Laptop Vs Desktop Graduation Present, Which one?

[vanilla_rent 0]

well, I would actually go for a laptop, but it is more towards preference and situation than either/or. For me, my current computer works fine. It is getting a bit old, but it has Panther, nice apps, and it gets my homework done and allows me to talk to my friends, etc. So, going on to college not only are new computers incredibly nice, but by getting a laptop you not only succeed for yourself an utterly new computer, but it's also portable and, in terms of at least mac powerbooks and ibooks, completely wireless ready. and hey, laptops are cool.

[Goosestaf 0]

The Major point for me is price.You simply get more for your money with a desktop Desktops are better if ya like to tinker with it all.i'm sort of biased anyways, since i don't tend to like working on a laptop. I prfer having a system on a desktop all spread out so i have space, not having the screen and key board a few CMs away frome each other. I'don't like being confindedBut thats jsut a personel preference.Although if i had a ton of money i mite go for a laptop.one thing has come to mind though, yes, you can get some pretty high-end tech for lap tops, but do the cooling systems cope well? (a question not a dig )

[m33 0]

one thing has come to mind though, yes, you can get some pretty high-end tech for lap tops, but do the cooling systems cope well? (a question not a dig )

it gets a bit *hot* after a whole day of activity (playing games, using microsoft office alot, browsing websites, downloading/uploading stuff, opening books for school in adobe reader etc) but it can work between the -50° and +50° C so i'm safe i guess....
this laptop is 3 years old now, and still working fine, i can still play NFSU2 on it

[spiderink 0]

I would only get a desktop if you like to mess around with the insides and customize things. Otherwise, laptop, definitely. (Try to get a 'gaming' laptop.) For all the reasons that everyone has said. Besides, personally, I think PDAs are hard to get used to. My only experience with that... interface is at the store though. And my Wacom tablet, if you count that pen. And well, I don't know much about PDAs, but don't a lot of sites show up weird/not at all?

[SuperScript 0]

In my opinion, I think you should get a desktop.If you have a laptop, there is a greater possibility of it getting stolen or damaged (eg. dropping it).

[Cooky 0]

Get a laptop, and get a docking station that way when you get home or whereever you have the dock just put the computer on the docking station and you can have it charging and all the cables plugged in instantly. If you get a Dell you get a free docking station with all Docking capable computers but I wouldn't buy a Dell because they are good computer and everything but I think they sit just a bit below industry standard and that is partly parts and partly overall construction. So get a laptop that is capable of docking station and definately get one that is able to be upgraded. Well thats what I would do.

[Danieluchis 0]

i would buy the laptop because is so much easier to carry from here and there, but yeah the cons are that they're indeed very fragils.. they can be stolen easily, (but i haven't met anyone that is such a dummy to let his/her computer alone ) but anyway a laptop is very convenient because u can use it to catch notes instead of using a notebook, easier and faster and it can help u a lot in ur research work, you can be in a coffee shop or at the school making your homework instead of being in the house sticked at the desktop one. but aah well that's my opinion

[rvovk 0]

Well in your situation I would decide for a laptop, since you are becoming big schoolar guy, you will be needing portable computer e.g. laptop for your presentations at school, or making some work on a field, taking pictures with digital camera and using USB for donwloading pictures to your laptop. Laptop will make you flexible in your school projects and studying overall.If you are thinking buying computer for gaming, then decision is clear, desktop.

[Goosestaf 0]

Yes, definetly get a laptop if your goign to be moving around differernt places alot needing to work. Also very useful if you have wireless connection to internet ports. But also with those there are HUGE security porblems. Because of a glitch in the code, a hacker using a lapto in the same area can make his laptop pose as the wireless connection hub, meaning with the right software he can see what your inputting, wither it be msn messenger text or the details of you online bank account and card number Also, in reply to above you would be surprised how easily laptops are knicked. A friend was sitting in UNI at a table, he ahd jsut brought out her laptop and palce dit on the table, he moved a couple meters to a book shelf, looked away from his laptop for a second, and it was gone.same with mobile phones. Mate was in spain, barcelona. 2 children came by, placed a news paper on edge of her table (over her phone), and when the children left, the phone was gone. Sounds really obvious, but i assure you that she said it happened so fast she didint even realise.

[Arbin Gurung 0]

Laptops. Occupies less space. much portable and can be taken anywhere.

[thebluekirby 0]

I say laptop!!!Pros for laptop:-You can carry it anywhere-Even if you don't like the touch mouse thingy they use, they have a mouse jack for all you ball mouse lovers XD-If you have DSL, you can go on the internet anywhere -You can show your friends cool stuff on the computer without inviting them to your house to see it on your desktopCons:-You don't get as much space as desktops-They can get lost, stole, or broken easily-If you don't have DSL, you can't go on the internet everywhere T__T-You have to recharge it every once in a whilethis is all I could think up of

[fsastraps 0]

I think it pretty much depends on what you need, if you are going to be moving the computer to place to place, then go for the laptop, but you have to take in mind that you have to charge it, and that becomes a big problem sometimes. If i was you i would go for a desktop, because you can store more things on it and it runs faster, but it is stationary. i would also go for the desktop because of the PDA, and i think those are pretty cool.

[eiteljoh 0]

it's been about 10 years ago since i was in college, but at the time, you wouldn't dare take a computer to class (in fact, not too many people actually had them). times have changed though, and i think it's likely becoming a lot more likely that more people are taking them to class...but, it doesn't matter. the good thing about not having one in my dorm room was that you get all the answers and talk to more people in the computer lab. guess i'd have been more of a hermit then if i had my own computer.

[Styx 0]

Update:

Having considering my options. I have settled on a laptop. I have now begun to look for one.

 

Any suggestions on where to get a cheap, reliable laptop? What specs should I go with?

 

I have about $1500 dollars to spend and it will be used on a wireless campus primarily for office apps, multimedia, and internet browsing.

Thanks for the help.

Here's some sites that generally have good prices:

http://www.dealtime.com/

http://www.pricewatch.com/

 

If you're interested in a refurbished computer, check these sites:

http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/ (mediocre service-good prices)

http://www.hugedomains.com/domain_profile.cfm?d=plasmakings&e=com (ok)

http://www.tigerdirect.com/ (good service-ok prices)

I bought a refurb a year ago and never had any problems with it. --it was $1200 cheaper than the same (new) model.

[Robic 0]

In this fast-changing technological world, sometimes you are faced with some difficult choices. For instance, your current computer has matured to the ripe old age of six months and has been deemed obsolete. Now it's time to purchase a new computer and the question is, "Should I buy a laptop or a desktop?" But just because laptops are the new craze, it does not mean that you should run right out and get one. There are benefits and drawbacks that must be weighed.Of course, the main benefit of a laptop is the portability. This can be a huge benefit, allowing you to take your computer to and from work, on planes, on camping trips, and practically anywhere else. Along with this benefit comes a large drawback. It is just as easy for someone else to walk off with it as it is for you. Laptops are stolen at an alarming rate, because they are just so easy to steal. And when that computer is stolen, not only do you lose the value of the computer, but also all of your valuable data.Another major drawback of a laptop is that their parts are "proprietary" which means that if your laptop breaks, only the company that made it will be able to fix it, and after the warranty expires they will be very happy to charge you an exorbitant price for that service. While with a desktop computers, you are able to take advantage of your local computer store which will often fix it at a much more reasonable rate.A third drawback to the laptop craze is that in general, laptops are far more expensive than desktop systems. For the price of an average laptop, you could purchase a much more powerful desktop. Of course, what you are paying for is the portability of a smaller design, but is that worth it? While it can be very fun to take your computer with you on a camping trip, how often do you need to type something up while fishing?Now, the laptop is a very important part of the computer market, and I am not trying to dissuade people from buying them if they have need for them, but I have just seen far too many people dissatisfied with their laptops and wishing that they had purchased a desktop.One main example of this group of people is college students. Often first year students purchase laptops because they plan on taking their computers to class with them and being able to do their homework anywhere on campus. The stark reality of it is that laptops get stolen far too often at college, even right out of the dorm rooms, because they?re just so portable. To add to this, I do not know a single student who uses their laptop in classes. While a noble ambition, no one actually carries through with this plan.Laptops should be viewed as a purchase that should only be made when necessary. You would not purchase a car with 4-wheel drive (no matter how fun it looked) unless you actually had use of that feature, because otherwise it wouldn?t justify the added cost. The same is true of laptops.