bye bye to PC for ever?

[SEOcourse]

I work from home... and I have this naive dream of one day, burning the 2 PC's ... no more big screens and being able to work 100% from my laptop.

anyone here using only laptop?

does the price/investment of the laptop really makes a difference in relation to your productivity?

[temp]

seriously guy

[Mr C]

I hate working on the laptop. Give me as many screens as I can handle. Depends on the sort of work you do I guess. I need IDE windows, browser windows , console log windows, and like to be able to see most of them all at once. 2 screen minimum for me.

I supposed a laptop and an extra screen would do it, but then you may as well use a desktop.

[adrianlynch]

People still use desktops? :-p

A

[kay]

I have a laptop and a desktop. (and a netbook). I tried using a desktop replacement laptop but it was a pain in the arse, I don't want to re-arrange my desk all the time, it's my command centre.

Plus the laptop didn't support four screens which is the absolute minimum for me. I can't understand why anyone would want to crunk their neck down and peer at a 15" laptop screen all day. Where do you put all your apps? I have a screen for email, a screen for my IDE, a screen for browsers, and a screen for Twitter/IM/post-it notes etc.

[WorldFamousWebdeveloper]

I have a screen for email, a screen for my IDE, a screen for browsers, and a screen for Twitter/IM/post-it notes etc.
And that is why Windows ,OSx and Linux all support multiple Screens for people who can't figure out how to use multiple windows on 1 SCREEN.


I use a Toshiba Intel i5 Based Laptop with 16" screen for main use computer and use it with an extra 2 LCD 23" screens when in office. (yes it is quite easy now to drive additional monitors from laptops)
My creative director uses a Desktop with Humongous LCD screen.
My Innovation and Ideas guy uses a Laptop with a 15inch screen, he reckons anything larger is only wasted.

[Trant]

I left the desktop behind in the UK and bought a super laptop to replace it, thinking the specs were good and I don't use multiple screens.

Big mistake, the laptop specs were better but everything is still noticeably slower. I bought an external drive hoping the faster hard drive would help, but it's still not as fast as my desktop use to be.

The laptop has sat in my office since day 1, so I'm not even using the one advantage a laptop has over a desktop.

Note : I run Virtual Machines running Windows 2003 with SQL Server, IIS etc. on them. If I was browsing the web, writing emails and documents then this laptop would be overkill.

I'm buying a desktop next time I upgrade!

[kay]

And that is why Windows ,OSx and Linux all support multiple Screens for people who can't figure out how to use multiple windows on 1 SCREEN.

I like having my work area set up so I don't have to switch all the time - it's not that I can't use a single screen, I choose not to.

[scross]

I work on a laptop at the moment and I can't wait to get a new PC with a dozen screens!

[Mr C]

I like having my work area set up so I don't have to switch all the time - it's not that I can't use a single screen, I choose not to.

+1. I want to be able to see my application log, sql log etc ticking over when I'm testing a web app, and watching the output in the browser, whilst simultaneously watching the latest version of whatever TV show i'm currently watching, and being able to work in my IDE without having to use window/screen switching.

[Vee]

+1. I want to be able to see my application log, sql log etc ticking over when I'm testing a web app, and watching the output in the browser, whilst simultaneously watching the latest version of whatever TV show i'm currently watching, and being able to work in my IDE without having to use window/screen switching.

+1

A pair of 4:3 20" LCDs

Would like to go to three screens but they are all widescreen now so that's a bit annoying.

[madpilot]

+1

A pair of 4:3 20" LCDs

Would like to go to three screens but they are all widescreen now so that's a bit annoying.

Lies. 3 widescreen monitors is awesome. I've got two 22" widescreen + 1 15" widescreen (The laptop). I'm using a USB video card to get the third screen.

Laptop screen is my GTD screen (Email, 88 Miles, Redmine, Teux Deux, FatFreeCRM etc), Screen two for code or photoshop, screen 3 for web browsers.

Awesome.

[kay]

Lies. 3 widescreen monitors is awesome.

I have four, and if my desk was big enough, I'd add more. I'm thinking of getting a monitor arm and going vertical.

[PaulR]

I have four, and if my desk was big enough, I'd add more. I'm thinking of getting a monitor arm and going vertical.

www.skunkworks.com.au :)

[Vee]

Laptop screen is my GTD screen (Email, 88 Miles, Redmine, Teux Deux, FatFreeCRM etc), Screen two for code or photoshop, screen 3 for web browsers.

I was quite tempted to pick up on of the $99 LCDs that Officeworks was selling recently as a smaller GTD screen until I realised it was VGA, not USB

I've got a decent video card spare but don't have a weekend free to rebuild the PC

[Dave]

4 monitors here - 1 for Outlook, 2 for development tools, browsers etc, and 1 for IM's and other miscellaneous windows. Depends on what you work on/with I guess, but nothing beats having a screen dedicated to your IDE, another for browser windows etc.

[madpilot]

I was quite tempted to pick up on of the $99 LCDs that Officeworks was selling recently as a smaller GTD screen until I realised it was VGA, not USB

I've got a decent video card spare but don't have a weekend free to rebuild the PC

I've got a USB-DVI converter for about $160 from Jaycar (Not VGA, so still a moot point I guess, unless you can find a cheapo DVI monitor)

[temp]

I will have succeeded in life when I can do all my work from a tiny monochrome command line terminal

[hambodevelopment]

I close my email unless it's to see what's new, I check IM and Twitter every so often.

For me I'd like two external monitors and the laptop. One for Photoshop, the other for code and the last one for browsers.

[jexley]

I haven't had a desktop for about 7 years and have run my entire business off the laptop for 4 years.

There's just something about being able to stretch out across the couch with a tot on my legs, lounge in the hammock while multiple tots wreak havoc in the backyard, or lay in bed and watch @temp's best work as that wacky and sardonic Dr. House... all while working with everything I need.

That said, I had to pimp it out a bit (RAM and Processor) and am currently formulating an email in my head to Kay and Dave about how to get a laptop to hook up with 3 monitors for under $100 because that shit would rock.

[ashul]

I will have succeeded in life when I can do all my work from a tiny monochrome command line terminal

I worked for 4.5 yrs with a single wyse-65 terminal as my primary monitor with a RS232 connection to a NCR 64MB RAM, 200MB HD Unix Server, you sure you want to go there? :P - we prayed every day that Sun Solaris/ X Windows would take us away to utopia..

[Franki]

I don't do heavy graphics or code enough to require more screen pixels or CPU grunts, then again, laptop CPU's (from Core2Duo onwards) are very grunty...

I've left the PC about 6 years ago and have never looked back. Also have gone down the route of multi screens when I was on the PC, but back in those days, 2 x 17" CRT would almost break your desk! Now, it's just one 22" attached to the laptop when I'm in the office (and I don't bother to use the laptop screen either), and if I have to work the weekend, the laptop comes home with me (trying to keep the house "computer free" when possible, which means no work or playing on the interweb on the weekend - and it's very liberating :D).

[stevanz]

PCs for designer of course but for businessmen, laptop is mainly used. Also, i think PCs are advisable for long hours work.

[danspace]

I tend to work off one screen since I take my lappy with me & too lazy to unhook/rehook screens. That said do people find a productivity boost when using multiple screens?

[nebbian]

That said do people find a productivity boost when using multiple screens?

Indeed yes!

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2008/03/does-more-than-one-monitor-improve-productivity.html

[hambodevelopment]

I now have two external monitors off the MacBook and a stand so the laptop is at eye level.

I am a lot more productive as I can view everything without switching windows.

When I travel to WA, I can just pack the laptop and keep working (in a reduced capacity).

[heist]

I tend to work off one screen since I take my lappy with me & too lazy to unhook/rehook screens. That said do people find a productivity boost when using multiple screens?

i've never really thought of it in terms of a "productivity boost" ie. i'm not sure i'm actually outputting more lines of code. but it makes me a happier camper. it makes dealing with a computer all day easier. it feels less cluttered

i've never had two monitors and neglected to use one because it wasn't necessary

[Al]

At work: one monitor for browsers and photoshop, the other for Dreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeamweaver and the rest of it. I find it helps to see the design as I'm changing and coding structure. It doesn't hurt to make changes to code and click the other side to view changes. It's just a quick way to reference and troubleshoot I reckon.

For home: I have a desktop with one monitor because I don't tend to be doing too many things at once and don't need to jump quickly between WoW and trashy downloaded TV. Having said that, if I had the money and space to get a second, I'd have some kind of nerd nirvana going on.

[Ruxton]

Been dualing monitors for ages, love it. I've sacrificed duals at home recently due to problems with monitors and being unable to buy new ones just yet, but i'll have dual monitors on both my home desktops again shortly.

On doing away with desktops for latops, I think that only works for people who don't have heavy computer usage. I live on computers, I could never entirely replace my desktop with a laptop; the laptops just a handy offsider to the power-partner ;P

[nebbian]

For years my boss has been using his laptop with an external monitor -- the laptop just sits there and he does everything on the external monitor.

Today I showed him how to drag his mail window to the lappy so he's using both monitors... Happy as larry now!

Personally at work I use 4 monitors connected to two computers, which seems to be about enough for me at the moment. I regularly use three (the biggest one for code, the next one for database, the next one for a web browser) but often find myself using all four.

[dave_85]

i think a proper built PC will last longer than a laptop.

and cheaper too, + can upgrade hardware easily.

I love my PC and rarely use my laptop for this very reason.

[hambodevelopment]

i think a proper built PC will last longer than a laptop.

How long does a proper PC last?

[Franki]

I have a non-proper built PC from 2000, and it's still works :)

[WorldFamousWebdeveloper]

Whether LAPTOP or PC is irrelevant
it is whether or not it suits your purposes.
Build quality on LAPTOPS is usually better than cheap PC's because of the stress involved with portable operation.
A lot of laptops are upgradeable these days.
Anyhow usually by time upgrades are needed, a NEW laptop or PC is usually cheaper than upgrading

[Ruxton]

Whether LAPTOP or PC is irrelevant
Build quality on LAPTOPS is usually better than cheap PC's because of the stress involved with portable operation.
A lot of laptops are upgradeable these days.
Anyhow usually by time upgrades are needed, a NEW laptop or PC is usually cheaper than upgrading

that's a lot of broad strokes you've put on the page there.

[hambodevelopment]

I have a non-proper built PC from 2000, and it's still works :)

My Dad has a Commodore PET that still works but it's no use to anyone!

[Ruxton]

My Dad has a Commodore PET that still works but it's no use to anyone!

funny you should say that, in my last post i was going to write "Build quality of Holdens is usually better than cheap Hyundais because of the stress of the Australian outback"

[Liza]

I've never had my own desktop PC (we had a couple of family desktop PCs, but I'm talking about the computers that I bought with my own money). I've only ever had laptops. Never felt the need for a desktop, laptops work just fine. I made sure to invest in laptops that have enough grunt to be able to play decent games. I recently sold two of my laptops and now work solely with my MacBook Pro - but I do think that I'll be getting a desktop PC solely for games. Work-wise, all I need is my MacBook running Boot Camp and Parallels. Good luck with the switch to laptops :)

[ozneilau]

Since switching to a laptop about 10 years ago, I have never missed using a desktop and carry my laptop with me wherever I go.

I have a docking station set up at work and at home with external monitors so that the screens are at eye height and I don't have to juggle cables at all.

It is just as easy to upgrade the memory or hard disk on a laptop as it is a desktop and you can add just about anything these days via USB!

Studies (http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&as_q=productivity+dual+monitors) show (depending on the work you do), you can be 30% more productive with an additional screen and this is certainly true for me!

Neil.