Is the desktop dead?

[EphesiaNZ]

I don't see old laptops working as NAS units, given they normally max out at 1/2TB storage if they'll support the newer drives. If you want multiple TB of storage you're out of luck.

You have an old Mac with 5 floppy drives? - you do!, great then try this,

Five-Disk Floppy RAID: 4MB of Blistering Fast Storage | Gadget Lab | Wired.com

Right, thats 5 floppy drives per mp3 - so,

5 x (number of mp3's in collection) = .............

 

[paul1149]

You must have a very young description of an Old laptop to think that Old laptops have ESTA & USB3

No, in many or most cases, you can add those protocols via an add-on card, even a pcmcia card.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

Desktops are dead the same way radio is. That is to say they aren't, but their heyday has passed.

I use a tower for gaming. And if I had a laptop powerful enough to game on, I would. I'd actually like to free up the space in my house that a computer desk takes up. We did retire my wife's PC and desk completely when she got a newer laptop. Donated the whole works. We both realized she hadn't even fired the thing up for months on end. That room is *much* more usable now.


The only thing I had to do was get a parallel/USB cable so she can still print from our ancient LaserJet 1100 printer. Hey, it's only on its third cartridge! And I just got the third on the other day in fact. Rapid Refill.

 

[NiobiumTragedy]

The problems with laptops and hardcore gaming are vast. They are certainly nice if you want to have a lan party because they can easily transport, but that's about it.

I bought a Sager gaming laptop a few years back that ran me about $3500. It was nice, lasted me quite a few years actually, but there were a lot of problems I could have avoided with a desktop.

One is the price. $3500 for a dualcore with 4 gigs of RAM. Granted, at the time, quadcores were just coming on the market so it was high end, but I could have built the same system on desktop for half the price I paid for the laptop.

They are too hard to upgrade. Sure, you can slap another stick of RAM in there, maybe swap out a video card, but that's about where it ends. When you buy a gaming laptop you typically max out the motherboard to begin with, so the expandability is pretty low.

The battery life SUCKS. Typically, I would get a 1.5 hour charge from my battery on that laptop because it uses such power intensive hardware.

Keyboards/monitors are static. This can become a real pain when gaming. You will always have the same size screen and your keyboard will be attached. It's just a pain if you're gaming for hours on end.

 

[shikyoblossom]

I think that the desktop is still in. Its just not for everybody.

 

[EphesiaNZ]

The only thing I had to do was get a parallel/USB cable so she can still print from our ancient LaserJet 1100 printer. Hey, it's only on its third cartridge! And I just got the third on the other day in fact. Rapid Refill.

Got one of those here, a slow beast now but it doesn't chew though toner - it's cartridge is just starting to go empty in the last few days, after five years!

It's had about 5-6,000 pages through it - truly economical!

It originally cost me $15(NZ) six years ago and i had to put a new set of rubber rollers in it at a cost of $10(NZ). That wasn't a bad investment overall.

 

[EphesiaNZ]

The problems with laptops and hardcore gaming are vast. They are certainly nice if you want to have a lan party because they can easily transport, but that's about it.

It's similar at the lower end too but not so obvious in price terms. you can put together a moderate desktop system for the same price as a low end laptop. True, the desktop wont perform great but will do the job for your average user. The advantage is that that same desktop can be turned into a quad core in 3 years time if you wish it - sadly that cheap laptop will be ready for the scrapyard or, Linux

 

[C-Man]

That's the advantage the desktop will always have, especially given that they adhere to certain design standards like ATX, BTX, ITX, and such.
If any one part breaks, you can easily change it out with one from any number of brands, and shop around for the best deal.
With laptops, you have to pay whatever the laptop maker cares to charge, assuming you can even get the parts you need at all.

 

[EphesiaNZ]

That's the advantage the desktop will always have, especially given that they adhere to certain design standards like ATX, BTX, ITX, and such.
If any one part breaks, you can easily change it out with one from any number of brands, and shop around for the best deal.
With laptops, you have to pay whatever the laptop maker cares to charge, assuming you can even get the parts you need at all.

So true.

What has really disappointed me about the poll is the fact that the abacus seems to be dead - this was my first computer

 

[WalksWithChrist]

Got one of those here, a slow beast now but it doesn't chew though toner - it's cartridge is just starting to go empty in the last few days, after five years!

It's had about 5-6,000 pages through it - truly economical!

It originally cost me $15(NZ) six years ago and i had to put a new set of rubber rollers in it at a cost of $10(NZ). That wasn't a bad investment overall.

I think we've figured out why they stopped making this model.

It worked too well! You can't make money on cartridges if they never...run out of toner!!

 

[Christ is Love]

I have a laptop and a desktop, but I much prefer to use the desktop. Larger screen, bigger keyboard...

 

[EphesiaNZ]

I think we've figured out why they stopped making this model.

It worked too well! You can't make money on cartridges if they never...run out of toner!!

LOL - yeah!

I thought the current cartridge was a HP branded one but when I went to check the cartridge for its code, when I ordered it's replacement yesterday, I found it was a generic "half-price" refill cartridge (yep I'm cheap ) so lets hope the new one lasts another six years

 

[opengate07]

Desktop is where I am at and I will never purchase a Laptop. It just amazes me in this day and age we always have to be mobile. Let's forget land phone, must have a cell phone, laptop. Call me old fashion (55), but I amd not so lonely that I need to call and speak with someone while I walk from my car (yes I drive, got to keep up with the times, lol) to the door of the store. I won't even discuss those that need to speak on the cell while in line. Sorry, pet peave! Okay what would we do without our laptop while we are try to have lunch. I understand they come in hady for work, what about time for ourselves and release from the stress of a busy life. Sorry, strayed from the subject. What was it again..... oh yes, I prefer my desktop. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

 

[EphesiaNZ]

Yes, very much agree with the above comment.

I find it amazing the people I know with laptops (and other mobile devices) that never use them outside of their homes.

 

[WalksWithChrist]

Desktop is where I am at and I will never purchase a Laptop. It just amazes me in this day and age we always have to be mobile. Let's forget land phone, must have a cell phone, laptop. Call me old fashion (55), but I amd not so lonely that I need to call and speak with someone while I walk from my car (yes I drive, got to keep up with the times, lol) to the door of the store. I won't even discuss those that need to speak on the cell while in line. Sorry, pet peave! Okay what would we do without our laptop while we are try to have lunch. I understand they come in hady for work, what about time for ourselves and release from the stress of a busy life. Sorry, strayed from the subject. What was it again..... oh yes, I prefer my desktop. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I have the best of both worlds. I dumped my land line years ago. The only people that called me were telemarketers. And the cell phone I do have is far from "smart" and I only use it for fairly light texting mostly. I work in the IT field but try to keep a good perspective on tech. It's tools for the most part...not life itself. The day I stay tethered to my phone will be the day I die! lol

My one digital vice is gaming on my "desktop" (it's a tower really...and has been rebuild by me *many* times!) quite a bit.

 

[jackndbox]

Desktops forever; I'd be lost without mine. I just recently purchased a laptop and never use it except for business

 

[Cute Tink]

Yes, very much agree with the above comment.

I find it amazing the people I know with laptops (and other mobile devices) that never use them outside of their homes.

My desktop is too heavy to move to the couch when I want to play a game. That and the monitor doesn't balance well on the cushions.

I do actually use mine outside the home when people need network help.

 

[jackndbox]

You make a good point, cute tink but for us old timers who dont multi-task well just sending a reply is a major accomplishment lol. I dont think the desktop will ever go away, not as long as workplaces still rely on them and that is a trend I dont see ending anytime soon.

 

[Cute Tink]

Yeah, most of us at work have desktops. Those that have laptops only use them at their desks, oddly enough. If I had one, I'd be hauling it all over the place at work, because that would be easier for me if I had the option.

 

[Victorium]

I hate laptops, I feel more comfortable with my desktop with it's big screen and besides a desktop is way more powerful for software like: Adobe and video editing programs especially if burning to Blu-ray. Furthermore you can upgrade them and add cards, etc, so yer, give me a desktop any day.

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