My pc

wwubben · #1 12/27/11, 12:08 PM

My old computer hit the wall memory wise.I am thinking about getting a laptop as my only computer.Have any of you gone this route?I would appreciate suggestions.

sunflower-n-ks · #2 12/27/11, 12:22 PM

My only computer is a laptop. The good thing is, it is small and doesn't take up much space. I can put it into a drawer to make space on the desk for other use. I don't carry it places, but of course it can be. I do think sometimes I will take it outside on a nice day, but would have to run a phone line out as I am on dial up. Would not be hard to do though.

The worst thing, if not the only real negative is that the screen is small. These old eyes would like it to be bigger, although I use the option to make the print bigger a lot.

Windy in Kansas · #3 12/27/11, 12:23 PM

RAM and hard drives are both reasonably priced if you can install them yourself. Perhaps you just need a change anyway but did want to mention that. Perhaps RAM capacity has hit the wall maxed out, sort of wonder if that is the case as per your post?

wy_white_wolf · #4 12/27/11, 12:35 PM

I made the change from desktop to laptop several years ago and wouldn't consider changing back. I'm on wireless so I can take it wherever I wish to go.

Gary in ohio · #5 12/27/11, 12:57 PM

We would need to know how you use your computer but for the average computer user almost any new computer will meet most peoples needs. Figure out how big a screen you want on the laptop and how much you want to spend. Dont get hung up on the processor. The price point will determine what you get. Most laptops are at least 4gb now so memory shouldn't be an issue, but more is better, The average non/gaming PC uses on average less than 30% of the CPU horsepower so processor isn't an issue. For a main computer I would stay away from Intel ATOM based computers for my main computer. Its fine for a secondary/netbook but might be a bit slow for a main computer. DISK are big enough now that most folks will never fill it.

wwubben · #6 12/27/11, 12:57 PM

RAM is maxed out.My grandson suggested I replace my antique because these new laptops are a huge improvement over what I have now.I am double checking the smart ###.Thanks for the info.

GrannyG · #7 12/27/11, 12:58 PM

I love the laptop I bought for DH..bought it at Staples, it is a Toshiba...the geek squad set it up so all we had to do was set it on the desk...they were soooo helpful to us....

homesteadforty · #8 12/27/11, 01:03 PM

I have had only a laptop for almost 4 years now. For me it's the only way to go ( no internet at home). I bring it to town with me when I come in and hit a wi-fi hotspot at the library or local donut shop.

I started out with an Acer. The mother board went up right before the warranty expired. They fixed it but it took them 4 months. I had it another 3 months and the same thing happened. They would'nt fix it even though it was the same problem. They wanted to charge $300 to my credit card before they would even gve me the address to sent it for repairs. I now have an HP Pavilion G and have been very happy with it. It wasn't a top of the lline model when I got it but it serves my purposes very well.

Danaus29 · #9 12/27/11, 03:43 PM

You can usually add more memory to a desktop. With a laptop you can use a portable hard drive. which reminds me, I have some files I need to get off here and others I need to back-up.

I use a laptop exclusively but I never do any banking or bill pay or real shopping on it. I have a Toshiba which has been wonderful but I did replace the battery last year (yes they do wear out) and my power cord connection is a little loose. But it's been years since dh bought it, 5 or longer, probably lots more. We got it when XP was pretty new.

We did have a Fujitsu. It died a week before the extended warranty ran out. Fujitsu kept saying they couldn't find a problem. The tech department at Best Buy saw the problem and it was replaced with this Toshiba. Won't buy a Fujitsu again.

HermitJohn · #10 12/27/11, 05:41 PM

Think of this. Spill coffee on your desktop keyboard, unplug, throw away, you buy another $10 generic keyboard, plug it in. Spill coffee on your laptop keyboard and you are talking expensive repair that you are probably going to hire done. Personally I find desktop for most of my needs with an older laptop for portable needs. I dont do anything that needs more than $50 used computer, either desktop or laptop. My notion, only buy latest greatest, IF you have a specific need. For example if your job or college class requires you to be able to run certain latest greatest mega bloat software, then you will need latest greatest computer. If you just need to do basic stuff, you dont need latest greatest system.

As to those that think you can always add RAM, no, motherboards have limits. If motherboard has all slots filled with the biggest ram chip it can take plugged into each slot, thats it, no more, no more....

Danaus29 · #11 12/27/11, 06:14 PM

You can change the motherboard to one that will accept more RAM. Not difficult if you know how to do that kind of thing. Dh changed his several times when he first got his behemoth which was outdated before we got it home. But then you have to worry about the video and sound cards being compatible. And it would have to work with your processor.

HJ does bring up a good point about spilling stuff on the keyboard. With a desktop you can buy waterproof keyboards and flexible keyboards and heated keyboards. Lots more versatility.

I like my portability though. I can move from room to room or take the computer on vacation where I use it to view and arrange pictures. But I do a lot of photography and keep a lot of info on my computer. I also use it to watch dvds and for burning photo cd's for relatives and friends.

I like that term, "mega bloat software". Sounds like what my niece needed for her middle school classes last year. Not cheap programs either.

oregon woodsmok · #12 12/27/11, 06:22 PM

I've got both, use both, but use the desk top much more. It is easier and more comfortable to use.

I also enjoy the laptop, because it is easily portable. I keep hoping that the economy will recover and I will be able to travel again. If that ever happens, I will really enjoy the laptop.

It's supposed to be easy to add more memory to your current computer. Sometimes they are just too old, though, and it is time to upgrade.

A big advantage of the desk top is that the various components are easy to replace. Repairs on laptops aren't quite so easy.

Danaus29 · #13 12/27/11, 06:59 PM

If your monitor and other hard drives are still good you could probably buy all the guts for less than a new laptop would cost. Then you could make the old motherboard and RAM a slave or secondary drive and just transfer any files you want to save. I've seen dh do it but I can't walk you though the process.

texican · #14 12/27/11, 07:59 PM

If your using your computer for the same old same old all the time, and not installing the latest greatest programs, it shouldn't get 'maxed out'.

You could always wipe your hard drive, and simply reinstall your original windows operating system... the registry gets bloated after a year or two, and a clean install speeds things up greatly.

I also use AMS Fast Defrag 2......... it cleans up memory usage... only allowing currently needed programs to access memory, instead of every program hogging precious memory...

Ressa · #15 12/28/11, 06:24 AM

I've been using a laptop as my main computer for a few years now and am very pleased. But I started doing so because of my eyesight. Blind in one eye, very nearsighted in the other, bifocals... and just could not comfortably see a regular monitor. Being able to look down, through the bifocals, at a laptop has been a lifesaver for me.
But I miss my desktop

foxtrapper · #16 12/28/11, 09:24 AM

I would go laptop over desktop. I'm not a hard core gamer, I'm not going to overheat any CPU in a laptop.

That said, I also will dock a laptop. As in hook it up to a big monitor and use an ergonomic keyboard. For trying to write reports or work spreadsheets on a laptop directly is not fun. At least in my opinion.

So I get the best of both worlds. The large monitor, comfy keyboard and a real mouse, while still having a laptop I can doodle with lounging on the couch or carry with me to a coffee shop.

The third option is a tablet. Which can be docked like a laptop. This likely will be my next step.

bluetogreens · #17 12/28/11, 02:07 PM

Ok, alot of good information in this thread, but alot of folks are missing an obvious.

A laptop has all the essential ports to plug in a regular monitor,mouse,keyboard, external hard drives etc.

So if you need a little portability you can disconnect those items and just take the laptop, if you have bad eyes/are scared of spilling stuff on the laptop, put it in a docking station or on a stand and use a regular monitor/keyboard.

as a trying to reform computer nerd, we are down to just

My main pc (gaming rig far beyond what 80% of the population needs)
The office laptop ( i.e. kids laptop solid machine good for light gaming and all business apps)
the home theatre pc ( american television was very limited in germany so we have about 3-4 TB of movies/tv shows to get by)
Susy's netbook (kitchen pc) which she posts to here from/facebook/access recipe database etc.)

both adults have smart phones and the kids have Kindle fires.

Honestly if all i did was surf the web/facebook/post to forums/watch media then a tablet or notebook would meet 99% of our needs.

CountryWannabe · #18 12/28/11, 02:26 PM

I have an old desktop and a none too new laptop. I use the laptop more than anything, but that is likely to change with my new tablet...

As others have said - you can probably totally update the desktop for less than the cost of a mid-priced laptop, but the laptop is nice if you ever need portability.

My laptop is a 17" Toshiba, and I like the large screen if I am going to be online for very long. However, it is pretty heavy compared to the tablet - and the tablet can do pretty much everything the laptop can do. I have just ordered a case for the tablet that has a keyboard in it so that I can use it instead of the touch screen for typing.

If you don't do any heavy-duty stuff you might want to check out the tablets and see if they will do what you need them to.

Mary

bluetogreens · #19 12/28/11, 03:38 PM

Tablets being

The IPAD
Samsung galaxy
android x tablet
Nook Tablet ( not to be confused with took ereader or color ereader)
----
Below those which are " full service tablets" are the
Kindle fire
nook color
and off brands.

Me being completely ANTI-APPLE just on principle i recommend the android or windows based tablets

Rick · #20 12/28/11, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texican

If your using your computer for the same old same old all the time, and not installing the latest greatest programs, it shouldn't get 'maxed out'.

You could always wipe your hard drive, and simply reinstall your original windows operating system... the registry gets bloated after a year or two, and a clean install speeds things up greatly.

I also use AMS Fast Defrag 2......... it cleans up memory usage... only allowing currently needed programs to access memory, instead of every program hogging precious memory...

You cold get an external hard drive for back-ups, wipe and re-install, and keep new downloads on the external as well.