Do We Still Need Our Desktops?
Why your notebook shouldn't replace your desktop...
For the last year, notebook sales have exceeded desktop sales. When decent notebooks dropped below the magic price point of a grand, sales took off. After all, for only a "little more" who wouldn't want compactness and portability.
With my Shuttle desktop down for the count, even after a prolonged and heroic resusitation efforts, for the last few weeks, I miss my desktop. Can I live off my notebook? Of course I can, or else I wouldn't be putting this up! Here are my observations as to why you should keep your desktop and restrict your laptop to road duties.
Screen Size
This one is first because it has been the most painful for me. After upgrading to a 19" LCD two months ago, I'm now living off of a 12.1" screen on my notebook. Talk about downsizing.
Keyboard
My notebook keyboard is adequate, but still a little cramped. I also miss the ten number keypad especially during this taxing season. I much prefer a full size desktop keyboard for just about every task.
USB ports
My notebook has three USB ports all crammed in together. This translates to a mere two usuable ports. This is half of what my Shuttle had, and that wasn't inadequate. 'Nuff said.
Hard Drive
You would think that the eighty gigabyte drive in my notebook is large enough. With all the programs, files, and photos, it simply is not. I end up leaving a lot of this stuff on my USB external hard drive. Desktop hard drives are simply a lot more palatial when it comes to storing data.
Optical Drive Speed
My notebook has one of the better optical drives out there- a LiteOn 852S. However, it maxes out at 24x for CD's, and 8x for DVD's. While at least it can handle dual layer discs, the pokey 2x writing speed ties up the notebook for way too long. As a bonus, LiteOn doesn't officially acknowledge the drive, and there are no official firmware updates for it. I definitely miss the faster, and better supported desktop DVD burners.
Desk Workflow
This probably won't make sense without some explanation. Aren't notebooks smaller so they can be more portable? Of course they are, but I end up with more desk space with a desktop. How...you're wondering? With my desktop, I put my case on the floor, and use a wireless mouse and keyboard. Even the large 19" monitor has a small footprint. When I need my desk for a noncomputer task, all I have to do is to plop the mouse in the cradle, and the keyboard on a shelf. With the notebook, I have to disconnect it from power, unplug the USB mouse dongle, pull out the wireless card, and close the lid after putting a cloth in to protect the screen. This gets real old every time I have to pay a bill. The notebook doesn't fit on the shelf, so it still takes up desk space.
Conclusion
OK, couldn't I put my notebook on the floor, add in a USB hub, and connect it to the 19" LCD, the external drive, the external DVD writer, and the wireless keyboard and mouse? While this would work, then the notebook would really be more of a small form factor pc, rather than a portable computer. I would also end up stepping on the notebook, and tripping on the extra power cables and USB connections.
At the end of the day, while my notebook is great for traveling, I much prefer coming home to my desktop. A notebook may have the greater market share, but you can't beat the flexibility and luxury of a desktop.
--Jonas
posted by digitaldoc at 9:49 PM
7 Comments:
1) You should give me your 'dead' Shuttle.
2) You're right -- a laptop won't replace it anytime soon. Slow, hot, and non-standard/non-upgradeable. But mighty handy for what I'm doing right now (typing 500 miles from the base station).
My laptop takes up the same amount of desk space as my desktop. In fact, it takes up the same amount of space as all three of my desktops and my server. I made a point of getting a laptop with a docking station. Since I keep my files on a server, I can access them from any of my machines. I use a KVM switch for all five, plus I have 3 more connections so I can connect test machines or machines I am working on for others. I also have a wireless network, so I can sit in my recliner and watch TV while I Web surf. Obviously this is over kill for most people, but it works for me. Oh, I also have a rack for the server, one desktop and the the docking station. Just wanted to let you know that there are options for making a laptop your primary PC.
I've downsized a few years ago and haven't looked back. I now own just one IBM/Leveno X20 ultralight laptop. It has a full sized and very intuitive keyboard, and the screen size I've adjusted to.
The only thing that has been a drawback for me is the drive space issue. I'll save to a CD if I need to or to online storage. I've considered getting one of those wireless hard drive enclosures as well.
So much of it depends on your usage though... I don't have too much media that I keep around, and I'm not a gamer.. I use the laptop mostly for email, surfing, office-type work, etc.
You clearly need to assess your needs to decide if you need a desktop, notebook, neither, or both. With users dumping their desktops for notebooks, I decided to take the opposing side.
Not so fast father dale...when I get some free time "next decade" I plan on giving the Shuttle another try.
--Jonas
Yeah, I was gonna ask what your notebook is. I have a micro Fujitsu P5020D and use it all around the house since most of my data is on a network drive and I have Wireless G so it's almost as good as being at my desktop.
HOWEVER, when I need to, I hook it up to a KVM and away I go, just like being at my desktop albeit a bit slower since the Fujitsu is a 1GHz and my desktop is a 2.53GHz...
Still, you ought to try putting the notebook out of the way but connected to an unobtrusive KVM and see how that performs. It' won't be perfect either but a lot better than you describe!
Kevin
My notebook is an Averatec 3250HX with a 12" screen and an Athlon XP 2200+ processor.
Hmmm, yeah, that's a bit bigger than my P5020 but still should work well with a traditional KVM and almost solve your problem.
No, it's not the best solution but still pretty workable if you ask me.
K
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