Are Desktops going away like the VHS Recorders?

[beemaster]

I've been following the sales of laptops and their main features (if you know what to look for and willing to pay for it) versus the desktops - and it is starting to seem that the desktops are going to go away or at least move quietly to the background as VHS machines have moved aside for the DVD.

I am using my laptop exclusively lately, for surfing on a my high def TV via HDMI cabl, to movie watching, to gaming to everything we do with computers. Mind you, I use to leave my desktop on 24/7 so that we didn't have to boot up the laptop for quicky searches, but now that my laptop is the center point of my home entertainment system, I have the desktop turned off except to update Microsoft, Mcafee and HP fixes as they come in.

As prices come down, connectitivity becomes easier and the shear fact that a portable can be small, light weight and powerful too and still be used on a home theater HDTV using wireless keyboard an mouses, the need for desktops seems to be fading. And when we see the cost factor of a desktop and the versatility of the laptop equaling out, I'm really thinking that as we saw over the last year HD-DVD die to Blu-Ray and it's been a few years since A Drives disappeared from computers all together, will the laptop be the "affordable portable" that answers all our needs?

The only downside I see in my case is "IF I choose to take my laptop to work to see a movie or something" it takes just a second to disconnect all the cables, but then I leave my TV here for my wife as a TV only and not a surfing machine too - she'd need to turn on the desktop to surf. Not a big deal, but using an entertainment system in the living room, switching with a single click on the remote from TV to NET is wonderful, having to go to the guest room where the desktop is, fire it up and surf there feels strange after 2 months of doing it the much better way. Surfing on a 47 inch screen with unmatched clarity is habit forming, and being a click away from movies, online music, newspapers, education, recipes (my wife like to open up a recipe page at a website she finds, stands in the kitchen and literally has internet music playing as she glances across the room reading the recipe as she cooks) it has changed the way we do things and it is the stuff Bill Gates told us about a decade ago now. It is interesting to see what he meant used in our every day life.

So, I think I'll poll this, but COULD YOU live in a desktop free world IF your laptop has all the features, speed and power? For me it is a resounding YES! What do you think?

P.S. you can vote up to 4 choices in this poll, it is going on for 20 days. Thanks.

[Jerrymac]

I really don't know how to vote. The only time I have touched a laptop is when I used my daughter's to burn some CDs. So in away her's is better than mine.

I really hate relearning stuff and it seems everyone is constantly making changes to something. Seems every time I go to photobucket something has changed. Yahoo has changed the email thing and the news page a couple of times. Beemaster is always wanting to make changes . It is always suppose to be for the better. I always go with that old saying if it ain't broke don't fix it.

But to think about something more compact and not so many wires dangling around and with a wireless router I can take it anywhere.... Caught the neighbor using mine  .... So a laptop is probably in my future.

[kathyp]

i like my laptop, but there batery issues, overheating issues, weight, etc.  i like kicking back in front of the desktop to watch a move.  i like playing games on the desktop better.

[1frozenhillbilly]

ok its like this,  i never owned a desktop,  my first puter was an ibm think pad 486 and the 3 i've had since have also been laptops.  (before i got my think pad i couldn't afford any kind of computer) so i've always been more or less happy with laptops

[reinbeau]

My vote isn't up there.  I'll use a desktop and have a laptop forever - but I prefer the desktop. 

We won a laptop at hubby's company party two years ago, so we use it as a backup, but I far prefer the desktop.

[JP]

laptops are good for travel and school but I want a desktop home.


...JP

[BjornBee]

My computer is like my phone. It does not rule my world. I have cell, and sometimes I have it with me, and sometimes I leave it on the counter or in the truck. I do not need hourly updates on sports, the weather, or have a need to text the person sitting aside me at the restaurant. let alone the chick at the bar. (Stupid commercials)

I can get messages when I get home, I can chat here, or goggle something. But I do not need to connected at the hip with technology.

And I'm way beyond worrying about "Kewl" ringtones, fancy colored this or that, or worrying about the latest new thing that a laptop can do. When I go on vacation, I'm not multi-international billionaire in need of staying in touch with the movement of the stock market. And I certainly do not think with an ego that the world will come to a stop if I lost connection with a computer for a week or more.

I think for MOST people, computors are just a replacement for the TV. It makes you no money, wastes many hours that could be spend better off in so many more productive ways, and is a waste cruising around looking at stupid video's of other peoples apparently more interesting lives.

Yes we have laptop. I prefer my desktop. 

[kathyp]

i have to admit that i like web access on my phone, but that is because i travel to places where sometimes there is no computer access, or even power.  they always seem to get the cell service up quickly!  i can't always call people, but i can text or email to let them know that i'm alive...so i am tetherd...

[johnnybigfish]

I messed with lees laptop when he got it. I thought I would like one, but after trying his, my hand went numb really quick moving my finger around on the little square...I suppose I would like it better using the remote mouse.
your friend,
john

[pdmattox]

I love laptops. As some of you know I am on the go for 12-16 hours everyday. I like to be able to cruise down the road and be able to use ventrilo to talk to friends or play poker (have won many tournaments while sitting in traffic) and sometimes both at the same time.  With the air card your options are only limited by your imagination. I think of my laptop as a tool that I use for work just like the tools in my tool pouch. Many times while working out of town I have needed info or directions or to print out a invoice. Guess what, I was able to get what I needed done right from my laptop. I think desktops are a thing of the past. bye bye

[annette]

Hubby bought me a Dell laptop because of his work at home he was using the desktop all the time and I could not get onto it. Now I am so used to the laptop and feel so comfortable with it, I much prefer it over the desktop.

Guess it is just what you are used to using.

[beemaster]

KathyP and others:

I have added several new choices, and made it so you can change your votes. I added several more options for the desktop users only and a few for those who like both. Feel free to review the choices again and revote fittingly all

As mentioned above, laptop battery life is a bigger scam the INK CARTRIDGES - they propmise the world but never deliver in life-time before recharging, they die out sooner then claimed in most cases and usually most people use a power plug with them. That said, I have my entire laptop on the bottom shelf below my HDTV, all you see are a few blue lights on it (I have the screen opened up a few inches for good ventilation, the processors always runs cool this way. But it surely is plugged in to the wall.

The keyboard and mouse are on a small table that shuttles back and forth from Tracey to me as we surf and my microphone use in Ventrilo runs tucked under then carpet molding about 2 feet from where my chair is I usually surf from - audio quality is great, so I'm not tethered in any way with wires.

It is a great gaming machine, from the fastest first person 3D war games, to golf and poker, to racing simulators (which I use Nascar 2003 Season, a collectors item used by thousand world wide in multiplayer) for that I must hook up the Force Feedback Wheel and peddles through a USB plug and power from a wall outlet - otherwise, sitting in front of a big screen is like sitting behind the wheel of a real car

I could live and basically do from my laptop - I'd never pack my desktop away, but I would think about a second laptop someday - wireless connectivity is a great great thing

PS: I ADDED MORE OPTIONS AND INCREASED VOTES TO 4 CHOICES EACH VOTER - YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR MINDS DURING THE 20 DAYS OF POLLING TOO.

Have fun with the poll. AND IF I MISSED AN OPTION IN THE POLL YOU'D LIKE TO SEE, post it here and Il'll add it

[Brian D. Bray]

John, you forgot one option. The I'm waiting for the laptop/desktop/telephone/coffeemaker/diswasher/time machine all in one choice.

[shawnwri]

Not really sure how to vote.  I have a laptop in the office that I really liked. It had a docking station so I could use my ergonomic keyboard and high quality speakers.  Once "the man" installed encryption software it quit working with the docking station.  My issue with laptops is they seem to wear out a lot faster from overheating.  The old packard bell desktop at home still works with Window's 95 on it.

[beemaster]

In hindsite, I should have called this: IS THE DESKTOP GOING THE WAY OF THE VHS RECORER - they surely are still around, just not in use as the DVD machines are. The 8 TRACK TAPE was a rather poor comparison, I mean vinyl is back, cassettes are still around, but the 8 track is a niche that few occupy.

I think I'll rename it now, the poll is young still, I don't want to sway voters either way, I think a better comparison is required.

Oh and Brian, I always wanted a can opener/pencil sharpener - it seems like a useful albeit different tool with similar manouvering no reason you can't hook up a 50 HDTV to one either lol.

[MustbeeNuts]

Well guys , I use a laptop for work only, I have my own desktop. What comes out of the box is not always the best option. It would depend on what you consider to be necessary, as a power user I don't see the laptop ever outdoing a desktop for power, memory capacity, or video. I have built my own systems since 1990 something.  What I have now I consider pure power. In fact I take exception to the laptop taking over the desktop. LOL (Ain't gonna happen) Most DT are server capable. Laptops not for many years.
If you can show me a laptop that can match a home unit, I'll buy it and eat my hat.

EVGA 680i Mobo SLI 1333 FSB
Twin Nvidia (880GTs) Video Cards for SLI, dual video (HD/BR) inputs for shader an memory control.  I can get 150fps.on DX10 Games
Seven Channel Surround Sound. 200w.
Raid 5 WD Hardrives 3x160gb Drive
Six Gig of Ram OCZ PC6400 1006 FSB 5.5.5.15 Timings
Quad Processors, E6700 X 2.8 gig
1800 passmark  score
Topped off with Vista 64bit OS


And you get to top that off with cool lights and stuff. LOL
   

[johnnybigfish]

Hey, Where'd you get all the lited stuff? Theres so many wires on the back of my computer That it might be able to look like thwe fourth of July If I could get lited wires!
your friend,
john

[MustbeeNuts]

Hey, Where'd you get all the lited stuff? Theres so many wires on the back of my computer That it might be able to look like thwe fourth of July If I could get lited wires!
your friend,
john

The wires are clear with a relflective base, I have lights inside the case, an ultraviolet for the purple, Blue for the board under the ram, plus red and green led's for the ram itself. Ebay has all of that stuff, look under "modding" I cut the glass for the side myself and its got a couple etched dragons on it also. Just don't showup on the photo's.

[johnnybigfish]

Oh boy, Nuts!!!
 I think I'm gonna start a new projectt!!!
 That is REALLY COOL!!!

your friend,
john

[MustbeeNuts]

Oh boy, Nuts!!!
 I think I'm gonna start a new projectt!!!
 That is REALLY COOL!!!

your friend,
john

Well the lights don't have any real use other than to show off . LOL but that's what modding is all about.