Desktop computers are getting rarer and rarer nowadays

[Hellhammer]

I can definitely see the reason why e.g. photographers use a laptop instead. Much easier to take it with you when taking photos and then view them in realtime for instance. Laptops are also starting to be powerful enough for editing photos so a photographer may not need a separate workstation anymore.

In the end, laptop can be used as a desktop but desktop cannot be used as a laptop. Many MR members use an external monitor with their laptop, which is a nice setup. Doesn't mean that desktops are on their way out but laptops have been able to satisfy consumers' needs for years, not that many need the power of a desktop.

 

[xIGmanIx]

I see photos using a tablet potentially in the field, especially with the xoom you could pop a memory card into a usb cable and adapter and view your pics on site with a much smaller profile. Also desktops might see life again as personal network storage potentially becomes a commodity

 

[ender land]

In the end, laptop can be used as a desktop but desktop cannot be used as a laptop. Many MR members use an external monitor with their laptop, which is a nice setup. Doesn't mean that desktops are on their way out but laptops have been able to satisfy consumers' needs for years, not that many need the power of a desktop.

Exactly what I do and why I like a laptop.

I use it everywhere, and taking a desktop is not quite as easy - http://improveverywhere.com/2008/02/25/mobile-desktop/

 

[0098386]

I'm not seeing that with my friends and family. We all have our laptops but, since their lifespans seem shorter than desktops, they don't get replaced. But then again the people I know tend to be higher end PC users and require the power you don't get on a portable.

I sold my Macbook last year and bought an iPod for email+light internet and haven't looked back. Between that and a desktop I'm sorted for work.

Used to have a 12" Powerbook+20" monitor throughout university. I'd recommend that setup (well, upgraded ) to anyone in a similar situation where you need portability for notes and docs but a nice full screen to comfortably work on.

 

[mrsir2009]

I can definitely see the reason why e.g. photographers use a laptop instead. Much easier to take it with you when taking photos and then view them in realtime for instance. Laptops are also starting to be powerful enough for editing photos so a photographer may not need a separate workstation anymore.

In the end, laptop can be used as a desktop but desktop cannot be used as a laptop. Many MR members use an external monitor with their laptop, which is a nice setup. Doesn't mean that desktops are on their way out but laptops have been able to satisfy consumers' needs for years, not that many need the power of a desktop.

I've seen some photographers with 17" MBPs - Thats pretty ideal for everything. They can take it places fairly easily and its certainly powerful enough so they don't need an additional desktop.

 

[steadysignal]

At least thats what I'm seeing - And not just in the consumor market, photographers and the like are moving to laptops as well...

Your thoughts on this?

i don't want to generalize but i see many more women with laptops. i understand it to be the convenience factor...

used to be that you'd have a few friends that were female that had desktops (and had issues with them). now, it seems every gal i know has a laptop...and still has issues with the laptops....

again, not trying to generalize.

 

[mrsir2009]

i don't want to generalize but i see many more women with laptops. i understand it to be the convenience factor...

used to be that you'd have a few friends that were female that had desktops (and had issues with them). now, it seems every gal i know has a laptop...and still has issues with the laptops....

again, not trying to generalize.

Thats because fullas are generally more "power users". ie: Gaming, heavy developing, encoding...

Most girls my age use computers for taking photos of themselves and going on Facebook. Not exactly power users as much?

 

[zap2]

i don't want to generalize but i see many more women with laptops. i understand it to be the convenience factor...

used to be that you'd have a few friends that were female that had desktops (and had issues with them). now, it seems every gal i know has a laptop...and still has issues with the laptops....

again, not trying to generalize.

I think it has a lot to do with where you are. As a college student, everyone has laptops, while few have desktops. In fact I don't think I have seen any at my college. Outside of my Mac Mini(which honestly I don't use its a bit old and I had plans to make a server, but its just not needed at this point. I'm really waiting for the update to the new Mac Mini)

 

[maclaptop]

It's both a Mac Pro & MacBook Pro for me.

There's simply too many advantages to each of them, which benefit me handsomely, not to have one of each.

 

[Hey Apple!]

I myself have been using a monitor and laptop setup for a while, but I find only having a laptop lacking. I recently bought a desktop pc so I can get the best of both worlds. There will be a market for desktop computers as long as there are powerful applications that a laptop cannot simply handle efficiently and enthusiasts who like the customization, power, and upgrade options that a desktop computer provides.

 

[miles01110]

In certain markets the laptop has taken over, in others it hasn't. There are still plenty of cost, performance, and security issues that make desktops a better solution in some instances.

 

[mrsir2009]

It's both a Mac Pro & MacBook Pro for me.

There's simply too many advantages to each of them, which benefit me handsomely, not to have one of each.

I've got an iMac and a MacBook Pro, and I find I use the MBP 90% of the time. Luckily the iMac is also a family computer, so it doesn't go unused

 

[Mousse]

Many, many people over 50 have no desire to own a laptop. And numbers in this area will only increase.

That's because we ain't contortionist. Once the screen is the right height, the keyboard is too high; with the keyboard at the right height, the screen is too low. Modern day torture rack, dem laptops.

 

[iJohnHenry]

Modern day torture rack, dem laptops.

And extremely difficult to find in 24", and now 27" screens. iMac

 

[daneoni]

You must also remember that the gap between laptops and desktops in terms of power is getting smaller by the minute. Quad-Core CPUs (even the iPad is packing a dual-core CPU), Terabytes of storage, hi-res screens etc...all whilst affording a certain degree of portability and versatility.

 

[Tomorrow]

At work, I need portability - so they issued me a laptop.

At home, I don't need portability - so my main computer is a desktop.

Some of us just use what suits our needs best.

 

[WilliamBos]

I have the advantage where I can borrow whatever I want from work, after bringing a Mac boom for a few times, I am glad I did not buy a laptop, prefer my desktop over it.

JMHO.

 

[mrsir2009]

One big thing I like about desktops is they don't overheat like laptops. My 13" MBP has real heat problems, I think its life is going to be shortened because I fry it on a regular basis (100+ degrees C). But my iMac stays insanely cool - 28C web browsing, compared to my MBP which does 50C web browsing

 

[Abstract]

A lot of what used to require a laptop can be done better with an iPad or other tablet as ravenii says, so it'll be very interesting to see how that evolves too. Will iPad 3 with iOS 5 further limit the need for a laptop/notepad.

Problem is that after work, I do a lot of web browsing, and posting at MR. I don't think I'd enjoy sitting on the couch and typing on an iPad, not even if it's just something like a website's URL. I'm not sure, though. Maybe I could still churn out garbage posts on an iPad, but at a slower rate.

 

[mrsir2009]

Problem is that after work, I do a lot of web browsing, and posting at MR. I don't think I'd enjoy sitting on the couch and typing on an iPad, not even if it's just something like a website's URL. I'm not sure, though. Maybe I could still churn out garbage posts on an iPad, but at a slower rate.

There's no way you could do tons of typing on an iPad for an extended time. No way.

 

[Hellhammer]

There's no way you could do tons of typing on an iPad for an extended time. No way.

Ditto. That is the reason why I "had to" get a MacBook Air. When I'm using a computer, I type probably 90% of the time. I'm either in MR, Facebook, MSN or IRC. All require lots of typing.

My dad bought an iPad sometime ago and I tried using it in bed instead of my MBA one night. It was horrible. Typing was slow and I couldn't hold the iPad in a comfortable way. I had to sit up to type quickly. It's a cool toy but at least I need a proper physical keyboard.

 

[mrsir2009]

Ditto. That is the reason why I "had to" get a MacBook Air. When I'm using a computer, I type probably 90% of the time. I'm either in MR, Facebook, MSN or IRC. All require lots of typing.

My dad bought an iPad sometime ago and I tried using it in bed instead of my MBA one night. It was horrible. Typing was slow and I couldn't hold the iPad in a comfortable way. I had to sit up to type quickly. It's a cool toy but at least I need a proper physical keyboard.

I can't see a way you can hold an iPad comfortably for reasonable periods of time on things like an armchair... Unlike a MB/MBP/MBA which supports itself on your lap, iPads need you to support it with your hands while your using it. Hard!

 

[Young Spade]

It makes sense. Laptops are becoming just as powerful, are portable, and I would argue easier to use. I would definitely go for a good keyboard and trackpad over a mouse and keyboard any day.

Plus if you want a bigger screen, you can just hook one up and extend your desktop; something a lot of desktop computer's can't do out of the box. (Meaning you'd have to buy a different cable which can't be commonly found in stores :/)

 

[Young Spade]

I can't see a way you can hold an iPad comfortably for reasonable periods of time on things like an armchair... Unlike a MB/MBP/MBA which supports itself on your lap, iPads need you to support it with your hands while your using it. Hard!

Thinking back on it, I never actually held mine while using it. When typing I either put it on my desk with a stand I bought or held it on my lap when doing something quick.

While surfing the web, it was alright to hold with one hand and scroll with the other, however if I needed to type a lot (like I do when I'm on message boards) I would have it, again, sitting down.

I think playing games was the only time I held it, and that was only if I was playing a shooter or something interactive; passive games were, you guessed it, played on a desk or stand.

 

[Synchromesh]

It makes sense. Laptops are becoming just as powerful, are portable, and I would argue easier to use. I would definitely go for a good keyboard and trackpad over a mouse and keyboard any day.

Plus if you want a bigger screen, you can just hook one up and extend your desktop; something a lot of desktop computer's can't do out of the box. (Meaning you'd have to buy a different cable which can't be commonly found in stores :/)

Puuuhleeeze. I use my desktop as a gamer. Your Macbook/Macbook Pro will blow itself up trying to play games at 2560x1600 resolution. My desktop can. I have owned a desktop practically continuously since '93 and you will have to pry it from my cold dead hands before I give it up for a laptop permanently. In fact, the laptop I own as a second computer sits at home and acts a second desktop about 98% of the time. Not all of use are in need of constant mobility. I try to maximize the time away from computers so rarely take it with me.

And another thing - I dislike trackpads. Yes, Apple's is better than most but it's still nowhere near as good as a proper mouse especially in games. My laptop is a Thinkpad and I use the TrackPoint practically all of the time rather than trackpad.