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yodaxl7

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 25, 2010
768
0
The whole point of a laptop was take a desktop anywhere we want. Right? What has limit the laptop portability? Well, BATTERY LIFE!!! Grant, it is still portable, but it deters many from using as much as we like. Screen size is also a limit. 17 inch is just too big!! 15 is perfect. 10 inch is ok. Anything smaller is just too small. So, I am hoping the new macbook pro has a 10 hour battery life. The iPad is almost perfect for me.
 
I use a HyperMac battery, and so my MBPs already have a 10-hour life. Yes there is an extra weight to this, but the energy has to come from someplace.
 
The grumbling about non-swappable batteries is pretty null now you can power a small town with some of the larger HyperMac batteries. They have the capability of charging any USB chargeable product, so you can on some do multiple product charging simultaneously.
 
Desktop = Fixed place computer (i.e. not meant to leave point A, unless to move semi-permanently to a new point A)

Laptop = Portable computer (i.e. can be easily transported from point A to point B)

iPad = Mobile computer (i.e. can be used at anytime, anywhere; point A and B are irrelevant)

Some people want fixed place computers. Some people want portable computers. Some people want mobile computers. Some want a combination of the above. :)

Me? I'm happy with a mobile computer and a fixed place computer. That suits my style perfectly.
 
... Some people want fixed place computers. ...
I don't think anyone wants fixed place computers. If a laptop was as powerful (for a given price) and as convenient to use and as expandable as a desktop, then nobody would have desktops. Unfortunately, the only advantage which the laptop has over the desktop is its portability.
 
I don't think anyone wants fixed place computers. If a laptop was as powerful (for a given price) and as convenient to use and as expandable as a desktop, then nobody would have desktops. Unfortunately, the only advantage which the laptop has over the desktop is its portability.

I want a fixed place computer. I have a 24" iMac on my desk and wouldn't trade it for a laptop all the time. With a desktop you don't have to worry about batteries wearing out, the screens are much bigger, keyboards are easier to use.

Laptops will always have price disadvantage.
 
I want a fixed place computer. I have a 24" iMac on my desk and wouldn't trade it for a laptop all the time. With a desktop you don't have to worry about batteries wearing out, the screens are much bigger, keyboards are easier to use.

But what if you could fold up your 24" iMac and take it with you? What if you had batteries with unlimited power that you didn't have to worry about? In other words, if your 24" iMac was as portable as your laptop, wouldn't that be the ideal? Of course, technology isn't yet up to the point where we can have that, but if one day we could, then a completely fixed-place system would be desirable only in certain limited situations.
 
But what if you could fold up your 24" iMac and take it with you? What if you had batteries with unlimited power that you didn't have to worry about? In other words, if your 24" iMac was as portable as your laptop, wouldn't that be the ideal? Of course, technology isn't yet up to the point where we can have that, but if one day we could, then a completely fixed-place system would be desirable only in certain limited situations.

To be honest I like that my iMac isn't portable. I like that it sits in one place that is out of the way. It helps me to be more disciplined. I would always choose a desktop over a laptop.
 
I have a MacBook Pro and a 24" LED display. It feels like having the best of both worlds. Battery life is long enough, when I foresee that I will need long battery life I take an adapter with me.
 
I want a fixed place computer. I have a 24" iMac on my desk and wouldn't trade it for a laptop all the time. With a desktop you don't have to worry about batteries wearing out, the screens are much bigger, keyboards are easier to use.

Laptops will always have price disadvantage.
That's kind of my point. Desktops are better at everything except portability. And, for the record, I hate laptops.

Uh, there are plenty of instances in which one desires a computer not to be easily moveable. Business, for example. Kiosks. Transaction terminals. Etc.
Good point. I guess that's the danger of saying 'always' and 'everybody'. But you could always bolt it down.
 
That's kind of my point. Desktops are better at everything except portability. And, for the record, I hate laptops.

I've used my laptops during power failures. And when my home internet is out I just move to somewhere that has internet. I don't hate desktops, but I definitely prefer laptops because they are far more versatile.
 
The whole point of a laptop was take a desktop anywhere we want. Right? What has limit the laptop portability? Well, BATTERY LIFE!!! Grant, it is still portable, but it deters many from using as much as we like. Screen size is also a limit. 17 inch is just too big!! 15 is perfect. 10 inch is ok. Anything smaller is just too small. So, I am hoping the new macbook pro has a 10 hour battery life. The iPad is almost perfect for me.

Who is Grant? :p
 
Buy a laptop and then bolt it down? :rolleyes:
That was in reply to a guy who mentioned kiosks and POS terminals. We're talking about if laptops were as cheap and powerful as desktops. Which is clearly fantasyland.
I've used my laptops during power failures. And when my home internet is out I just move to somewhere that has internet. I don't hate desktops, but I definitely prefer laptops because they are far more versatile.
Not trying to be argumentative (well maybe a little bit :p), nor am I trying to convince you what you should like or not but... Putting aside portability (which I agree with), what is more versatile about a laptop? I can't think of a single other thing that desktops aren't better at (and don't say battery, you can get battery backups for desktops too). I suspect that (for they way you use it) versatile is synonymous with portable.
 
Not trying to be argumentative (well maybe a little bit :p), nor am I trying to convince you what you should like or not but... Putting aside portability (which I agree with), what is more versatile about a laptop? I can't think of a single other thing that desktops aren't better at (and don't say battery, you can get battery backups for desktops too). I suspect that (for they way you use it) versatile is synonymous with portable.

If we're putting aside a laptop's portability, then we have to put aside the faster hardware/expandability in a desktop. But then neither type of machine can shine.

So for my needs, laptops provide enough power so in this case the portability makes them more versatile than desktops. But this is all subjective anyway.
 
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