MBP as a desktop computer

[Skuta]

Hello, guys.

I'm currently waiting on my MBP 15.4", 2,4 GHz, 7200 RPM to arrive.

Basically my idea was that it would replace my desktop computer completely (a 1.5 year old PC): I would connect it to my DELL 24", external keyboard / mouse when I'm using it at home, and when I needed a computer someplace else, I'd, of course, have that option as well. I'd probably buy an external hard drive (500 GB or more) for storage as the hard drive on the mbp isn't that big.

I'll use the mbp for some gaming, photoshop and organizing photographs with iPhoto for the most part.

The question wether win xp and windows based games will run well on mbp (with boot camp) is pretty much: yes it will run just as well as on any PC with simular hardware specs, right? I kinda stopped worrying about this cause this is the answer I see most people give regarding this.

What I'd like to know is how well does MBP function as a desktop computer. By that I mean having it turned on for many hours per day, power cable plugged in etc. I know the MBP runs WoW well (i've seen some vids), but would it run WoW well for say 5-6 hours (I don't play WoW, just an example)?
I mean, is this computer designed and capable of staying on for many hours/day or will such use somehow affect certain hw components eventually . I never owned a laptop computer so I don't really know the answer to this one.

I know it's a weird question, and I hope you can understand what I mean.

 

[somerled]

I just switched from using desktop windows boxes to a 17" mbp about 6 months ago. I use it hooked up to an external monitor, keyboard and mouse at work for 8+ hours a day (running parallels/winxp for some of my development work). At the end of the day, it gets unplugged, taken home, and usually turned back on again in the evening for several hours of either more work, or Warcraft.

haven't had a problem, and it runs warcraft as well or better than any of the windows machines in my house. so far the only downside is that my wife and son are getting tired of me answering their windows tech questions with "I don't know, my computer doesn't do that. Must be a windows problem", to the point that my wife is replacing her windows laptop with a 15" mbp next month.

 

[Skuta]

I just switched from using desktop windows boxes to a 17" mbp about 6 months ago. I use it hooked up to an external monitor, keyboard and mouse at work for 8+ hours a day (running parallels/winxp for some of my development work). At the end of the day, it gets unplugged, taken home, and usually turned back on again in the evening for several hours of either more work, or Warcraft.

haven't had a problem, and it runs warcraft as well or better than any of the windows machines in my house. so far the only downside is that my wife and son are getting tired of me answering their windows tech questions with "I don't know, my computer doesn't do that. Must be a windows problem", to the point that my wife is replacing her windows laptop with a 15" mbp next month.

nice, excactly what I wanted to hear hehe

 

[netdog]

With the amount of typing that I do, I wouldn't want to pound on my MBP's keyboard that much. I would definitely rig it to a detachable keyboard, mouse and larger monitor for home use if it were my only computer.

 

[pianoman]

i have my MBP hooked up to a Cinema Display and i use a wireless mouse and keyboard. i also have an external hard drive and external speakers. it is a great setup and hurts the computer no less than if it were used solely as a laptop. in fact, it probably saves the laptop a bit of life by having the screen turned off (i run in closed-lid mode) and not having you hit the keyboard and use the trackpad as much.

edit: i have a stand for my laptop so it doesn't get too hot.

 

[crazzyeddie]

I would just recommend getting one of that laptop stands (maybe even one with built-in fans) to help keep the MBP a little cooler. I find that when playing any game for a few hours my MBP gets extremely hot, but when its on my stand its quite a bit cooler.