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Why do people use Mac desktops over laptops?

I'll be getting a new iMac (over MBP) for several reason.

Cost, you get more for your money. Bigger screen, bigger HDD better video and faster CPUs. Plus I don't need to move my work around, I've had laptops in the past but they were always underpowered compared to my desktop at the time. I know that is not the case now but for me it comes down to screen size now.

A 15" LCD is just not enough, I'm used to 21.5" and can't wait to get my hands on a 27" screen. Yes I know I could get a MBP and external LCD but then the cost blows out which either means a 13" MBP or cheap LCD and be limited to 1920x1080.

ETA - if I did get a laptop it would probably be the MBA, lighter than the MBP it would be perfect for work on the go IMO. Then back to the desktop to get the job done.
 
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666sheep said:
People have their reasons which were listed by previous posters.
But official sales numbers will show u that people (in general) actually do prefer laptops over desktops.
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You've made a deduction based on Mac sales. Your assertion would be stronger if you pulled numbers for the entire market. Based on what you presented, I think one might say people prefer Apple laptops over desktops. There are lots of folks who have PC desktops but have Mac laptops.
 
Sped said:
You've made a deduction based on Mac sales. Your assertion would be stronger if you pulled numbers for the entire market. Based on what you presented, I think one might say people prefer Apple laptops over desktops. There are lots of folks who have PC desktops but have Mac laptops.
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That's me right now! That's why I made this post to see if I would want to fully convert to Macs and buy a Mac desktop. So far I'm liking what everyone is saying but I did here one guy say that it wouldn't be economically feasible to own both which is correct for me. So, I may get one down the road when I actually need a desktop but right now a Mac laptop is perfect for my needs.
 
A desktop can't do what a laptop does. A laptop can do pretty much everything a desktop does, but with some compromises, which is why I have both.
 
Sped said:
You've made a deduction based on Mac sales. Your assertion would be stronger if you pulled numbers for the entire market. Based on what you presented, I think one might say people prefer Apple laptops over desktops. There are lots of folks who have PC desktops but have Mac laptops.
Click to expand...

Yep, to be totally clear I should have add: if one's choice is between Mac desktop and Mac laptop... ;)
 
In my house the iMac is the "family pc" I don't mess with it. My MacBook Pro though is mine I install all kinds of Android Kitchens/CyanogenMod Repo's/Google Repo's, MacPort, etc. That way if I break something on my laptop I don't have the family giving me a hard time. So far the iMac has been a solid machine for the family. No slow downs or worries of viruses any of that.
 
macuser1232 said:
Wait, Your implying that the Mac laptop is better right?
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Depends on what you are doing. In my case, my main machine is MacPro. Along with all the reasons listed above (more RAM, more internal storage, quiet, larger monitor, etc) I also need to do my work (I'm a photographer) under consistent lighting. Which means that to do my work I would always be working the same place.... so the mobility issue isn't a big factor. That said, I also have an old MBP for when I want to be mobile.... but I don't do my main work on it.

On the other hand, my wife's main system is a newish 17" MBP. Her work is text based, and she likes the flexibility of being able to work in different parts of the house. RAM and internal storage and lighting are not an issue for what she does. Interestingly enough, she also has an old MBA (1st generation) that she uses for travel. The MBP is good for moving around the house, but a bit too big for her to lug around airports and conferences.

The moral of this story... there is only one "best" for you, and it may mean a multiple of systems. The "best" system may not even be ideal... "best" can be be pretty crappy and yet there may not be anything better (that you can afford.) "Best" is not necessarily "good".
 
Hmm another thread about "Why chose desktop over laptop?" :rolleyes:

For me, there are still at least two main reasons in which notebook still can't replace a desktop.

1. Upgradeability: (Unless it's an iMac) .. Same old story, I can always partially upgrade my desktop tower instead of buy a new box. You don't find something like GTX680/690 or Radeon 7970 in a laptop. Up until now, mobility GPUs still perform much much slower than comparable desktop version. Even mobile CPUs perform differently with desktop in long term of heavy loading.

There are simply unlimited resources (cooling, CPU/GPU TDP, RAID HDD) for a desktop. You can always chunk 1200 watt PSU in there), while laptop, or Macbook if you prefer will always have to compromise for power saving & portability sake.

2. Efficiency: Desktop is a fixed station, most of the time you can always sit, turn on, and enjoy using a desktop. Occasionally of course you'll need to plug in some external devices, but not too often and won't be as many as notebook.

With a laptop, assuming you use it often as on-the-go machine (seriously, you should!). You'll need to replug the WHOLE cables and docking when you're home. MagSafe/charger, USB externals, just more and more cables.

Now you may argue you can plug a notebook on something like Thunderbolt Display, two cables in and you're good to go? Oh right, you still don't have audio out with the display (you don't want to use built-in ATD speaker), so it's 3 cables :D .. It may sounds lazy, but come on, would you do it once or twice a day?

And one last thing; Price! It's not new that you pay premium on a notebook for one thing, portability. It doesn't make your machine works any better, but it's just something you have to pay extra. And many people bought a laptop only to realize their machine stays on the table 99% of the time. Such.A.Waste.

Again, it's just like bicycle vs. cars. It's best to own both, but still, if I have to choose one, I'd rather get a car anyday.
 
I have my big mac on a desk, and a big comfy leather chair to use it from, much nicer than being cramped over a laptop screen. Plus my mac is largely used for huge amounts of development and multi-tasking
 
cooky560 said:
I have my big mac on a desk, and a big comfy leather chair to use it from, much nicer than being cramped over a laptop screen. Plus my mac is largely used for huge amounts of development and multi-tasking
Click to expand...

Well that's what I use my Macbook Pro for, development(Coding/Programming) and multi-tasking.
 
macuser1232 said:
Wait, Your implying that the Mac laptop is better right?
Click to expand...

Absolutely not. I'm talking only about customers preferences based by sales numbers. Statistic Mac computer buyer seems to prefer laptops (each one has their own reasons, but in general let's call it "mobility" - this mainly differs laptop from desktop).
 
iMacs cost less for more performance vs a laptop, and have a larger screen size and larger hard drive capacity. And I've got 16gb of RAM in my iMac...

The main reason I use an iMac as my main machine is because the screen can be more at eye level, where as a laptop is lower and causes eye strain (for me anyway). So the iMac is just more comfortable to use for hours at a time.

I started out with a Mac Mini, then went to a Macbook Pro, then went to an iMac with an Air on the side, so I've tried it all.
 
666sheep said:
Absolutely not. I'm talking only about customers preferences based by sales numbers. Statistic Mac computer buyer seems to prefer laptops (each one has their own reasons, but in general let's call it "mobility" - this mainly differs laptop from desktop).
Click to expand...

Well to be honest, all computer buyers tend to prefer laptop over desktop nowadays. Be it Dell, HP, Apple, Acer, Asus, Lenovo. Notebooks are their milking machine. However notebooks are disposable piece of coppers and silicons. They're designed to be wasted, rather than improved.

For comparison, I think it's the same reason people love MP3s (laptops) for their music rather than audio CDs/lossless codecs (desktops).

We all know MP3 never will be as good compared to the real deal. Good news is MP3 doesn't enough for some people. Although mp3 sounds 90% like the master track, many of us still enjoy being a purist and would love to "hear" the rest 10%, albeit costs more space/money. Those people just don't compromise for anything.
 
Wardenski said:
There's no point in buying a laptop if you don't use it on the move.
Click to expand...

Mainly why my next home computer will be an iMac. For me my iPad goes beyond my needs when I'm on the go, work, travel etc. not to mention having both iPhone and iPad is more than enought. This is why I chose a desktop
 
macuser1232 said:
Hey I was just wondering why people use Mac desktops(including PPC's) instead of a powerful Macbook Pro? Currently, the Macbook Pro's can be more powerful then some of the Mac desktops and you can go to any room in your home with the laptop.
Click to expand...

Because we can't make Avatar 2 on a small screen.

Some of us need massive screens.

I guess you're not the creative type. :)
 
Sped said:
You've made a deduction based on Mac sales. Your assertion would be stronger if you pulled numbers for the entire market. Based on what you presented, I think one might say people prefer Apple laptops over desktops. There are lots of folks who have PC desktops but have Mac laptops.
Click to expand...

Except we're talking macs here specifiaclly, iMac vs MBP
 
That is a very easy question when looked at through the eyes of a developer. Most people that use their machine for productivity purposes want at least dual screens. Going dual screen on a MBP requires a dual-head-2-go. There are also the obvious reasons such as more power, more expandability, more ports, and not having to fiddle with connections and/or have extraneous wires going all over.

Why would someone that doesn't need the portability want to experience the compromises that go hand-in-hand with said portability? Not to mention you get a 999 USD display bundled into the iMac when buying one.
 
macuser1232 said:
can go to any room in your home with the laptop.
Click to expand...

True you can take a Macbook anywhere, however:

1) Most of my photo work is on external drives which means I'd have to take them as well (no a Networked NAS is not an option)
2) Having a nice 21" monitor is great to work on, I can calibrate it and don't see reflections of myself in glass.
3) I could use the monitor above with a MacBook, but where would it go........

desk4.jpg
 
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