PC vs Laptop

SPARTISH · 10-16-2009, 10:51 PM

ok im a student at uni and need a comp with fast download speed (to download electronic books of course and maybe regnum =P) good memory, good internet speed, fast and basically a computer that will last and not crash on my arse everytime i forget to save my work.

so what u think is better for me a PC or a laptop

also wherever i go everyone has vista and im not a fan of it (maybe it jus takes some getting usedto for me) what is a good reliable easy to use program thing for a comp... or any recomended computer to buy from another student or recent student?

(by the way i know nothing about computers

)

much apreciated =D

ArcticWolf · 10-16-2009, 11:27 PM

Will you be constantly on the move? Do you mind the size of the screen? Do you have free labs in your university?

I'm in love with laptops, I just can't live without them because of the freedom they give you. Desktops are nice for working on long projects when you have a nice workplace and you don't have to be on the move.

Znurre · 10-16-2009, 11:50 PM

I've got a gaming laptop, and I am really happy with it for now.
If you are ready to pay an additional ~400 euro for a laptop compared to the same components fitting inside a standard case, go for it.

I never regret my choice of buying a laptop and I will never consider buying another stationary computer, ever.

As for the OS, I am running ArchLinux on mine and everything worked out of the box except for the NVidia drivers...

SPARTISH · 10-16-2009, 11:56 PM

Hi Znurre and ArticWOlf

well ive been in uni for 3 weeks (2 days a week) and already have been given 4 assignments, i bought a 8gig USB so i can take my work werever i go without the computer...but i thaught get a desk with a laptop for the workspace and i would be able to work wherever i go or in one place, but unfortunately ive herd laptop battery time is really bad and i dont really want it switching off while im working and dont wanna be sat near every plug socket in the house

.

would be nice to have a desktop computer in one place where i go to work but i will have to stay there and might get bored... also i herd that desktop PC's are ment to be faster and also the keyboard is much easier to use since ive been typing on a proper keyboard for like ever...

well the screen size dont really matter unless i decide to play regnum it would have to be around 17+ so i can see around (plus im used to playing it on a 20 odd inch screen so easier to relate to). as long as i can confortably place my hands on the keyboard and reach all the keys without moving anything apart from my hands (without being squashed like the small notepads) il be allright =D.

o yea which would be best quality for the price.

will that archlinux run stuff like Microsofte Paint (big fan of experementing on paint due to bordness) and microsoft word?

THANKS FOR THE REPLYS

P.S ur not Dky are u....i get easily confused and ur sig either means that Dky is ur right hand man or you started playing on a knight?

Myxir · 10-17-2009, 06:43 AM

If you want to pay the same price for a laptop and a desktop pc, desktops are usually faster.
The keyboard thing is just a thing you have to get used to. After a few weeks/days you propably won't notice it.
Laptops with a 17" screen are usually very expensive.

About archlinux...
It would imo not be the best choice to start with archlinux if you want to use linux.
For the paint and word stuff there are native linux applications like gpaint and openoffice.

But depending on your money you might get a fast pc for gaming stuff and so on and a low price laptop. But question is how good the quality of the laptop is in that case

UmarilsStillHere · 10-17-2009, 10:47 AM

I find PC's tend to be more powerfull than the laptop of the same price, so unless you plan to be on the move alot, stick with a Pc

-Edge- · 10-17-2009, 11:17 AM

I use a laptop now, its much easier for when you're on the move, have projects at school, and if you feel like laying down on your bed and playing instead of in a sweaty chair in front of your desk all day

The current laptop I use was much better then my old desktop anyway, 17" screen, very decent specs for a very affordable price and manufacturer. You just need to look at deals on laptops, and usually you will always find a great one.

The only problems you might encounter are overheating, even for a gaming laptop. It's nothing to serious if you manage your cooling system well.

Ulmanyar · 10-17-2009, 11:27 AM

Just keep in mind that if you choose a gaming laptop they are usually either more "bulky" or have higher tendencies of overheating than "normal" laptops. That is: in order to have a decent gaming laptop you have to sacrifice some portability (17" and 3.2kg is not really that nice to carry around).

SPARTISH · 10-17-2009, 04:04 PM

hi ulmanyar, edge, umaril and myxir

thanks for the help, i guess judging by this forum im currently leaning towards a desktop pc...

ive herd that windows vista is better than linux for writing on word and searching the web...is this true?
or will i be able to do the exact same things i can do on vista on linux coz i herd linux is better gameplay speed and affects =o

out of windows xp, vista and other linux things which would be the best for speed, regnum gameplay, internet research and downloading?

thanks

Znurre · 10-17-2009, 04:30 PM

Linux is something totally different than Windows.
It's a kernel in an operating system, usually composed by several applications and formed into a Linux distrubution.

Since Linux really has nothing in common with the Windows kernel, you cannot natively run Windows applications on Linux and vice versa.
That said, you can still run most Windows applications ontop of a Linux kernel thanks to an emulation layer called "wine".

Linux is usually said to have better performance then Windows, thanks to superior memory management and the way the kernel is built.
You also are not affected by Windows virusesed on Linux, since Windows applications cannot be run natively which means you don't need any antivirus software.

Linux is also opensource, which means anyone can contribute to it - making it grow faster than any other OS out there, with constant security fixes and improvements.

A Linux distro is usually tricker to get started with than Windows - simply because it is not Windows.
It might not be more complicated in reallity, but if you expect it to be like Windows you will have a hard time.

If you decide to go with Linux on your laptop, there are also past 500 different Linux distros to choose from.
You can find more information on www.distrowatch.com.

PS. Concerning my signature, it's an IRC quote made by Dky

View Poll Results: PC or Laptop
PC ALL THE WAY!!!	24	64.86%
LAPTOP FOR THE WORLD!!!	13	35.14%
Voters: 37. You may not vote on this poll

10-16-2009, 10:51 PM	#1
SPARTISH Initiate Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The United kingdom Posts: 191	PC vs Laptop ok im a student at uni and need a comp with fast download speed (to download electronic books of course and maybe regnum =P) good memory, good internet speed, fast and basically a computer that will last and not crash on my arse everytime i forget to save my work. so what u think is better for me a PC or a laptop also wherever i go everyone has vista and im not a fan of it (maybe it jus takes some getting usedto for me) what is a good reliable easy to use program thing for a comp... or any recomended computer to buy from another student or recent student? (by the way i know nothing about computers ) much apreciated =D __________________ It's all about the money, because money makes the world go round, and round the bend, who knows when all this crazy sh*t will end.

10-16-2009, 11:27 PM	#2
ArcticWolf Duke Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: 0x00CAFE Posts: 3,366	Will you be constantly on the move? Do you mind the size of the screen? Do you have free labs in your university? I'm in love with laptops, I just can't live without them because of the freedom they give you. Desktops are nice for working on long projects when you have a nice workplace and you don't have to be on the move. __________________ I don't have a solution, but I admire the problem.

10-16-2009, 11:50 PM	#3
Znurre Marquis Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: RA Posts: 1,897	I've got a gaming laptop, and I am really happy with it for now. If you are ready to pay an additional ~400 euro for a laptop compared to the same components fitting inside a standard case, go for it. I never regret my choice of buying a laptop and I will never consider buying another stationary computer, ever. As for the OS, I am running ArchLinux on mine and everything worked out of the box except for the NVidia drivers... __________________ Winning a fight is not what makes you a good player, it's how you do it. http://home.znur.re/screenshot%20201...2011_39_37.jpg

10-16-2009, 11:56 PM	#4
SPARTISH Initiate Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The United kingdom Posts: 191	Hi Znurre and ArticWOlf well ive been in uni for 3 weeks (2 days a week) and already have been given 4 assignments, i bought a 8gig USB so i can take my work werever i go without the computer...but i thaught get a desk with a laptop for the workspace and i would be able to work wherever i go or in one place, but unfortunately ive herd laptop battery time is really bad and i dont really want it switching off while im working and dont wanna be sat near every plug socket in the house . would be nice to have a desktop computer in one place where i go to work but i will have to stay there and might get bored... also i herd that desktop PC's are ment to be faster and also the keyboard is much easier to use since ive been typing on a proper keyboard for like ever... well the screen size dont really matter unless i decide to play regnum it would have to be around 17+ so i can see around (plus im used to playing it on a 20 odd inch screen so easier to relate to). as long as i can confortably place my hands on the keyboard and reach all the keys without moving anything apart from my hands (without being squashed like the small notepads) il be allright =D. o yea which would be best quality for the price. will that archlinux run stuff like Microsofte Paint (big fan of experementing on paint due to bordness) and microsoft word? THANKS FOR THE REPLYS P.S ur not Dky are u....i get easily confused and ur sig either means that Dky is ur right hand man or you started playing on a knight? __________________ It's all about the money, because money makes the world go round, and round the bend, who knows when all this crazy sht will end. Last edited by SPARTISH; 10-17-2009 at 12:09 AM.*

10-17-2009, 06:43 AM	#5
Myxir Count Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 1,164	If you want to pay the same price for a laptop and a desktop pc, desktops are usually faster. The keyboard thing is just a thing you have to get used to. After a few weeks/days you propably won't notice it. Laptops with a 17" screen are usually very expensive. About archlinux... It would imo not be the best choice to start with archlinux if you want to use linux. For the paint and word stuff there are native linux applications like gpaint and openoffice. But depending on your money you might get a fast pc for gaming stuff and so on and a low price laptop. But question is how good the quality of the laptop is in that case __________________ French Warriors of Syrtis: Nessa Telrunya (Hunter) - Myxir (Warlock) - Estra (Conjurer) In War it does not matter who is right, but who is left.

10-17-2009, 10:47 AM	#6
UmarilsStillHere Marquis Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: England Posts: 2,419	I find PC's tend to be more powerfull than the laptop of the same price, so unless you plan to be on the move alot, stick with a Pc __________________ Faith 50 Barb Faithless 50 Lock Umaril 45 Conju Kailas 45 Marks Pel 45 Knight I N Q U I S I T I O N

10-17-2009, 11:17 AM	#7
-Edge- Banned Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Łódż, Poland Posts: 1,506	I use a laptop now, its much easier for when you're on the move, have projects at school, and if you feel like laying down on your bed and playing instead of in a sweaty chair in front of your desk all day The current laptop I use was much better then my old desktop anyway, 17" screen, very decent specs for a very affordable price and manufacturer. You just need to look at deals on laptops, and usually you will always find a great one. The only problems you might encounter are overheating, even for a gaming laptop. It's nothing to serious if you manage your cooling system well.

10-17-2009, 11:27 AM	#8
Ulmanyar Initiate Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 231	Just keep in mind that if you choose a gaming laptop they are usually either more "bulky" or have higher tendencies of overheating than "normal" laptops. That is: in order to have a decent gaming laptop you have to sacrifice some portability (17" and 3.2kg is not really that nice to carry around). __________________ Ulmanyar Flame of Valhalla Alsius - a few, but we got goats! BAAAAH!

10-17-2009, 04:04 PM	#9
SPARTISH Initiate Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The United kingdom Posts: 191	hi ulmanyar, edge, umaril and myxir thanks for the help, i guess judging by this forum im currently leaning towards a desktop pc... ive herd that windows vista is better than linux for writing on word and searching the web...is this true? or will i be able to do the exact same things i can do on vista on linux coz i herd linux is better gameplay speed and affects =o out of windows xp, vista and other linux things which would be the best for speed, regnum gameplay, internet research and downloading? thanks __________________ It's all about the money, because money makes the world go round, and round the bend, who knows when all this crazy sht will end. Last edited by SPARTISH; 10-17-2009 at 04:30 PM.*

10-17-2009, 04:30 PM	#10
Znurre Marquis Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: RA Posts: 1,897	Linux is something totally different than Windows. It's a kernel in an operating system, usually composed by several applications and formed into a Linux distrubution. Since Linux really has nothing in common with the Windows kernel, you cannot natively run Windows applications on Linux and vice versa. That said, you can still run most Windows applications ontop of a Linux kernel thanks to an emulation layer called "wine". Linux is usually said to have better performance then Windows, thanks to superior memory management and the way the kernel is built. You also are not affected by Windows virusesed on Linux, since Windows applications cannot be run natively which means you don't need any antivirus software. Linux is also opensource, which means anyone can contribute to it - making it grow faster than any other OS out there, with constant security fixes and improvements. A Linux distro is usually tricker to get started with than Windows - simply because it is not Windows. It might not be more complicated in reallity, but if you expect it to be like Windows you will have a hard time. If you decide to go with Linux on your laptop, there are also past 500 different Linux distros to choose from. You can find more information on www.distrowatch.com. PS. Concerning my signature, it's an IRC quote made by Dky __________________ Winning a fight is not what makes you a good player, it's how you do it. http://home.znur.re/screenshot%20201...2011_39_37.jpg