[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Notebook PCs Outsell Desktops, First Time Ever here

[JimH443]

I can understand that there is a necessity for portable computers. What stuns me is the fact that I've known people who have no intention of ever moving theirs choose notebooks over desktops - even though where they (permanently) put their notebook has plenty of space for a desktop.
You pay more, you get less, there are far fewer post-purchase hardware upgrade options and the ones that do exist are more expensive and/or a pain to install.
I just don't get it.

[JaywalkerExtraordinaire]

I've seen this, also. A couple reasons are people who plan to utilize the space in other ways before the computer is replaced, such as a couple planning to have a kid and re-tasking the home office as a bedroom.

Another common reason is energy efficiency. Laptops tend to be much more energy efficient than desktops.

[JimH443]

I live alone, and my electric bill is fairly constant (comparing one month to the same month in previous years). Before I got broadband, I'd turn my computer on only when I needed it, and I'd turn it off when I was done. Typical usage at home was maybe a couple hours a day. Now I leave the computer (and monitor) on 24/7. My electric bill skyrocketed by the unprecedented amount of nearly $5 a month. Yes, you heard me right, almost five whole dollars. :8}



Maybe it's just because it's "in" to have a laptop now.

[JaywalkerExtraordinaire]

{quote}Typical usage at home was maybe a couple hours a day. Now I leave the computer (and monitor) on 24/7. My electric bill skyrocketed by the unprecedented amount of nearly $5 a month. Yes, you heard me right, almost five whole dollars.{quote}

Lot's of things affect the amount of power a computer uses, such as CPU type (i.e. mobile or desktop), CPU architecture (e.g. Core 2 offers a much better performance per watt ratio than does a Pentium), number of processors (a multiple core processor is more efficient than multiple processors), type of graphics processor (integrated graphics is typically more energy efficient than discrete graphics), display type (LCD is typically more energy efficient than CRT), amount of usage (e.g. I use my computer 12-16 hours per day in a typical day, often leaving the computer to do processor intensive work even when I'm not on it), type of use (e.g. rendering video or using PhotoShop uses more energy than checking email and surfing the web), etc.

Personally, I would see noticeable increases in power costs if I switched from a laptop to a desktop, or, more accurately, used one of my desktops to do everything I do on my laptop. For some people, the difference would be minimal. Of course, some people prefer to minimize their energy use simply because they feel it's the right thing to do, even if the cost benefit is not there for every single appliance. There's nothing wrong with that, either.

[JimH443]

Single core (of course) Celeron, NVIDEA 8500 GT video, CRT monitor (I won't get anything else until they're no longer available), so from the hardware perspective there isn't much efficiency. Oh, I also have two (physical) hard drives installed - which are always spinning. All running 24/7.



Now I'll admit that I don't do many computationally intensive things, other than MMORPG's. I doubt my electicity consumption would more than double if I did.

[taustin1382]

me and the wife have recently went mobile only due to a little fella joining the family and I can attest to the cost savings. we used to have 2 desktops sitting around running all the time. we now have 2 laptops that we turn on and off as needed. I have seen my bills about 20 bucks lower permonth but I cannot attest that this is only due to the laptops. they have to be in there somewhere though. we also tend to use them on batt power and then plug them in as needed. we also like that we are not tied to a desk. even just answering emails from the couch is very nice compared to having to be in a cramped office.

I think people have realized that they are replacing their pc's every few years anyway (due to os requirements lately). I know the last people I spoke to about laptop vs desktop I have advised to get a laptop if they were not doing any gaming. even the lowend laptops are plenty fast for home users and you can still upgrade ram and your hdd.

if your not doing gaming and dont mind the screen size its all the same in my opinion.