Laptop programming?

[sledhead]

Does anybody program on a laptop? How do you like it?

 

[oddchild]

i do.. its just the same as programing on a desktop...

 

[sledhead]

i do.. its just the same as programing on a desktop...

What about the screen size? Most laptop screen are smaller. Also processing power? Do you use a wireless mouse? Is your laptop keyboard is big as a regular keyboard?

 

[Durelen]

Many laptop computers have the same power as desktop computers now. It just depends how fast you want to compile your source code really and that only has to do with CPU and memory speed. I don’t really see a difference since my personal C programs are pretty small in comparison to big company projects. If you need that extra speed for compiling then building a linux cluster would be what you would want to do.

I have a small keyboard and screen on my laptop but I can plug in an external keyboard and monitor if I want to. I’ve never been in enough discomfort to plug externals in yet. But when it comes to graphic editing I mostly head for my desktop computer. Editing code on my laptop is fine though. Hehe now try to edit code on a pocket PC, lol.

 

[datan]

me too. I compile on a laptop. I quite like it since I can bring my work around. screen size is not an issue for me (15" screen); I use a small optical mouse. laptop is decently fast (celeron 2.4)

 

[Durelen]

Oh yeah, I just use the touch pad. The only thing I ever plug in is a flight yoke for my flight sim. I have a USB Kinsington Orbit but I just never plug it in. Touch pad works fine.

 

[sledhead]

Thanks for the information. I'm looking at buying a laptop for programming. What brands do guys own and if you were to buy another laptop, which company would you go with?

 

[Durelen]

Gateway.
I don’t like their desktop computers but their laptops are great.
Gateway laptops are nice but you may pay a little more than for Toshiba.
Gateway creates US jobs.
Software package is pretty nice with Gateway. My software package was nearly worth as much as the laptop its self.
If I were to get another brand? Gateway would need to go out of business first.

 

[datan]

out of curiousity, what platform/language are you going to be programming on?

 

[ThePhoenix]

Laptops have the annoying tendancy to overheat, endangering the processor. There have been no few laptops lost to continual heat damage. I have a desktop, and until I see convincing evidence that laptops no longer overheat then I'll get one.

P.S. A laptop with the exact same specs as a desktop will underperform the desktop every time.

 

[Durelen]

This is my second laptop. Sure some laptops overheat but I’ve seen laptops outlast desktop computers. Statistically you will find more laptops to overheat compared to desktop computers. Tip: keep your laptop clean and never ever block the cooling vents (which is easy to do if it’s sitting on your lap).

I don’t think top performance is an issue with laptops. If you need the fastest system, for like playing games, then yes get a desktop, that’s about the only thing I do with my desktop. And even then the performance between a 2ghz desktop compared to a 2ghz laptop, IMHO, comes down to benchmark statistics and not likely to be noticed by the user as he/she uses the system. I will say though, a few years from now if you trade either a 2ghz laptop or a 2ghz desktop the laptop will be worth much more.

I do cross platform C programming on my laptop. I can write a program with my XP system and execute it in a UNIX environment on the same laptop or on my Linux box, it just depends on the software you use.


(Man, that server busy message is annoying when you are hitting the post button)

 

[sledhead]

Gateway.
I don’t like their desktop computers but their laptops are great.
Gateway laptops are nice but you may pay a little more than for Toshiba.
Gateway creates US jobs.
Software package is pretty nice with Gateway. My software package was nearly worth as much as the laptop its self.
If I were to get another brand? Gateway would need to go out of business first.

"Gateway creates US jobs" good point. Like to buy American products when I can. Thanks for the information. I'll take a look at Gateway. I've had several other friends tell me to look at Gateway.

 

[sledhead]

out of curiousity, what platform/language are you going to be programming on?

Windows Platform for now. The languages would be C++, foxpro, asp, html, javascript and xml. For the most part C++.

 

[Durelen]

"Gateway creates US jobs" good point. Like to buy American products when I can. Thanks for the information. I'll take a look at Gateway. I've had several other friends tell me to look at Gateway.

Well the hardware is still mostly from china (haven't seen US hardware in looong time) but assembly and sales are US jobs. I think their support is still in the US too.

#include <stdio.h>
 
main ()
{
		printf("Ahhh C++ Good language!");
}

 

[sledhead]

Well the hardware is still mostly from china (haven't seen US hardware in looong time) but assembly and sales are US jobs. I think their support is still in the US too.

#include <stdio.h>
 
main ()
{
		printf("Ahhh C++ Good language!");
}

I have seen that in a while "printf" good old c days.

 

[linuxChique]

I have a sony vaio. I love the mobility, hate the battery life (2 hrs max), and rather dislike the small screen and keyboard. I even have a 13 inch screen on my laptop. I'd much rather code on a desktop. I've coded from the laptop directly, and sshed into my desktop, and haven't noticed any difference by way of processing power (700 mhz laptop vs 1.2 ghz desktop).

All in all, i'll stick to my desktop.

 

[Durelen]

Heh if my laptop was 100mhz slower we would have identical system speed, regarding my laptop (800mhz) and Linux box (1.2mhz). Yeah I do wish I picked up a bigger laptop but I purposely got a smaller one for portability. Actually this little thing is nearly built bullet proof. My next laptop will have a 15 inch screen at least. The screen on my laptop sure does look nice though.

 

[sledhead]

I have a sony vaio. I love the mobility, hate the battery life (2 hrs max), and rather dislike the small screen and keyboard. I even have a 13 inch screen on my laptop. I'd much rather code on a desktop. I've coded from the laptop directly, and sshed into my desktop, and haven't noticed any difference by way of processing power (700 mhz laptop vs 1.2 ghz desktop).

All in all, i'll stick to my desktop.

What lang. do you work in?

 

[Jet Black]

laptops, due to their heat, can do one thing that all programmers need, that a desktop cannot do:

keep your coffee warm.

 

[Stryper]

i type faster on a laptop then on a desktop cause thats what i use all the time. i dont know if thats good or bad for my future...