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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

#521

Post by GiveOver »

wavegeek wrote: post #501
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 prefer a full size keyboard. Also every laptop has a different - stupid - keyboard layout.

'Fn' on the bottom left and 'Ctrl' to the right of it. ARGH!

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#522

Post by kzrdude »

reader_mode wrote: post #514
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've worked on a laptop for the past decade but I use a dedicated keyboard, mouse almost exclusively and a large 34'' monitor (2x24 previously). Advantages of using a laptop : - portability - I work as a consultant and I need to work on premises occasionally - if I had to switch between desktop/laptop it would be too cumbersome - standalone when you need it - when I travel or am on vacation I usually need to do a few…

- When you're out of steam you can sit on the sofa and write emails.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#523

Post by aembleton »

nathan_f77 wrote: post #507
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'm using a MacBook Pro with an external monitor, so I thought I would share my response. I'm pretty happy with my home office [1]. > 1. I like big, big monitors. I've realized that I find it uncomfortable to use more than one screen, so I just use one 27″ 4K screen. But occasionally I open my laptop and put it on a stand to show some extra windows. > 2. I prefer a full size keyboard. My favorite keyboard is the olde…

I'm similar to you, but with the optical drive. I just bought a USB one from ebay for £10 which works perfectly well and I can put it away in a drawer until next time I need an optical drive.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#525

Post by HeadsUpHigh »

rhino369 wrote: post #349
elisaado wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That just sounds like a desktop with extra steps.

With a docking station it’s not problem at all.

So a couple hundred dollars extra. For functionality that has existed since forever.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#526

Post by pmontra »

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…

> 3. I prefer a separate mouse.

In my case a mouse slows me down. I have to take my hands off the keyboard and reach for the mouse. The touchpad is right there where my hands are. My touchpad also have three physical buttons, which are very useful instead of tapping the touchpad (I disabled that.)

I really need a mouse only for playing (which I stopped doing on my laptop since many years ago) or to try out some very rare sites linked to HN. It doesn't happen every year.

This is probably the only ergonomics pro of a laptop (except that I carry it with me, of course). Just in case I'll need a separate keyboard again, does anybody know of a good full size one with a touchpad under the space bar and physical buttons? I googled and found many keyboards with a touchpad in place of the number pad or further to the right. By the way, the number pad is not important for me. I'd love not to have it on my 15" laptop. I can keep it there on an external keyboard, but it's extra travel for my right hand if I really have to use a mouse and I never use it anyway.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#527

Post by kzrdude »

dmitryminkovsky wrote: post #392
VelNZ wrote: post #284

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can second that, I use M-Discs for long term backups. They're supposed to last 1000 years and you can get 100GB ones.

Thanks that’s very interesting. I’d never heard of these. They seem expensive but you get the millennium aspect (not something a spinning magnetic disk can claim).

Everything else set aside, the company lasted 7 years until bankrupcy, and that sort of casts a shadow on the millennium claim. There's at least nobody left as resposible, if it's not true.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#528

Post by dlkf »

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…

> 1. I like big, big monitors.

You can connect an external display to your laptop. That's what I'm doing right now. Similarly for 2 through 6.

> 7. The desktop has lots of USB ports and they're all in use.

The external monitor will give you more.

I think reasons 8, 9, and 10 are all legit. I don't think there are any intrinsic benefits to going one way or the other. It all boils down whether you feel the time you spend building your rig is worth the money you save.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#529

Post by MrGilbert »

lhl wrote: post #450
xondono wrote: post #424

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What? There’s a lot of laptops that hit their top clocks with no issues. The main problem is that doing so seriously reduces your battery duration and emits significant noise. Pick anything over the 800$ range that isn’t a macbook and you’re way more likely to hit clocks than not.

The problem isn't hitting the top clocks, but sustaining them. Only the biggest "desktop replacement" class laptops tend to be able to sustain 120W+ CPU dissipation. Note that workstation-class (H) laptop CPUs also make compromises on performance - the Ryzen 9 4900H is 8C16T but only has 4MB L2$, 8MB L3$, and a max TDP of 54W. A desktop Ryzen 9 3950X by comparison is 16C32T and has 8MB L2$, 64MB L3$, and a 105W defau…

> Only the biggest "desktop replacement" class laptops tend to be able to sustain 120W+ CPU dissipation.

Yes. And as a bonus, I can use my Alienware 17 R4 as a throwing weapon. Or for workout. And the power brick is a perfect cup warmer.

But I like it, nonetheless.

Re: I am seriously considering going back to desktop computers

#530

Post by johanbcn »

XCSme wrote: post #353
titzer wrote: post #248

What's crazy to me is how insanely overspec'd mobile devices are for what they deliver. If you went back in time and told 1999 me the following: I'll give you a computer with the following: * 256GB of solid-state storage * 6 CPUs @ 3+GHz * 8GB of RAM * Weighs only 200 grams * Battery-powered, lasts 5+ hours * 1440 x 3168 resolution display I would have been absolutely gobsmacked. Such a machine absolutely outclasses…

For me it's a mystery how phone specs are so good, but their performance is so bad. Always freezing, crashing, long load times, etc. I have an old PSP (PlayStation Portable) and whenever I turn it on I'm amazed at how fast and lag-free it is. This probably proves that the problem is most likely the software, not the hardware.

It's because mobile GPUs cannot keep up the pace at which display technologies are advancing.

First there was this trend to have ultra high dpi and ultra high resolution in the palm of your hands, and now they are toying with increasing refresh rates.

All while trying to maintain a reasonable battery life.

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