Laptops: Power or Portabililty?

[dreaded_beast]

This is just a general question for the masses.

First, let me describe a hypothetical situation. (Well not so hypothetical if you've read my powerbook thread, LOL)

You already have a fairly decent desktop computer, which you use for applications that require lots of resources, such as video games

Anyways, you want to invest in a laptop. You don't plan on having your laptop replace your desktop, your main concern is the convenience of having a portable computer.

You have the funds to get either of these 2 laptops:

1. A fairly powerful laptop that is almost as strong as your desktop, but a little bit larger than what you were thinking about getting.

2. A small and compact laptop that is very portable and the size you want, but is less powerful than the slightly larger laptop.

What do you do?

For those of you that have read the powerbook thread, I actually get paid this weekend and will be placing my order next week Monday.

 

[Bobitron]

I would go with portability and size over power. I use my RPG gaming laptop for Word, Acrobat, and Paint more than anything else. No problem running 4-5 windows of those programs on an old 500mhz, so I'm sure you will be fine with a new one.

 

[reveal]

Portability and power it is. Long battery life and the ability to have multiple windows open without having to worry about things crashing left and right. Mainly I use my laptop for RPG progs at the table, for surfing the internet and for watching DVDs when I'm on the road. Games are still played on my tricked out Desktop.

 

[IronWolf]

Long battery life is high on my list for portable machines. My wife has a 12" iBook and it is pretty nice for trips when we only take one laptop. But as I spend a fair amount of time on the laptop at home in the evenings a 15" Powerbook is awful tempting (plus the backlit keyboard would be great!)

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Having bought the power laptop, I've learned a valuable lesson. ALWAYS go for portability if you have a decent desktop. It just sucks having to pack around this 10-ton monstrosity.

 

[Ranes]

If you have the desktop, go for portability. I bought a laptop last year which really doesn't merit the term 'laptop' as a description. It's huge, has negligible battery life, doubles as a space heater and sounds like a taxiing 747. But I don't regret it, because I bought it as a portable desktop, a replacement for my old machine. It allows me to work anywhere, which is handy when I sometimes have to work away from home for weeks at a time. At the same time, it plays state-of-the-art computer games as well as or better than any of my colleagues' desktop machines (and I have the last laugh when we get together for a LAN party).

But were I not so itinerant, I would have a powerful desktop PC and the slimmest, lightest sub-notebook I could buy.

Last time I took this beast to Europe with me, I was questioned by security.

"What have you got in the [bursting, 35 litre capacity] backpack?"

"My laptop."

"Laptops aren't that big. Open it up, please."

Cue look of sheer incredulity on the security guard's face.

 

[Chacal]

Last time I took this beast to Europe with me, I was questioned by security.

"What have you got in the [bursting, 35 litre capacity] backpack?"

"My laptop."

"Laptops aren't that big. Open it up, please."

Cue look of sheer incredulity on the security guard's face.

Funny.
The last time I travelled to the USA I had to open my laptop's bag too. I even had to boot it.
Maybe they believed that It was just a big empty shell for passing biological weapons (see various french cheese).


Chacal

 

[dreaded_beast]

But were I not so itinerant, I would have a powerful desktop PC and the slimmest, lightest sub-notebook I could buy.

Yeah, that's kinda what I would like to do.

My girlfriend is planning to buy the Powermac G5, so I figure I could use that at home, and the 12" while out of the house.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Depends on the what you need the laptop for. For me, screen size is important and weight isn't. I can't tell the difference between the 4lbs travel weight of the ultralights and the 7lb travel weight of my Thinkpad once it's in the backpack with the toolkit and the other crap I haul around for work.

I had an annoying user who kept whining that she needed a new ultralight laptop because she had a bad back. So finally my boss gives in and orders the one she wanted. I put it and all it's extra doo-dads that it she to have (external DVD/CDR drive, port replicator, etc) into the same style bag as our standard 'kit'. Weight differential between what she had to carry around? Less than 5 ounces. So don't forget to factor all the stuff you'll be carrying into the real travel weight.