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Laptop vs. desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 1:09 pm
by hclapp219
So my 5.5 year old iBook finally crapped out. I'm pretty sure it was the motherboard, as the hard drive seemed fine (no funny noises), and I was starting to get kernel panics. The same thing happened to my gf's laptop about 2 years ago.

So, I need a new computer. I've been looking at the refurbished MacBook Pros and iMacs at the apple store, but am having trouble deciding between laptop and desktop. I have an iPhone that I think can get me through most things when I'm out and about, but there are times when it would be nice to take a laptop with me. The iMac would be nice for watching movies/hulu at home, and would give me a lot more hard drive space and graphics processing power (for games...). You pay for the portability with the MBP, and I'm not sure I would use it all that often. Also, AppleCare is more expensive for the MBP

Anyone have any thoughts?

Re: Laptop vs. desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 1:41 pm
by sonidero
My neighbor has the iMac 27" and it's sick... You've got a huge screen for watching movies and recording on it is AWESOME... Get a TB worth of memory and fill it up with Fuzz... :yay:

Re: Laptop vs. desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 1:42 pm
by Noise...
I'm a big fan of MBP's. I use a 13" one for everything. It has plenty of power for gaming (Garry's Mod, anyone?), as well as the heavy photoshop work that I do.

Everything you see currently for Noisemaker Effects has been done on the MBP I'm typing from right now.

While I don't take it out much, it's nice to be able to do so now and then - not to mention moving around the house with it.

I'd say go with the refurb ones. My brother got a refurbished white MacBook, and I got a refurb MBP, and both came in flawless condition. I think "refurbished" to Apple is the same as "Returned unopened."

All that being said, iMac's are great as well. They're great for movies, and work where you need that bigger desktop. For example, I wish I had more workspace in photoshop sometimes. My MBP's 13" screen does the job just fine, but in some cases, I could very easily make use of a 21" or even 27" iMac screen.

I also wouldn't bother with Apple Care. It's expensive, and I don't see a real need for it. You're covered for a full year to start with, and unless you really think that something will go wrong with it, it's a waste, in my opinion.

Re: Laptop vs. desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 2:25 pm
by Haki
Got a desktop and happy with it. I've never felt the need to carry a laptop with me somewhere or even around the house. The bigger screen was the biggest selling point. That and at the time you got better hardware for your money with desktops, but that was a while ago so not sure how much of a factor that still is today. When this thing finally dies and forces me to buy something new I'd go desktop again.

Re: Laptop vs. desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 2:57 pm
by smile_man
Take the $1000+ you'd spend on an apple product and invest it in a computer with better processing power.

DRANKIN THAT MACBOOK HATERAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADE

Re: Laptop vs. desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 3:06 pm
by hclapp219
smile_man wrote:Take the $1000+ you'd spend on an apple product and invest it in a computer with better processing power.

DRANKIN THAT MACBOOK HATERAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADE


I would, but I want this computer to last at least five years like my iBook did.

DRANKIN THAT PC HATERAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADE

Re: Laptop vs. desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 3:08 pm
by smile_man
hclapp219 wrote:
I would, but I want this computer to last at least five years like my iBook did.

DRANKIN THAT PC HATERAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADE



GET LINUX, SAME THING FOR $0

Re: Laptop vs. desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 3:16 pm
by Noise...
smile_man wrote:Take the $1000+ you'd spend on an apple product and invest it in a computer with better processing power.


$1000 for a computer that lasts 5+ years, compared to the 3+ Dells or whatever you'll go through in the same time period is worth it.

I've played the PC game before. Buying a cheaper PC with "better" specs. Yeah. On paper they're better. But that extra processing power and RAM is wasted on the bloated OS that is Windows. The normal PC brands like Dell, Gateway, HP, etc are cheaper because they use cheaper components. They don't last as long, so you go through a computer every couple of years.

Hclapp already had an iBook for 5 1/2 years. I don't think I've ever heard of someone using a traditional PC notebook for anywhere near that long without it having major issues. I went through two Sony's in a year. That was $1600 in PC's with "better specs." Even after a year, my MBP is still going strong without the slightest problem, and I use it way more than I did the Sony's. After one year it's already a much better value, and I'm sure I'll get at least another 4 years out of it.


As for Linux, it may work on a similar base system, but good luck finding decent software that works on it. It's a great OS for people that love to waste time with command line bullshit, "open source" programs that are free because no one in their right mind would ever pay for them, and lack of support for even common pieces of hardware in a PC. I've messed with Linux distros before, and it's always the case. It's free for a reason. No one would ever pay for an OS where you have to open a terminal window just to open some files, or install something, or run a program. In no way is Linux anywhere close to OSX.

Re: Laptop vs. desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 3:19 pm
by smile_man
:lol:

Re: Laptop vs. desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 3:24 pm
by hclapp219
What is a linux and where do I find one? Does Tonefactor stock it?

k thnx bye

Re: Laptop vs. desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 3:50 pm
by nad
I got my first Mac about 4 years ago. I have had exactly one problem: one dead harddrive. Why did it die? Because some random program froze up and I got so pissed off that I threw the computer. This was about the 5th time I had done that, and it finally couldn't take my idiot manrage any longer. All the PCs I've owned in the past just sorta break for no reason eventually.

I haven't owned a desktop in years, but I have no idea why we have two laptops. I never think "oh man I wish this thing was bigger and had more wires coming out of it" even though they are both completely stationary.

Re: Laptop vs. desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 3:55 pm
by Noise...
smile_man wrote::lol:


SPOILER : show
Image

Re: Laptop vs. desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:20 pm
by tuffteef
you prob have really ugly furniture if you dont have a mac

Re: Laptop vs. desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:20 pm
by smile_man
I'm not sure what it is with you guys, but I've had this pc for like 5+ years, it's meant for business shit, still runs photoshop CS5, Ableton, etc.

It may not start up as quick as a mac but it sure didn't cost as much.

Only reason I've ever had to find a new laptop are a) my friend sat on the screen, and b.) my brother used to pick his up by the screen, which ended up breaking after I inherited it due to reason a

Re: Laptop vs. desktop

Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:24 pm
by smile_man
I vote to change the thread title to "DRANKIN THAT (CHOOSE OPPOSING SIDES OS) HATERAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADE"