Hi,
Many thanks everyone for such a great response.
Thanks Joe for your input; you could always go mad and buy a new computer but I know what you mean and can understand your views in keeping costs down but still having a usable system whether desktop or laptop. I haven't yet reached the point of using my computer in bed although if I didn't sleep I could get on with more projects.
Many thanks Paula for the detailed and informative information. I've had no problems at all in using XP Home edition but I'm concerned that this will be phased out shortly causing Internet security problems if updates are no longer available? My last computer upgrade cost around £400 and was done by a very good local computer store. After paying this amount I did wonder if I had been sensible because I could have bought a completely new computer bundle with flat screen monitor for a little more outlay. I could build my own PC though as I've fitted a new mother board and chip previously and hard drives etc which are easy enough to install. It takes me about four hours to completely wipe my computer and then get it fully operational again; much of this time is spent with upgrades downloading (Service pack 3 etc).
I'm interested Paula in your comments regarding downgrading from Vista/7 to XP; I was considering upgrading to a more modern OS but now think perhaps I'll be better sticking with XP especially as I know it so well. A few years ago my brother bought a new computer and I set it up for him; I think it was Vista and the initial set up was very quick being automatic but I was alarmed by the fact that to back up Vista needed something like twelve CD's which took forever to sort out; put one CD in copy put another CD in copy; it gets boring by the time the last CD has gone in and I'm much older. I found it highly frustrating and I thought surely something better could be sorted out after all I paid around £75 for my XP and it came on a single disc.
My Compaq Presario was top of the range about 15 years ago costing £1,000 and had a massive 8 gig hard drive? My last upgrade was to 80gig and I've just checked to find my usage at the moment to be 27.4 gig. I download lots of music videos and movies but immediately convert them to DVD then delete from the computer so the hard drive is always kept less than half full. Photo editing is done using Gimp 2 which is a free download and I find incredibly easy to play around with.
Thanks Al, I already suffer many keyboard problems using my desktop so given the number of negative comments regarding a laptop keyboard then I think this one item alone is enough to convince me to stay with a desktop. At first I thought the problem to be the keyboard but after trying three new keyboards including a wireless one I now think the problem to be a software one; I'm using Office Pro 2003 and to be honest I reach the point where I could destroy the keyboard and computer as it drives me barking mad. I'm no whiz kid on computers and type with a laser finger; using one finger I can outrun the speed of the computer; it mistypes capitals; completely misses double letters and gets fed up taking its bat and ball home; I look at the keyboard whilst typing and the number of times I'm typing away without anything appearing on the monitor beggars belief. I have to constantly keep correcting spelling mistakes and some of the grammar suggestions are plainly downright stupid. This problem is compounded by the fact that most of my computer time is spent on typing text.
My chum Tony very kindly suggested I try out "Open Office" and my initial response whilst using it was very favourable but I need to get out of the habit of using Office Pro which loads automatically. This reminds me as I could actually delete Office Pro then use Open Office as default? Thanks Tony; I still intend to convert then I can compare both.
Many thanks David for your valued information. Portability isn't an issue with me because to put it plainly I seldom travel any distance from home and apart from enforced hospital overnight stays I've not spent a night away from home for the last 35 years. Bron and I have not had a holiday away from home for 35 years and don't feel the need for holidays as such.
£300 for repairs to a laptop David would have me on life support; I'm pleased you managed to get yours sorted free of charge. Space isn't an issue either; as you know David we have plenty of unused space around the bungalow and recently I've been trying to arrange things better. To this end I've just decorated the kitchen and hall. The kitchen is the kitchen but the hall has doubled up as my office for a number of years; during winter it is always warm in the hall as the free running central heating radiator is installed so I may as well use the heat that is already paid for. I think you sum up the initial question Desktop V Laptop very well David by suggesting that a laptop be regarded as an addition to a desktop and not a complete replacement.
Many thanks Tony; yet another condemnation of a laptop keyboard. I hope to follow your lead and obtain a 21" flat screen monitor in fact I feel this is a must given my huge old Compaq monitor which dominates the desk. I also agree that having a new computer built isn't any cheaper than buying off the shelf; once all the bits are added up together with the labour charge then its possible having a computer built can work out more expensive; my XP alone cost £75 which is quite a large sum to buy separately. I too like watching "You tube" videos so perhaps a faster system would aid download speeds; I suffer from "Buffering" at times making some videos un-watchable.
Thanks Lawrence; many modern items are disposable once they break and how sad it is that something as complicated as a laptop has such a short life span before ending up dumped; it's quite frightening.
Many thanks John; the desktop has come out of this supreme.
Everyone's input has been of great assistance to me and is much appreciated. I'll now stick with a desktop for a number of reasons. The majority of you condemn the laptop keyboard and this alone would put me off owning a laptop as my every day computer as I use my keyboard a great deal. The upgrading isn't such a big issue with me but is a very valid point extending to maintenance and repair which has also been brought up. It's a horror story to me when David mentions £300 repairs to a laptop. Assuming this repair to be carried out; how long until the next £300 repair because laptops are not easily repairable at home. It sounds very much like a laptop can be compared to a modern car; fine whilst working and under warranty but once the warranty expires you need deep pockets for future repairs.
The size of a laptop screen is also an issue with me because I like to "doodle" using drawing programs and the bigger the screen the better.
A couple of things not mentioned regarding laptops; do they have speakers and how are they powered?
I have a good reason for asking for comparison between both systems because I'm just about to start another project and the decision of whether to go desktop or laptop influences the project a great deal. The project is to design and build my own computer desk. This might sound an easy project; a couple of planks and a few big nails and job done? Chums have also kindly suggested buying a ready made desk or even a flat pack from Ikea. All suggestions have a great deal of merit and I've done a lot of web surfing; everything I've seen has been excellent value in fact I don't know how these companies can produce such items at very low prices; it would cost more to buy the materials than these desks are sold for. The long and short of it I have another saga coming on and there is no gain without pain. I want my new desk to be different and only my imagination governs what I can end up with. I'll add another thread very shortly as I intend to build the new desk in front of the world as work in progress; good or bad I'll give it my best shot but above all I think I'll gain a great deal more personal satisfaction from making my own desk than simply buying one. Now I'm in for it!!
Kind regards, Col.
Many thanks everyone for such a great response.
Thanks Joe for your input; you could always go mad and buy a new computer but I know what you mean and can understand your views in keeping costs down but still having a usable system whether desktop or laptop. I haven't yet reached the point of using my computer in bed although if I didn't sleep I could get on with more projects.
Many thanks Paula for the detailed and informative information. I've had no problems at all in using XP Home edition but I'm concerned that this will be phased out shortly causing Internet security problems if updates are no longer available? My last computer upgrade cost around £400 and was done by a very good local computer store. After paying this amount I did wonder if I had been sensible because I could have bought a completely new computer bundle with flat screen monitor for a little more outlay. I could build my own PC though as I've fitted a new mother board and chip previously and hard drives etc which are easy enough to install. It takes me about four hours to completely wipe my computer and then get it fully operational again; much of this time is spent with upgrades downloading (Service pack 3 etc).
I'm interested Paula in your comments regarding downgrading from Vista/7 to XP; I was considering upgrading to a more modern OS but now think perhaps I'll be better sticking with XP especially as I know it so well. A few years ago my brother bought a new computer and I set it up for him; I think it was Vista and the initial set up was very quick being automatic but I was alarmed by the fact that to back up Vista needed something like twelve CD's which took forever to sort out; put one CD in copy put another CD in copy; it gets boring by the time the last CD has gone in and I'm much older. I found it highly frustrating and I thought surely something better could be sorted out after all I paid around £75 for my XP and it came on a single disc.
My Compaq Presario was top of the range about 15 years ago costing £1,000 and had a massive 8 gig hard drive? My last upgrade was to 80gig and I've just checked to find my usage at the moment to be 27.4 gig. I download lots of music videos and movies but immediately convert them to DVD then delete from the computer so the hard drive is always kept less than half full. Photo editing is done using Gimp 2 which is a free download and I find incredibly easy to play around with.
Thanks Al, I already suffer many keyboard problems using my desktop so given the number of negative comments regarding a laptop keyboard then I think this one item alone is enough to convince me to stay with a desktop. At first I thought the problem to be the keyboard but after trying three new keyboards including a wireless one I now think the problem to be a software one; I'm using Office Pro 2003 and to be honest I reach the point where I could destroy the keyboard and computer as it drives me barking mad. I'm no whiz kid on computers and type with a laser finger; using one finger I can outrun the speed of the computer; it mistypes capitals; completely misses double letters and gets fed up taking its bat and ball home; I look at the keyboard whilst typing and the number of times I'm typing away without anything appearing on the monitor beggars belief. I have to constantly keep correcting spelling mistakes and some of the grammar suggestions are plainly downright stupid. This problem is compounded by the fact that most of my computer time is spent on typing text.
My chum Tony very kindly suggested I try out "Open Office" and my initial response whilst using it was very favourable but I need to get out of the habit of using Office Pro which loads automatically. This reminds me as I could actually delete Office Pro then use Open Office as default? Thanks Tony; I still intend to convert then I can compare both.
Many thanks David for your valued information. Portability isn't an issue with me because to put it plainly I seldom travel any distance from home and apart from enforced hospital overnight stays I've not spent a night away from home for the last 35 years. Bron and I have not had a holiday away from home for 35 years and don't feel the need for holidays as such.
£300 for repairs to a laptop David would have me on life support; I'm pleased you managed to get yours sorted free of charge. Space isn't an issue either; as you know David we have plenty of unused space around the bungalow and recently I've been trying to arrange things better. To this end I've just decorated the kitchen and hall. The kitchen is the kitchen but the hall has doubled up as my office for a number of years; during winter it is always warm in the hall as the free running central heating radiator is installed so I may as well use the heat that is already paid for. I think you sum up the initial question Desktop V Laptop very well David by suggesting that a laptop be regarded as an addition to a desktop and not a complete replacement.
Many thanks Tony; yet another condemnation of a laptop keyboard. I hope to follow your lead and obtain a 21" flat screen monitor in fact I feel this is a must given my huge old Compaq monitor which dominates the desk. I also agree that having a new computer built isn't any cheaper than buying off the shelf; once all the bits are added up together with the labour charge then its possible having a computer built can work out more expensive; my XP alone cost £75 which is quite a large sum to buy separately. I too like watching "You tube" videos so perhaps a faster system would aid download speeds; I suffer from "Buffering" at times making some videos un-watchable.
Thanks Lawrence; many modern items are disposable once they break and how sad it is that something as complicated as a laptop has such a short life span before ending up dumped; it's quite frightening.
Many thanks John; the desktop has come out of this supreme.
Everyone's input has been of great assistance to me and is much appreciated. I'll now stick with a desktop for a number of reasons. The majority of you condemn the laptop keyboard and this alone would put me off owning a laptop as my every day computer as I use my keyboard a great deal. The upgrading isn't such a big issue with me but is a very valid point extending to maintenance and repair which has also been brought up. It's a horror story to me when David mentions £300 repairs to a laptop. Assuming this repair to be carried out; how long until the next £300 repair because laptops are not easily repairable at home. It sounds very much like a laptop can be compared to a modern car; fine whilst working and under warranty but once the warranty expires you need deep pockets for future repairs.
The size of a laptop screen is also an issue with me because I like to "doodle" using drawing programs and the bigger the screen the better.
A couple of things not mentioned regarding laptops; do they have speakers and how are they powered?
I have a good reason for asking for comparison between both systems because I'm just about to start another project and the decision of whether to go desktop or laptop influences the project a great deal. The project is to design and build my own computer desk. This might sound an easy project; a couple of planks and a few big nails and job done? Chums have also kindly suggested buying a ready made desk or even a flat pack from Ikea. All suggestions have a great deal of merit and I've done a lot of web surfing; everything I've seen has been excellent value in fact I don't know how these companies can produce such items at very low prices; it would cost more to buy the materials than these desks are sold for. The long and short of it I have another saga coming on and there is no gain without pain. I want my new desk to be different and only my imagination governs what I can end up with. I'll add another thread very shortly as I intend to build the new desk in front of the world as work in progress; good or bad I'll give it my best shot but above all I think I'll gain a great deal more personal satisfaction from making my own desk than simply buying one. Now I'm in for it!!
Kind regards, Col.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
