Do you prefer PC or laptop?

I was having a friendly discussion with someone this morning about PC and Laptops for work/education stuff, he suggested that I could use a chromebook for all this stuff and this would be a good idea and make things easier. I strongly disagreed with this, mainly because I hate laptops, the keyboard and touchpad make me angry and my PC does everything I need. Most things are synced to my phone for the rare times I may want to add something while out and about. So I thought I’d come here and seek other peoples opinions on laptops vs pc your needs? also if you are feeling bored and want to head on over to the survey ive linked and fill in a few questions I can more easily gather data to make into fun graphs, which if the data agrees with me, I can shove it in his face or should I be in the minority I can let him have this win.

plutolink,

In regards to focus and typing speed, laptops seem to do it best for me. My laptop is usually in sleep, and my desktop off, so it’s much faster to bring it from sleep and do what I need to do. A laptop, too, was my first computer, so I feel fairly comfortable with the experience unless I really need a mouse. Desktops are insanely comfortable, though, and I guess primarily that’s what I’d use, but thankfully I can do about equal things on both outside of gaming, so it’s mainly about how I’m feeling at the time.

atlasraven31,

PC. I love a beefy rig for gaming. I build myself so it is cheaper than laptop. My Smart TV is like a tablet with a big screen and has taken over some things that my PC used to do.

Ajen,

Lightweight/low-power laptop (aka chromebook) + homeserver seems ideal, IMO. Especially if you have gigabit upstream at home, and know how to set up a VPN.

howrar,

If I had to choose only one, it would be a desktop. The experience of using a machine with a good keyboard/mouse and large monitors can’t be beat, plus it’s much cheaper for the same quality of hardware. The main downside is that it’s not portable. Whether I’m working or gaming, I’m confined to that one desk. I can’t work on the couch, in the park, in the waiting room at the doctor’s office, or anywhere else I might find myself that day.

The ideal setup is to have both. A desktop for when I can be at my desk, and a cheap laptop that I can use to remote into said desktop. That way, you get the convenience of a laptop with the power of a desktop at a much more reasonable price.

jayknight,

A monitor and keyboard/mouse that you can attach to your laptop gives you the best of both worlds.

But a desktop/workstation that you can leave on and double as a server for some things is nice to have.

darkan15,

I use my old laptop as a server, and so far no issues with leaving it on 24/7

BaumGeist,

I can’t use a laptop for work (graphics intensive, need a powerhouse) but I would if I could. I love being able to use it literally anywhere I go—at my desk, in bed, on the toilet, on vacation, on the bus, at a cafe, etc—and…

I installed a headless Debian OS, added a keyboard-focused window manager and I don’t have to futz with the trackpad nor find a place to put an attached mouse. It also is a much slower drain on the battery. Best of all worlds.

I use it for web-browsing, word-processing/spreadsheets, checking email, making memes, coding, managing my home network, controlling my headless SBC, and modding. Also occasionally for cyber CTFs or remoting into my desktop at least to do so.

HatchetHaro,
@HatchetHaro@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

If you only use your computer for the most basic of operations (browsing the Internet, watching Netflix, writing documents, etc.), Chromebooks are fine. However, I’m assuming this discussion is about laptops versus desktops.

Basically, all you need to care about between laptops and desktops is the balance between portability, power, and affordability. If you travel a lot, get a laptop. If you need the processing power for video editing or gaming, get a desktop. If you need to edit videos while traveling, get a gaming laptop. If you don’t need any of those, get a second-hand Dell desktop.

If you need to use a laptop but hate the keyboard and trackpad, nothing is stopping you from chucking a separate mechanical keyboard and a mouse into your backpack. A lot of people in tech actually just do that.

fratermus,
@fratermus@lemmy.sdf.org avatar

I live offgrid in a campervan, which places limits the amount of power and interior space I can devote to computing. So a vanilla laptop for me.

the keyboard and touchpad make me angry

External kb/mice are allowed. :-) Using a mechanical kb with my laptop right now.

TeaHands,
@TeaHands@lemmy.world avatar

Moved from pc to laptop about a decade ago and I don’t think I could ever go back. It seemed so normal back then to spend all my time in one room at my desk.

But now, yeah I can spend time at the desk and I can even plug the laptop in to external everything and it’s just like having a pc. But ALSO I can laze around on the couch watching TV with my other half while I play Deep Rock Galactic, or I can lounge in the sun in the conservatory and still edit video, or I can pick up and take it on a trip somewhere and still have access to everything I need without having to fiddle with a phone.

The only downside of a laptop is the cost compared to a similar spec pc. But when I think of going back I think of being chained to a desk in that one room and just…nah.

Valmond,

Excluding GPU extensive operations a used ThinkPad is so good and cheap it’s incredible.

Bought a T490 16GB 512GB for 260€ … I think my desktop will be used less and less …

TrenchcoatFullofBats,

Used Thinkpad with upgraded screen and retrofitted classic keyboard = perfection.

Valmond,

Apparently the “older” ones like T480 had crappy screens and it changed with, tada! , the T490 generation q. I’m quite happy with mine to be honest. I got a french keyboard, thinking about getting the US one with that Big return key :-D but I’m curious about what your “retrofitted classic keyboard” is (it appears it is quite simple to change the keyboard on ThinkPad)?

Cyder,

For work and general browsing, I prefer a laptop. But for gaming, I definitely prefer a beefy desktop.

Cylusthevirus,
@Cylusthevirus@kbin.social avatar

PC is short for personal computer, which includes both laptop and desktop form factors.

But to answer the question, I generally prefer a desktop because you can upgrade them and work on them more easily.

Fizz,
@Fizz@lemmy.nz avatar

I like the concept of laptops but I hate using them. When I’m away from my house I don’t need a computer. I’m barely able to find a use for my phone when I’m out and about.

Pagliacci,
@Pagliacci@lemmy.ml avatar

Haven’t used my desktop in ages, has been completely replaced by my personal and work laptops.

Jajcus,

I used to use desktop computers both at work and at home (and laptops only when away), but that killed my back – too much sitting. Since then at home I use only laptop – I can lay down with that. I do hate touchpads too, so I don't use that – just a regular mouse. Yes, one can connect a mouse to a laptop. ;-) I would prefer a full keyboard, but the one on laptop is not too bad.

Recently I have bought a powerful PC for gaming, but I only use it remotely, from my laptop (Steam streaming is great).

Spinellicat,
@Spinellicat@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

Thank you I’m am really enjoying reading all the answers, I was fairly sure most people would have and like laptops etc not being tied to a desk is a bonus. Also yup I didn’t word things well but thanks for answering in the spirit of my question. Its great seeing the answers coming in on here and seeing the surveys data.

Hello_there,

"the keyboard and touchpad make me angry"
I think you need to try this out with an open mind. Plenty of people use laptops as their only computer, only with trackpad. Plenty others just toss a Bluetooth mouse in their bag and use that.
I get using a PC, but a laptop does have its advantages.

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