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Jackie Day
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 228
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 2:18 pm: | 
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My home computer is dying and it's time to take the plunge and buy a new one, and I can't figure out whether it's best to get a laptop or a regular desktop. It's driving me crazy and I've been mulling it over for weeks. I can't take it anymore!
I know it's going to be a Mac, because that's what I use at home and at work and I have always been a Mac person...the question is more the cultural issue of laptop vs desktop. My desktop would be placed in my guestroom/home office, which is upstairs. I'm considering getting a laptop because I find that I am not in that room much of the time -- and can't be in it -- because I am supervising the kids, downstairs doing something such as cooking, etc., and just can't sequester myself up there. So I haven't been using the computer as much as I'd like. However, I have never had a laptop and they make me nervous because the keyboards are so small, they seem so breakable, they run out of power a lot, smaller screen, etc., plus of course they're more expensive when you compare them memorywise to desktops.
For instance, the Apple iBook G4 laptop has just a 12-inch screen, 800 mhz and a 30-gigabyte hard drive and it's $1099; vs the Apple eMac desktop (the cheapest and lowest-end Mac of all) has a 17-inch screen, 1 ghz and a 40-gig hard drive for just $799. It seems like such a big difference - less power, less memory, smaller screen, but $300 more. Yet there must be some reason people like laptops so much. The next one up has a 14-inch screen, 933 mhz and a 40-gigabyte hard drive but costs $1299 - and that's about as much as I would want to spend. Plus with a laptop I have to buy an Airport - that's this wireless thing Apple makes so you can get a wireless internet connection from any room in your house, because my cable modem comes in upstairs. I assume I might also need to buy a AC/DC power cord. Yet I assume I'd get more use out of the computer if it were portable.
Once I resolve the laptop vs desktop question, if I go with the desktop I still have to figure out which model...the cheapest one is outlined above. For $300 more you get 256 mb of RAM (same as all of the laptops) vs just 128 RAM in the cheapie. Plus you get an 80-gigabyte hard drive. If I wanted to go crazy, the really cool flat-panel space-age looking iMac is $1299. But other than the cool flat screen (no CRT) on a stem, it's the same power and memory as the $1099 eMac.
So - regardless of whether you out there are PC or Mac users (there's no chance I will consider a PC, so let's not even go down that road), any opinions on the merits of laptop vs desktop? I am already planning to finally go over to the Mac store at the Short Hills mall to get their opinions/do some demos, but can't go until next saturday 1/31 -- any thoughts in the meantime are much welcomed. Thanks!!
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Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 627
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 2:31 pm: |
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I like the portability of the laptop. I use my computer extensively and have found it to be very convenient. I can use it at my desk, dining room table, even outside on occasion. I also watch DVD’s on planes and bring it to my parents to show them Digital pictures.
I have a Port Replicator at my desk (I don’t now what Mac calls it), and when I sit down at my desk I plug it in. I then use a regular monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
If the prices were the same I would say Laptop 100% but it will end up costing you more.
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sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 893
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 2:32 pm: |
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I'm on my second laptop. (The first one lasted 5 years, but all good things must come to an end.) That doesn't include a laptop that my company owns that I use for work. I really like having a laptop, even though it sits on the desk about 90% of the time in my case. While there, it takes up much less space than a typical keyboard and monitor (not to mention the cpu if it also sits on the desk.) Actually, both laptops sit next to each other on the same desk. I would never be able to do that if one was a "regular" computer. The actual keyboard (excluding "special" keys) is standard size and spacing, so I don't have any touch typing problems. When I want to take it somewhere else I have that convenience, whether it is downstairs or outside of the house.
Although I am a PC user, I had occasion to use a Mac laptop over the holidays while visiting relatives and the one I used was beautiful! (It was a medium or large-ish Powerbook, not sure which model.)
All that being said, the main tradeoff is definitely price. I probably can't "cost justify" my decision, in light of the computer sitting on my desk so much and not being used for income generation (at least not so far), but I just wouldn't have it any other way and for me it was worth the price premium.
Good luck working it out! |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 451
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 2:39 pm: |
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Laptop advantages are portability -- put a wireless card in it, you can sit at your desk, kitchen table, backyard, and even if not connected to the internet -- you can take it on vacation to play games (not do work!).
A laptop will also take much less space and looks much "cleaner."
The biggest disadvantages are higher cost, lack of upgrade options (or much more expensive to upgrade), and, when it breaks -- you are completely out of a machine.
With a desktop you can at least use your old monitor if need be, or if the hard drive dies -- much easier to replace just one component (which you can probably get locally).
Also -- depending on what you need -- you can get a much larger screen size (at lower cost) by going desktop.
Do you have kids? To me a desktop is better -- you can isolate the CPU (under the table!) -- so if something spills -- you just have to worry about the keyboard. Also, I find its easier for kids to adjust the monitor and keyboard on a desktop to suit them.
Have fun shopping! Pete |
monster
Citizen
Username: Monster
Post Number: 98
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 3:07 pm: |
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I think you already answered your own question, go with the laptop, you don't have to go with Apples Airport Basestation ( I use and SMC router for now and it works great).
Having the cable modem upstairs and placing the wireless router there also is the best thing, it allows for optimum signal coverage, mine is in the attic and I find I recieve a strong signal on my iBook (partially due to the iBooks antennae) all throughout the house and in the back yard.
Going to the Apple Store and trying out the different models is a smart thing to do, but keep in mind that if you don;t mind buying new, Apple offers refurbs at great prices with the same warranty as new, there are also a few other sites that have good deals on Macs,
for instance SmallDog Electronics
renewed its stock of the iBook G3/800 128/30/CD/AirPort 12.1-inch for $725. http://www.smalldog.com/wag13868/atdealmac/. Offer ends January 26 today. Small Dog also has the same iBook with an additional 256MB RAM for $729, http://www.smalldog.com/wag13867/atdealmaced
the PowerBook G4/867 256/40/SuperDrive 12.1-inch for $1,325, this offer ends January 26, today,
http://www.smalldog.com/wag13904/atdealmac/
Smalldog seems to have some pretty good deals, just keep an eye out for them, also the refurb section at the Apple store has been getting restocked very early in the morning and seems to run out of some good deals pretty fast, http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore/
Scroll down and click on the Special Deals section on the left hand side.
If you occasionally want to hook the laptop up to an external monitor for a larger screen, you can do that too.
Since you have kids you can purchase with an educational discount from Apple.
With a laptop you will want to max out the RAM, and I strongly urge the purchase of Applecare for a laptop, I know of plenty people who were glad they did.
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eliz
Citizen
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 682
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 3:48 pm: |
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I work at home and have a 5 year old daughter. The laptop is such a timesaver and convenience. I have an iBook G3 with the 14 inch screen. It replaced a first generation ibook last year and it is great! I've had an Airport since they first came out and it's the greatest thing - I can be online from anywhere in the house or yard. I would have a really hard time going back to a desktop. |
eliz
Citizen
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 683
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 3:53 pm: |
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p.s. I agree with Monster - I maxed out my ram when I bought the computer (there was deal at the time through MacMall or MacWarehouse). I was also able to get Office for OSX very cheap as part of the deal.
Applecare is money well spent - I didn't get it originally and I should have. I have it now. |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 4449
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 4:11 pm: |
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Somehow a laptop and small kids don't seem to go together like peanutbutter and jelly. 
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mtierney
Citizen
Username: Mtierney
Post Number: 477
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 4:19 pm: |
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As my Mac computer ages, I wrestle with the laptop-desktop question too.
Major concern for me is the small keyboard. I don't hunt-and-peck, but use all ten fingers.
My daughter just opted for a desktop after having a laptop - she complained about the keyboard, breakdowns, etc.
Perhaps the best thing is to have two - one of each! |
Jackie Day
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 229
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 4:25 pm: |
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Seems like the laptop is making more and more sense. But to all of you with small children (mine are ages 4 and 2): Do you let your kids use the laptop even if you're supervising them? I want to encourage my kids' computer skills but I don't want them to be frustrated with the trackpad or trackball or whatever they call that little mouse type of thing - I think a conventional mouse would be easier for them to use. How are those little plug-in mouse peripheral devices that people buy for laptops? |
Jackie Day
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 230
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 4:27 pm: |
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Seems like the laptop is making more and more sense. But to all of you with small children (mine are ages 4 and 2): Do you let your kids use the laptop even if you're supervising them? I want to encourage my kids' computer skills but I don't want them to be frustrated with the trackpad or trackball or whatever they call that little mouse type of thing - I think a conventional mouse would be easier for them to use. How are those little plug-in mouse peripheral devices that people buy for laptops?
At this point - having read all your comments plus spent about 30 minutes on the phone with my friend and Mac buff - I am leaning toward the 14-inch iBook, which sells for $1299. He's convincing me to just bite the bullet and upgrade its RAM and hard drive plus buy the Applecare as well as the Airport card...we figured the total price would be around $1800. I'm getting sticker shock (I originally planned on going no higher than $1300) but this is starting to make some sense. |
Jackie Day
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 231
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 4:32 pm: |
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Me again.Just as I posted my comment above, I saw the comment about the keyboard being too small...I am a very fast typist who uses all 10 fingers and can type completely without looking - it's like second nature. I hate to hunt and peck. Thus I hate nonstandard keyboards. My friend is a hunt-and-peck typer, however (he says the keyboard on the laptop doesn't bother him) Honestly, will this be a problem? I will definitely have to try them out. |
eliz
Citizen
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 685
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 5:05 pm: |
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I'm a fast 10 finger typer as well and it's not a problem. It's just a matter of getting used to it - I had to get used to this ibook as compared to my previous one as well. Now I found desktop keyboards awkward.
I still have my old ibook as well as a desktop pc. My daughter is allowed to use both and I try not to let her use this one "mommy's work computer" but I occasionally let her. You just have to be careful about the screen - she pokes at it which makes me nervous.
p.s. you have to buy the Airport base station as well as the card. |
gretchen
Citizen
Username: Gretchen
Post Number: 93
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 6:51 pm: |
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Can't you get a docking station so that if you want to you can use an external monitor, mouse and keyboard? |
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 895
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 7:17 pm: |
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I go back and forth between my two laptop keyboards and a standard keyboard (at work) ALL the time and I have not noticed a difference in touch typing. I am pretty sure that the actual main keyboard key sizes and spacing are identical. Of course the positions of the "odd" keys and symbols may be different and there are more multipurpose keys on laptop keyboards, but the letters and numbers are all where they are supposed to be on every laptop that I have used in recent years (at least four different ones, including one mac)
You can plug a mouse into a laptop (with the right interface, in certain cases) and it operates just like on a desktop.
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Ed May
Citizen
Username: Edmay
Post Number: 1927
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 10:45 pm: |
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Ask enigmabomb he works on my PC and our laptop
Ed May
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Joel S. Ziegler
Citizen
Username: Joelziegler
Post Number: 54
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 10:48 pm: |
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To me a laptop is where the dog likes to sit and PC means Politically Correct. Am I missing something? I am so old fashioned that I tell my secretary "take an email" and I dictate it!
"I've had a change of heart" |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 4453
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 5:20 am: |
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My daughter is off at college with a Gateway laptop. She types about 100 words a minute and doesn't complain about the keyboard. She has an optical mouse she uses instead of the tracking device built into the machine.
I believe there are docking stations still available that let you use a regular monitor and keyboard with a laptop. We had some of these at the office for awhile, so people could take their laptop on the road or home with them. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 1885
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 2:24 pm: |
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I prefer a "real" keyboard but I use my laptop all day anyway. In other words, it doesn't bother me, and I type pretty fast on it.
I've been a computer support person to hundreds of people. In my experience, laptops do not last as long as desktops. Also, they don't provide the same performance for your money, so they go obosolete a bit faster. But the mobility can be worth the price.
$1,800 is a lot to spend on a home computer. If you can afford it, great, but it's a lot more than others generally spend. I'm not trying to talk you out of it, but you should know that there are MUCH cheaper alternatives. Decent desktop PC's are now around $500. Yeah, I'm not talking about a Mac, so there are compromises, no matter what you buy.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 633
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 2:29 pm: |
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You can get a Linux Box for $199 at Walmart.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2293918&cat=96356&type=19& dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A3951%3A41937%3A86796%3A106562%3A96356 |
Jackie Day
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 233
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 2:32 pm: |
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This may sound naive, but really...$1,800 is a lot for a computer? I consider that mid range. When you look at what you'd need to spend to get a really souped up Mac, it's not that much. Granted, the last time I bought a computer was four years ago, and they were a lot more then. I realize Macs are more expensive than PCs. Now that all of this is going on, I was thinking of getting the $799 Mac for my kids at the same time. Am I nuts? |
Jackie Day
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 234
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 2:34 pm: |
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Also, I should point out that the $1800 includes the 3-year Apple service plan for $250. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 1889
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 2:37 pm: |
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You're definitely not nuts. But my point is that it's best to know what you're getting and be conscious of your choice. I convinced my boss to buy me a laptop, which is the best thing, but obviously not available to everyone. I like the laptop better than the desktop. Meanwhile, I have my own desktop at home which I share with the family.
Yes, $1,800 is far more than most spend for a computer. As Brett points out, some computers are as cheap as $200. It's not for everyone, since it comes with neither MacOS nor Windows, and I like and use Linux but I don't recommend it to most people. I would guess that people typically spend $400 to $800 on a computer. You're willing to spend more, and that doesn't make you crazy. It means either you're well off or you'd rather spend it on computers than something else.
If you do buy that ibook, can I come over and play with it? 
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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TomR
Citizen
Username: Tomr
Post Number: 87
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 12:58 pm: |
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If you go with a Laptop, one more thing to consider is weight.
A few years ago my firm bought portables for senior counsel. The other people got standard sized Laptops (15" screen, about 7-10 lbs.) I bought a Sony notebook (10" screen and 3lbs., with battery). Guess which computer got taken when one of us had to play Road Warior.
You get used to the smaller keyboard and screen quickly, and the port replicator makes using a full sized monitor and keyboard very easy.
If you're only going to move from room to room in the house, get whatever is most comfortable.
If you're going to travel with the infernal machine, get a small one.
OMO,
TomR. |
Jackie Day
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 236
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 1:23 pm: |
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Thanks, Tom. I don't expect to travel much with it...i'll use it mostly at home.
At this point I've pretty much decided to go with a laptop, and i'm meeting my friend on Monday over at Tekserve in Manhattan to do the deal. They'll ship to NJ to avoid sales tax. I'm getting excited. It's just a matter of figuring out exactly what package in terms of memory, RAM, hard drive, etc.
I decided to keep the old one for my kids until it really officially dies.
Thanks, all!
(And Tom, what does "OMO" mean?)
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Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 638
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 1:27 pm: |
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Dyslexic cow |
TomR
Citizen
Username: Tomr
Post Number: 88
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 4:50 pm: |
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One Man's Opinion.
TomR. |
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