Best alternative for a Mac

[skaertus]

I am torn between two alternatives for a Mac here. It is going to work as a desktop, alongside a 27-inch 5K monitor. The options are as follows, and are roughly the same price here in Brazil:

• Dell XPS 8960 desktop, with Intel Core i7-4700, 32 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 4060 (for desktops), 2 TB SSD; or
• Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra laptop, with Intel Ultra 9 185h, 32 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 4070 (for laptops), 1 TB SSD.

Although one is a laptop, it will remain mostly as a desktop, as I already have a thin-and-light laptop to carry around. Although the specs on the laptop may be superior, they are laptop parts and that may result in a performance penalty. Any recommendations or suggestions? Thanks.

 

[rm5]

Which is more convenient for you, a desktop or a laptop docked? That's the question to consider, I think. If it was me, I'd choose the desktop any day, as a docked laptop is extremely annoying to use.

So, my suggestion: if you want a desktop, get a desktop. Don't get a laptop and try to make it a desktop. Like I said, it's a pain.

 

[skaertus]

Which is more convenient for you, a desktop or a laptop docked? That's the question to consider, I think. If it was me, I'd choose the desktop any day, as a docked laptop is extremely annoying to use.

So, my suggestion: if you want a desktop, get a desktop. Don't get a laptop and try to make it a desktop. Like I said, it's a pain.

Thank you. Just a question: why do you consider a docket laptop annoying to use?

 

[rm5]

Thank you. Just a question: why do you consider a docket laptop annoying to use?

More cables, at least on the desk. Also, I think it defeats the entire purpose of a laptop if you’re just plugging it in, closing the lid, and using an external monitor. That makes no sense to me personally. Especially since you said you already have another laptop.

 

[skaertus]

More cables, at least on the desk. Also, I think it defeats the entire purpose of a laptop if you’re just plugging it in, closing the lid, and using an external monitor. That makes no sense to me personally. Especially since you said you already have another laptop.

That sounds a good reason.

Also, I have the impression that docket laptops do not respond as well when waking up as regular desktops.

 

[Basic75]

The mobile 4070 corresponds to a desktop 4060, but the Intel Core Ultra 185H should run circles around the much older Intel Core i7 4700, especially in more multi-threaded applications. What are your compute and storage requirements?

 

[Tago]

Thank you. Just a question: why do you consider a docket laptop annoying to use?

Besides the answer you already got, keeping a laptop docked permanently requires attention to battery and charging regime. I understand the Samsung has charging management integrated like they have for their cellulars, but for the cellulars it is not as good as e.g. Thinkpads have had for decades.

For Thinkpads it works by setting a upper and lower charging threshold, e.g. you can set it to stop charging at 85% and it won`t start charging again until it drops to e.g. 60% (it drops by drainage, not by usage as the Thinkpads use power from the grid for usage). Samsung cellulars (and I believe recent MacBooks have only a upper threshold (80% I believe), which makes them keep on charging very frequently to stay at 80%. The Thinkpads also have/had a "trim" function where it gets charged to 100%, drained almost empty and recharged to 100%. This has to be done to maintain maximum battery capacity. How often is debatable, but every 2-3 months or so.

You will have to do the mentioned trim exercise (should actually be done with all cellulars and laptops regardless) not to ruin your battery. Personally I believe the Thinkpad approach makes a lot more sense than bumping into the 80% threshold more or less constantly.

https://www.samsung.com/ca/support/computing/why-does-my-battery-only-charge-to-80-percentage/

I have used laptops "permanently" docked a lot, and my advise is to pick a desktop/stationary if you don`t need portability and will be using the computer permanently docked. If you have to or want move around with it, laptop is the obvious choice, but you do have to pay attention to your battery, or some of the mobility advantage is lost. You`ll have to carry the brick.

None of the abov is taking performance and brands into concideration, just the functionality.