I’m not sure I understand the question. Desktops are still the better deal as far as budget and scalability go, but you wouldn’t want to lug your desktop to the local cafe to read your email while sipping your favorite hot beverage of choice.
I guess if I’m to approach this without regard to cost, I’d go with a laptop, but that’s not the way my life works (unfortunately).
Same as my PC and Mac preference. PC Desktop to store movies and music on and the occasional game of Bioshock or Call of Duty. Mac laptop to work on photos, surf the web, pay bill, chat with people, and play Peggle and every ther day-to-day thing I use a computer for.
If I had to choose one, it would be a laptop though. Is anything greater than reading Kulturblog in bed while watching an episode of Lost or BSG?
I’m a desky person. I like being able to crack it open and drop in a new this or that if something needs replacing/upgrading. I’ve been getting barebones systems when I need upgrading for the past 9 years – I still have one of the first Alienware cases, but most everything else has been changed since then. I’ve swapped some components with lappys before but it was fiercely cumbersome (HD and RAM only). I have two lappys (one personal, one work) and 1 desky but I prefer desky 2 to 1. And I’m with Susan – I completed my entire M.A. on a lappy and it about gave me arthritis in the wrists.
One cool compromise we use at work is everyone has a lappy but uses docking stations – real keyboards, monitors, mouse, etc. Best of both worlds!
Your labels are incorrect. It should not be laptop or desktop, it should be MacBook or iMac. Why would anyone in their right mind choose a PC. [religious comparison deleted by admin]
Michael, as painful as it is to say, I agree – Macs are the way to go. But some of us are weened on PCs to the extent that letting go would be more costly both short and long run. Moreover, most of business is conducted on PCs, and that’s where my own personal preference for Winderz remains. On paper, Mac is clearly better, but in business/practicality, it’s not feasable for a lot of us right now.
Your analogy is weird, by the way. It’s not like that at all.
I hate laptop keyboards and trackpads. So I always have a portable mouse in my laptop case. And I have a USB hub at work I plug in that has a nice keyboard, mouse and printer I plug in.
I never thought I’d be a laptop guy. My first laptop is this one and I’ve had it only a year. But I love it. I can’t imagine going back except that iMovie would run tons better if I had one of those nice MacPros. If I ever get into photography I’d probably love one as well. Of course I’d have to be rich to do that.
Susan, I’ve slowly been moving from Windows to OSX. It’s amazing how rarely I boot into Windows now.
David, look at Parallels or VMWare. It makes Windows programs more or less integrated into OSX. It works very nice. You’ll be surprised at how many alternatives to Windows programs you’ll find. About the only time I ever end up in Windows now though is for certain kinds of programming (although I do all my editing in TextMate on OSX), Quickbooks, and then a label program I use.
Even if you have some difficult Outlook workflow you can use that and use OSX for everything else. It also isolates your system from trojans much better. (The number of systems I fix that have been taken over is amazing – and they are so sophisticated now that you pretty much have to format the drive to safe)
Clark, I totally hear you – Macs are rock-solid when it comes to security. And they work very well for media and the like. As I indicated, corporate America (at least the 3 companies I’ve been with) just hasn’t made the switch yet, and when (not “if”) they do, I’ll be jumping on the Apple wagon too. From a CBA standpoint (cost-benefit analysis), the capitalization savings by going Windows is substantial. I think AIC knows this and will pounce once the time is right.
I think it’s very crafty that they’ve been able to emulate and run just about anything on a Mac. Very cool indeed.
And have they (AIC) finally turned away from the single-button mouse?
I guess Rusty deleted my religious analogy. Oh well. We have a running joke down here in Florida on which operating system would be found in afterlife. But that is a threadjack that is not in accordance with the objective of this blog.
I am sorry that Susan has not yet discovered the joy of owning a Mac laptop. It is pure ecstasy.
I have both a MacBook Pro and an iMac. I use the MacBook every day. I use the iMac once every two weeks.
I have a MacBook Pro which sits much of the time on a cardboard box on my desk, elevating it to the same height as my 20″ Dell monitor. I have a wireless keyboard (new little Apple bluetooth) and a wireless mouse w/ usb dongle. I really want someone (anyone, even MS) to make a decent Bluetooth mouse.
So most of the time my laptop functions as a dual screen desktop. But when I want to work on the couch I can pick it up and go without thinking twice.
I also have a first edition Mac mini plugged into the same monitor that gets used as a print server and to play music.
What I really need is not a desktop but a server with massive storage. The 1TB time capsule would do the job, but I want to be able to run distributed backups off it. My brother and I have an evil plan to back all our stuff up to each others houses. We’ll see if it ever happens. Also on my wish list: 30″ monitor.
I want a cheap ultra mobile that has a decent keyboard (not full size, but quality with nice feel) and is a durable, tablet PC with some really cool editing program so I can make editing marks with a stylus and it will automatically translate them into the document.
It will be loaded with Open Office, Gimp, Firefox and a music player (I currently prefer Rhythmbox). It will also come with novel writing and screenplay writing software programs. And it only has to have an 8-15 gb hard drive.
The Ausus eee comes close, but what I’m really talking about is an appliance geared towards writing and editing.
From a CBA standpoint (cost-benefit analysis), the capitalization savings by going Windows is substantial.
Well, it all depends upon how rock solid your Windows install run. I hear Vista is better in this than XP. Days I’ve lost having to reinstall XP and dozens of programs are days I wish I had back. And having to run anti-virus software constantly that is slowing down everything I do is…frustrating.
Admittedly one can run XP or Vista without getting nasties. (I’ve actually never had any on my installs – they always borked up due to Microsoft rather than the Russian mafia) But it does seem pretty common.
You also have to include in that analysis what happens if your personal financial information gets into criminal hands because of some trojan that is installed via Windows.
Don’t get me wrong. OSX is not as solid security wise as it could be. But as a fact of life it’s also not being targeted the way Windows is. I feel much more confident in OSX that I’m not going to have my identity stolen or my bank account emptied out.
What I really need is not a desktop but a server with massive storage. The 1TB time capsule would do the job, but I want to be able to run distributed backups off it.
I’ve been lusting after a Drobo for this simply because it is redundant and you can expand it ad hoc. Just a tad too pricey right now to justify. But I really, really want one.
Well, it all depends upon how rock solid your Windows install run.
Clark, capitalization is a finance term, it has nothing to do with computer performance. What I was saying is that businesses generally want to lower software and hardware acquisition expenses (and defer as much of them as possible), and Winderz software and equipment allows them to do just that. AIC software and hardware is too expensive for larger organizations. Most companies I’ve been with go to Dell because you can get all you need for about $600 per user, that’s about 50% less than you could for a comparable Mac.
On the corporate side, which dictates much of the market, it’s a cost-savings thing.
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Yes! Laptop FTW!
Comment by a random John — June 12, 2008 @ 9:23 am
I’m not sure I understand the question. Desktops are still the better deal as far as budget and scalability go, but you wouldn’t want to lug your desktop to the local cafe to read your email while sipping your favorite hot beverage of choice.
I guess if I’m to approach this without regard to cost, I’d go with a laptop, but that’s not the way my life works (unfortunately).
Comment by BTD Greg — June 12, 2008 @ 10:01 am
Same as my PC and Mac preference. PC Desktop to store movies and music on and the occasional game of Bioshock or Call of Duty. Mac laptop to work on photos, surf the web, pay bill, chat with people, and play Peggle and every ther day-to-day thing I use a computer for.
If I had to choose one, it would be a laptop though. Is anything greater than reading Kulturblog in bed while watching an episode of Lost or BSG?
Comment by jjohnsen — June 12, 2008 @ 10:06 am
My desktop is right next to my bed so I can do that, anyway.
Laptops are cool and all but I don’t like the keyboards. If I had one I’d be doing a lot more work out by the pool, though, that’s for sure.
Comment by Susan M — June 12, 2008 @ 10:11 am
I’m a desky person. I like being able to crack it open and drop in a new this or that if something needs replacing/upgrading. I’ve been getting barebones systems when I need upgrading for the past 9 years – I still have one of the first Alienware cases, but most everything else has been changed since then. I’ve swapped some components with lappys before but it was fiercely cumbersome (HD and RAM only). I have two lappys (one personal, one work) and 1 desky but I prefer desky 2 to 1. And I’m with Susan – I completed my entire M.A. on a lappy and it about gave me arthritis in the wrists.
One cool compromise we use at work is everyone has a lappy but uses docking stations – real keyboards, monitors, mouse, etc. Best of both worlds!
Comment by David J — June 12, 2008 @ 10:26 am
Your labels are incorrect. It should not be laptop or desktop, it should be MacBook or iMac. Why would anyone in their right mind choose a PC. [religious comparison deleted by admin]
Comment by Michael — June 12, 2008 @ 10:29 am
Michael, as painful as it is to say, I agree – Macs are the way to go. But some of us are weened on PCs to the extent that letting go would be more costly both short and long run. Moreover, most of business is conducted on PCs, and that’s where my own personal preference for Winderz remains. On paper, Mac is clearly better, but in business/practicality, it’s not feasable for a lot of us right now.
Your analogy is weird, by the way. It’s not like that at all.
Comment by David J — June 12, 2008 @ 10:42 am
MacBook (laptop) all the way. Desktop way to restrictive.
Comment by Abby — June 12, 2008 @ 10:48 am
The only reason I’d get a Mac is to run Windows on it.
Comment by Susan M — June 12, 2008 @ 10:53 am
I hate laptop keyboards and trackpads. So I always have a portable mouse in my laptop case. And I have a USB hub at work I plug in that has a nice keyboard, mouse and printer I plug in.
I never thought I’d be a laptop guy. My first laptop is this one and I’ve had it only a year. But I love it. I can’t imagine going back except that iMovie would run tons better if I had one of those nice MacPros. If I ever get into photography I’d probably love one as well. Of course I’d have to be rich to do that.
Susan, I’ve slowly been moving from Windows to OSX. It’s amazing how rarely I boot into Windows now.
Comment by Clark — June 12, 2008 @ 11:03 am
David, look at Parallels or VMWare. It makes Windows programs more or less integrated into OSX. It works very nice. You’ll be surprised at how many alternatives to Windows programs you’ll find. About the only time I ever end up in Windows now though is for certain kinds of programming (although I do all my editing in TextMate on OSX), Quickbooks, and then a label program I use.
Even if you have some difficult Outlook workflow you can use that and use OSX for everything else. It also isolates your system from trojans much better. (The number of systems I fix that have been taken over is amazing – and they are so sophisticated now that you pretty much have to format the drive to safe)
Comment by Clark — June 12, 2008 @ 11:08 am
Clark, I totally hear you – Macs are rock-solid when it comes to security. And they work very well for media and the like. As I indicated, corporate America (at least the 3 companies I’ve been with) just hasn’t made the switch yet, and when (not “if”) they do, I’ll be jumping on the Apple wagon too. From a CBA standpoint (cost-benefit analysis), the capitalization savings by going Windows is substantial. I think AIC knows this and will pounce once the time is right.
I think it’s very crafty that they’ve been able to emulate and run just about anything on a Mac. Very cool indeed.
And have they (AIC) finally turned away from the single-button mouse?
Comment by David J — June 12, 2008 @ 11:29 am
If I could choose?
Mac Desk top/media center at home. Mac Laptop for my wife. Linux ultra mobile for me (for writing, Web surfing and light image editing).
What we currently have:
A Dell desktop running Ubuntu (Hardy Heron) and sometimes I bring my heavy, unwieldy latptop (running Windows XP, of course) home from work.
What we had up until 10 months ago:
A purple iMac running 8.6.
Comment by Wm Morris — June 12, 2008 @ 11:49 am
If I had a laptop I would definitely have a portable mouse – I hate those keyboards and pads. Plus, I hate carrying anything around.
Comment by Bill — June 12, 2008 @ 1:37 pm
I guess Rusty deleted my religious analogy. Oh well. We have a running joke down here in Florida on which operating system would be found in afterlife. But that is a threadjack that is not in accordance with the objective of this blog.
I am sorry that Susan has not yet discovered the joy of owning a Mac laptop. It is pure ecstasy.
I have both a MacBook Pro and an iMac. I use the MacBook every day. I use the iMac once every two weeks.
Comment by Michael — June 12, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
I have a MacBook Pro which sits much of the time on a cardboard box on my desk, elevating it to the same height as my 20″ Dell monitor. I have a wireless keyboard (new little Apple bluetooth) and a wireless mouse w/ usb dongle. I really want someone (anyone, even MS) to make a decent Bluetooth mouse.
So most of the time my laptop functions as a dual screen desktop. But when I want to work on the couch I can pick it up and go without thinking twice.
I also have a first edition Mac mini plugged into the same monitor that gets used as a print server and to play music.
What I really need is not a desktop but a server with massive storage. The 1TB time capsule would do the job, but I want to be able to run distributed backups off it. My brother and I have an evil plan to back all our stuff up to each others houses. We’ll see if it ever happens. Also on my wish list: 30″ monitor.
Comment by a random John — June 12, 2008 @ 3:02 pm
I want a cheap ultra mobile that has a decent keyboard (not full size, but quality with nice feel) and is a durable, tablet PC with some really cool editing program so I can make editing marks with a stylus and it will automatically translate them into the document.
It will be loaded with Open Office, Gimp, Firefox and a music player (I currently prefer Rhythmbox). It will also come with novel writing and screenplay writing software programs. And it only has to have an 8-15 gb hard drive.
The Ausus eee comes close, but what I’m really talking about is an appliance geared towards writing and editing.
Comment by Wm Morris — June 12, 2008 @ 3:39 pm
From a CBA standpoint (cost-benefit analysis), the capitalization savings by going Windows is substantial.
Well, it all depends upon how rock solid your Windows install run. I hear Vista is better in this than XP. Days I’ve lost having to reinstall XP and dozens of programs are days I wish I had back. And having to run anti-virus software constantly that is slowing down everything I do is…frustrating.
Admittedly one can run XP or Vista without getting nasties. (I’ve actually never had any on my installs – they always borked up due to Microsoft rather than the Russian mafia) But it does seem pretty common.
You also have to include in that analysis what happens if your personal financial information gets into criminal hands because of some trojan that is installed via Windows.
Don’t get me wrong. OSX is not as solid security wise as it could be. But as a fact of life it’s also not being targeted the way Windows is. I feel much more confident in OSX that I’m not going to have my identity stolen or my bank account emptied out.
Comment by clark — June 12, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
What I really need is not a desktop but a server with massive storage. The 1TB time capsule would do the job, but I want to be able to run distributed backups off it.
I’ve been lusting after a Drobo for this simply because it is redundant and you can expand it ad hoc. Just a tad too pricey right now to justify. But I really, really want one.
Comment by clark — June 12, 2008 @ 3:56 pm
I have 1 of each. My laptop spends 95 percent of it’s time in a docking station so I can have two monitors and a better keyboard.
Comment by Matt W. — June 12, 2008 @ 8:32 pm
Well, it all depends upon how rock solid your Windows install run.
Clark, capitalization is a finance term, it has nothing to do with computer performance. What I was saying is that businesses generally want to lower software and hardware acquisition expenses (and defer as much of them as possible), and Winderz software and equipment allows them to do just that. AIC software and hardware is too expensive for larger organizations. Most companies I’ve been with go to Dell because you can get all you need for about $600 per user, that’s about 50% less than you could for a comparable Mac.
On the corporate side, which dictates much of the market, it’s a cost-savings thing.
Comment by David J — June 13, 2008 @ 12:54 pm