Laptop as a main computer?

[gear02]

I've been building my computers for a while now but lately I've gotten tired of it. Namely they seem to be a little louder or a little buggier than most (right now my desktop's ethernet card stopped working just now and don't know why). I completely attribute it to not so great system building on my part but I just don't want to deal with the parts anymore.

I'm thinking of getting a laptop to replace it. I play games so I need a graphics card but also I leave it up and running a lot overnight (my desktop is always on). Is that a good idea to do with a laptop? Does anyone do that right now?

[Thesifer]

There are "Desktop replacement" laptops. I personally use mine as a secondary computer, but I know people that leave theirs up and running all the time. It doesn't seem to be much of a problem for them.

[Jeffbx]

My laptop never turns off during the week.

Prices are actually VERY close now for even a nice gaming laptop vs. a gaming desktop with an LCD. I still prefer a desktop as my primary home machine just because it's easier to upgrade (I can throw a new processor or better video card in there), but my everyday work machine has been a laptop for about the past 6 years and the performance is every bit as good as a desktop.

[mojo]

my main box is my laptop. i leave it up overnight.

[mcs328]

I made the switch earlier this year. I turn my laptop off every night. Don't use Vista.

[DarkFury]

I've been building my computers for a while now but lately I've gotten tired of it. Namely they seem to be a little louder or a little buggier than most (right now my desktop's ethernet card stopped working just now and don't know why). I completely attribute it to not so great system building on my part but I just don't want to deal with the parts anymore.

I'm thinking of getting a laptop to replace it. I play games so I need a graphics card but also I leave it up and running a lot overnight (my desktop is always on). Is that a good idea to do with a laptop? Does anyone do that right now?
Honestly, for home use I still prefer a desktop over a laptop simply for the fact that most laptops are basically "appliances" with limited upgrade potential.

Unless you only do the most basic of upgrades, like a new hard drive or ethernet cards, a laptop generally isn't quite as friendly. Need a new video card in a laptop? I don't think so.. Want to upgrade the screen... nah, not gonna happen (at least not at an "affordable" cost.)

Either way, if you are determined to go laptop only, I'd highly recommend getting a home docking station. That way you can pretty much set up everything like a desktop and just plug it in and go. Then when you need to be mobile, you just snatch it out and you're on your way.

Good luck with your decision... :D

[ray]

I use my desktop for gaming and media library. I use my laptop for everything else.

[gear02]

Thanks guys!

One of the issues I just realized is that I have a dual screen setup and some of the cheaper gaming laptops - heck most laptops - don't have two video outs (some have HDMI, but my monitors don't support that).

I rebooted by desktop today (left it to sleep overnight) and it looks like it's better. I still get like 4-5 services crashing on startup, but I'll leave it be. But my 7800GT's fan is loud as hell :(

[Cubsfan]

Macbook Pro is my main computer these days. I do have a desktop, but these days it's mainly relegated to server duties or long running tasks (serving my music/movies/photos, encoding a video, etc...)

Most of my gaming anymore is on my xbox, so I'm not too worried about that (although I do plan to pick up Spore and SC2 if my laptop can handle it)

[Airencracken]

I like having both. Do all my stuff the requires heavy lifting on the desktop (e.g. Photoshop) and surfing on the Lappy when I don't feel like turning on the desktop.

[jstreet]

I just don't trust them for my data. The laptop I'm forced to have (school requires them) gets synced to my desktop and work server daily or more often. I've seen too many people have failures at critical moments.

**pets his 8-year old desktop with a nice RAID array**, still putting along.

[Devhux]

Several years ago I bought a Dell Inspiron XPS Gen. 2 laptop to replace an older desktop I had. At the time I thought it would be to use the laptop as my only computer, but I soon found its limitations were just too much. It was too big to carry around everywhere, yet it had limited upgradeability. In the end, I ended up selling it.

Now I have a high-end desktop for gaming/media server duties, and an EeePC for on the go (soon to be upgraded to a 901-series). I find this setup works great (especially with Remote Desktop on the Eee).

[Paymaster]

One of the issues I just realized is that I have a dual screen setup and some of the cheaper gaming laptops - heck most laptops - don't have two video outs (some have HDMI, but my monitors don't support that).

Look at the docking stations... most of them will give you access to additional video-out ports.

My last two IBMs and my current HP have this. Laptop has one video out, docking station has two. I use two external monitors through the dock.

[gear02]

Look at the docking stations... most of them will give you access to additional video-out ports.

My last two IBMs and my current HP have this. Laptop has one video out, docking station has two. I use two external monitors through the dock.

Already did - but the laptops I was looking at (Dell's M1330 and M1530) don't have docking stations as of yet.