Comments for See One, Do One, Teach One

Comment on Buying A New Computer: Laptop Versus Desktop by lonely562k

lonely562k — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:28:15 +0000

i own 4 desktops and 2 laptops the laptops basically sit and collect dust my main computer was manufactured in 2000 and run faster and better than the brand new computers out there but then again i got enough sank into it really im not gonna say laptops are better or vise versa there aint no point but your father should get what he wants to get it all depends on what he wants to do with it

Comment on Buying A New Computer: Laptop Versus Desktop by seamonkey420

seamonkey420 — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:55:53 +0000

@davak

i think a laptop/notebook would be best for your dad since like Q said the benefits of a desktop would not be things he needs or does.

however, desktops are nice due to lower costs, ease of repair/maintence, upgradeability.

decisions decisions.

Comment on Buying A New Computer: Laptop Versus Desktop by Computer Articles

Computer Articles — Thu, 08 May 2008 08:46:48 +0000

Even desktops become obsolete when manufacturers stop producing their parts like ram and many others, so to say a laptop is disposable can be applied to the desktop too.
Portability is the premium for the laptop. Most power features reside with the desktop from games, videos and any others.
www.earticles.com

Comment on Buying A New Computer: Laptop Versus Desktop by Peng

Peng — Thu, 08 May 2008 07:23:53 +0000

I’ve had an eeePC for a few months. It cost £250 in the UK. It has a Celeron processor and runs off a flash drive with hardly any memory. It weighs under 1 kg, and almost fits ina coat pocket.

It’s fine for 95 percent of what I do, and although the monitor is only 7″, it can be plugged into a full size screen if needed.

Comment on Buying A New Computer: Laptop Versus Desktop by qmchenry

qmchenry — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:24:50 +0000

One thing that I’ve tried to explain to people over the years when they are trying to bite the bullet and buy a computer is that, while it is an expensive purchase, it is in no way an investment. It’s not like a car which depreciates relatively slowly and can be driven for decades, certainly not like a house which can gain value, it’s a commodity that will lose its usefulness in a few years.

While there are things that a geek can do with their old boxes, the vast majority of consumers will not benefit from installing Ubuntu on a decrepit computer. The average consumer will not be comfortable upgrading an old desktop — even just adding memory is hard just in finding the correct kind. Actually, I’d say that adding memory (maybe the most common upgrade) to a laptop is significantly easier than adding it to a desktop.

Each successive generation of software (OS, gaming and other apps) requires more processing umph (although rarely for reasons other than eye candy). The catch is that a generation in computers is measured in months, not years.

From this perspective, I think it’s wise to budget for a new computer every three years. If you spend $50/mo on broadband internet access, that’s $600/year or $1800 for three years. You are already paying a lot for services that your new computer will use. It’s just seems harder to pay a lot for a computer all at once.

Comment on Buying A New Computer: Laptop Versus Desktop by Brad

Brad — Wed, 07 May 2008 05:53:12 +0000

I swore up and down that I would never have a laptop because you cant upgrade them, and they arent all that powerful. However I just recently purchase a Thinkpad through work, with a C2D, and I my poor desktop sits often unused for weeks at a time, now its only function is to play games that my laptop cant handle (which isn’t very many), and to watch movies on while laying in bed (22″ LCD :D). It’s sad in a way, after all the money that was spent building a high-end gaming machine that a laptop can totally take over for everything a person does on a computer, and actually makes certain things more enjoyable, I totally love the portability. The ease and convenience of being connected more of the time is superb, I would say definitely go with a laptop, but don’t skimp because cheap laptops fail to deliver, if you spend the right amount of money you get a laptop that exceeds what a broad spectrum of the available desktops can do.

Comment on Helping Dad Buy A Computer — Introduction by the digital tirades of seamonkey420 » Blog Archive » rethinking of my computing setup…

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:22:03 +0000

[…] davak’s recent blogs about helping his dad find a new computer has me really rethinking my setup. currently i run a rather older (well imo older, Athlon 64 x2 […]

Comment on Buying A New Computer: Laptop Versus Desktop by Patrick Allmong

Patrick Allmong — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:50:27 +0000

This was mostly written telling people what each one is. Not what he needs.

What does he need? Does he need any portability?

Comment on Buying A New Computer: Laptop Versus Desktop by davak

davak — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:59:19 +0000

@tcv I am not sure you can ever have too much bang for the buck. I have always found it interesting people that basically use their laptop from alway the same location.

I am turning into a laptop person too though. When I get a new one, I install ubuntu or some other OS onto the old… just for experimentation.

@qmchenry I completely agree that many people who hate laptops have purchased too cheap ones. A cheap lappie is always a very underpowered machine.

@shamanstears “disposable computer” hurts my soul, but that’s exactly what a laptop is. Laptop plus desktop versus moving everything to a larger, more powerful laptop–sounds like a good future topic.

Comment on Buying A New Computer: Laptop Versus Desktop by davak

davak — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:49:59 +0000

Thanks, guys! The information is greatly appreciated.