mac user's computers. None of these folks are "techie" minded. But my experience is that "non-tech" Mac users have far less trouble figuring things out than "non-tech" Window's users.

Windows OSes, by and large, are built for an IT mindset. I can handle it just fine, but it is a pain for everyday users when things go wrong. You will find IT folks swinging just as hard for their system of choice as you will with Mac users. But you won't find many down in the trenches non-tech home and personal Window's users swearing by their computers like IT and Mac users do - but rather swearing at them.

I have a still running Mac 8600 from early '96. I have three of my older Mac laptops - 2000, 2003, 2004, still working for my daughters and they have been passed down to their kids.

I had a 2002 HP tower that my company provided and it lasted about two years and it was a pain the whole time. I personally purchased an IBM Thinkpad and used it instead of the HP. It is still going and one of my daughters uses it on occasion.

In 2006, I purchased my Intel MacBook Pro and have been running all of my Window's software from the MBPro. Many of my coworkers run Windows on their Macs in many configurations and they/we have very little trouble - far less than our PC/Windows users do with their computer and peripherals.

I will say that some Dells, HPs and others are extremely chancy - buy a "consumer" computer at a decent price and you will have a "crap shoot" as to - will it last? If you buy a "business" unit that costs more because they are made to higher standards, then you should be OK. I can't tell you the number of people in our company/organization that buy their own and buy their own and buy their own again and again about every 18 months to 2 years. But those of us who paid a little more for business units such as the Thinkpad or Mac or business Dell model, they generally last much longer, give less problems and in the end are much cheaper.

With my Mac, running Parallels and XP, I print to two printers over wireless (a laser BW and a color Photo printer) without a hitch. When I finish my Windows work, I switch back to the Mac side and don't worry about all of the bugs, viruses, virus protection software problems (turn this off, turn that off . . before downloading installing the update etc. I hate protection software that causes almost as much irritation as ignoring it does.)


AS to Laptop versus Desktop: I used to be a heavy Photoshop user and lightweight video/movie maker since the mid-90s. Dropping down to an occasional user around 2002, I have not had any problems with movies or Photoshop on my laptops. As to PS, 10 to 80 meg files for my daughter's Annual School books were not uncommon and the laptops (Macs) handled them just fine. I am sure PC and Windows can handle that kind of work just fine in this day and age. However the Mac laptop that did that was vintage 2000, and it is still running.

If you are a techie person, don't be afraid of staying PC/Windows. IF not, be careful, or keep an IT/Techie friend handy. :wink: I don't have any experience with the Window's 7 Beta but from all reports it is almost close to ease of use as OS X has been for years. We are keeping our eyes open.
 
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If you don't have a pressing need for a Laptop, don't get one. Laptop is a useful tool if you have that need. BUT, laptop is attractive, keep an eye on it! Laptop is fragile-make sure you are vigilant to have back ups. Laptop doesn't run as fast as a Desktop equivalant. Amos
 
Thanks guys!

I have NOT fixed the problem, but I'll try to get the info Dennis mentioned to see if we can find this driver and give it the electric chair.

Lee, thanks for that info! Lots of great testimonial there.

Amos, yes, I agree laptops can be fragile, and I'm pretty hard on stuff. Desktop it is!
 
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