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I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

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Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#161

Post by maccard »

WalterBright wrote: post #147
nemoniac wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 12. My desktop doesn't have a microphone or camera, so they cannot be surreptitiously turned on remotely. Your points are all good but this one gave me pause for thought. We're all working from home and using our microphones and cameras more than ever. I'm using my regular laptop with plug-in microphone and webcam. Are laptop makers thinking in terms of upping the specs on the microphone and webcams in their upcomi…

What they need to add is a physical electric switch to turn off the cam/mike. In any case, because of all my remote collaboration these days, I bought a decent mike on a boom to use, and my colleagues say it is much better. Still have to find a decent camera.

In my experience, even the most basic of webcams is perfectly acceptable when paired with decent lighting. I'd highly recommend something like https://www.elgato.com/en/ring-light (no affiliation, just a happy customer)

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#162

Post by Causality1 »

sz4kerto wrote: post #80
agloeregrets wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that actually true anymore? I mean, hardware wise they are not much faster, but cooling is a different story.

I have a >3 year old GPU that's still faster than any mobile GPU. I have been having 64 GB RAM in my desktop for ... 5 years now. Even in the summer my PC is completely quiet, even under heavy load. (Both the GPU and the CPU are water cooled with stock all-in-one coolers.) Desktops are great.

Not to mention if you have a catastrophic hardware failure, all you have to do is replace the single part that failed and keep going.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#163

Post by reanimus »

hackmiester wrote: post #154
monoideism wrote: post #30

Instead of blasting UEFI, take a minute to learn about tools like `efibootmgr`, and how to install your own keys, so that you control your own machine. UEFI is a bit overengineered, but it's OK. - Most computers' UEFI firmware, desktop or laptop, allows you to install your own keys. - And every computer I've ever heard of with UEFI will allow you to disable secure boot. - Linux runs just fine on UEFI. I'm worried abo…

It was hard to read past the attitude that Secure Boot is the enemy. That’s just not the case, and if the author believes it is, it kind of undermines their expertise/the rest of the writing.

Yeah, hemming and hawing over whether or not an x86/64 PC can disable Secure Boot in 2020 is a bit silly when it's been a certification requirement by Microsoft for ages

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#164

Post by cgriswald »

0x98 wrote: post #143
reshie wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

laptop docks so your not wiring everything every time and more ports. a desktop is a lot more modular but not mobile. with cloud sync(personal local or remote, or third parties) having two computers is less of a hassle. i see them with the same purpose but different circumstances but a laptop can play both roles with ease with the right setup.

I don't agree with the part about desktops not being mobile, there are plenty of sub 10L cases that you can literally fit in your backpack and walk away. If you don't carry your computer around very often you can easily have a desktop that's portable. The most extreme example of this is the Velkase Velka 3[1]. - [1]: https://www.velkase.com/products/velka-3

I don't think it's useful to conflate the terms 'mobile' and 'portable'. You've been able to make a portable desktop for several decades. (I recall one Compaq that came in a closable case with a handle.) That's not typically what people mean by 'mobile'.

That 'extreme example' weighs as much as many laptops and it's just a case. Even if you carried a small display, and everything else you need, I doubt most people would take that out if they found themselves with extra time at the airport.

Edit: Found the machine I was thinking of: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compaq_Portable

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#165

Post by EdPF »

WalterBright wrote: post #136
rabidrat wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love desktops, but I have to admit that it's pretty great having a built-in UPS. To get the equivalent for my desktop is an extra $200+ and a big honking box that apparently will only last for 30 minutes when the power goes out.

The power goes out for a day, sometimes days, every year in my neighborhood when the wind blows. Finally fed up, I recently had a generator installed that attaches to the natural gas line. I know that purchase was effective, because a week after it was installed there was a big storm and power went out everywhere except my neighborhood. Just having a generator successfully wards off power failure, you never have to a…

You understand Murphy's law, and other laws of the universe well!

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#166

Post by FpUser »

WalterBright wrote: post #113
FpUser wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right away I will say that I do use desktops and in general would prefer because of the absolute power. However my laptops are gaming grade and most of the time I use one of those as a desktop. And this is how it goes again your list: 1) I have 2 "big big" 4K monitors hooked up to my laptop so no problems here. The laptop's monitor is not used as the lid is closed. 2/3) I use external keyboard and mouse. No problems…

I didn't know that a modern laptop could drive 2 4K monitors. This is good news. BTW, it sounds to me that your laptop setup is indistinguishable from a desktop, and your setup is even less portable than a desktop, so why not go the cheap desktop route?

>"I didn't know that a modern laptop could drive 2 4K monitors. This is good news."

Not any laptop but some do. It even does it while driving its own built-in monitor but I do not really use it.

>"your laptop setup is indistinguishable from a desktop"

you got that part right

>"your setup is even less portable than a desktop"

Nope. When I am out of my main office for whatever reason I unhook said laptop from all the cables and it works off-site including all my development environment. If my stay away is extended (working for a month in ocean side cottage for example I also would take one of those monitors). I just do not run production servers/databases/etc on my laptop ;). Btw my laptop soon transitioning from 32GB RAM to 128GB RAM as to give me more flexibility with the databases.

Worth case I can still access my workstations/servers remotely using SSH or NOMACHINE if SSH does not cut it. Since I have very fat internet pip it works just fine.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#167

Post by jnxx »

rabidrat wrote: post #61
WalterBright wrote: post #16

I prefer a desktop because: 1. I like big, big monitors. 2. I prefer a full size keyboard. 3. I prefer a separate mouse. 4. I prefer big freaking disk drives installed. 5. I put the desktop under my desk, and with a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse, there is much less of a snarl on my desk. 6. The desktop has an optical drive I still use. 7. The desktop has lots of USB ports and they're all in use. 8. I can repla…

I love desktops, but I have to admit that it's pretty great having a built-in UPS. To get the equivalent for my desktop is an extra $200+ and a big honking box that apparently will only last for 30 minutes when the power goes out.

> when the power goes out.

Oh, are you from the US?

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#168

Post by ixtli »

In January I knew the pandemic was going absolutely destroy everything so I bought 3k worth of parts for liquid cooled AMD build. After developing on OS X for 20 years, I’ve been working from home on Manjaro (gnome) for 8 months and never once regretted it.

Totally done with laptops, honestly.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#169

Post by nvarsj »

agloeregrets wrote: post #24
polskibus wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

12. High end desktop CPUs are noticeably faster than mobile counterparts (higher freq, more cache)

Is that actually true anymore? I mean, hardware wise they are not much faster, but cooling is a different story.

The trend in laptops has been for longer battery life and less heat. Since there haven't been any major breakthroughs in battery technology or mobile processor power (at least from Intel), this means lower power for processors and generally lower performance in general. Almost all laptops are using ultra low voltage Intel chips. And even the ones that don't, except for high end gaming laptops, thermally throttle ALL the time.

As a result, your 10 year old desktop is probably 50-100% faster than the most expensive Macbook Pro or Thinkpad. It can be quite astonishing swapping to even an old desktop after using a laptop for a long time.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#170

Post by cgriswald »

sokoloff wrote: post #129
WalterBright wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I didn't know that a modern laptop could drive 2 4K monitors. This is good news. BTW, it sounds to me that your laptop setup is indistinguishable from a desktop, and your setup is even less portable than a desktop, so why not go the cheap desktop route?

Not GP, but I travel a lot for work (last 7 months notwithstanding). When I’m home and docked, I have a 9/10 experience compared to my personal desktop. When I travel, I have a 1/2 as good experience as compared to when docked but 100% better experience than my desktop would give.

I think what confuses me about the GGP is that at some point don't you just get both a desktop and a laptop rather than trying to turn a super-laptop into an on-par desktop?
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