Why I Still Want a Desktop Computer
Almost everyone in the tech world agrees that the future is mobile. In fact, I do too.
Being able to work wherever, whenever, untethered by cables is great. To write a blog post in a park or share photos from the beach is one of the most convenient and enjoyable things technology has allowed us to do. People move around a lot these days, and the laptop just makes sense.
Yet, though you might call me crazy, for my main, day-to-day computer, I still want a desktop computer. While admittedly, I wouldn’t only want a desktop, I still don’t want to live without one.
So why would I – someone who doesn’t really play PC games that much or do any heavy graphics or video editing – insist on having a desktop?
More Everything!
To sum up my preference for desktops with a gesture to the internet expression “MOAR!” may seem both crass and obvious – but it’s an important point.
It’s true that laptops are now excellent performers. They can be configured with Intel i7 processors and tons of storage and memory. But the simple limitations of size and heat mean that desktop computers will, for the foreseeable future, always be more powerful than their portable equivalents.
Most people assume that extra power is to be used for games or putting together an HD video clip.
But quite to the contrary, desktops just do everything faster: booting up; surfing the web; installing new software; doing updates; everything. If you spend half your life in front of a computer screen, why do it on a lesser machine? Even the slickest Macbook or Thinkpad pales in performance comparisons to a similarly priced desktop. If you want the fastest, you want a desktop. So it’s a desktop for me.
A True Media Center With High-End Components
So, what does all that power for not so much money get you? Well, to my mind, you get a powerful, capable unit that becomes the center of your entertainment life.
Sure, you can watch movies on a laptop. Connect it to speakers and monitor, and it will suffice.
But, my desire for desktops comes from wanting the very best – and getting the best is hard on a laptop. Blu-Ray drives are still a rarity on portables. High-end laptop sound cards exist, but they’re expensive and uncommon. Video cards are inevitably slower, and even cheaper desktop cards fully accelerate HD video.
What’s more, it’s very easy and affordable to simply throw an extra terabyte or two into a desktop. The same goes for RAM or something like TV tuner cards. Desktops make it easier to not only keep current, they offer the best possible experience.
Additionally, there’s also just the sheer physicality of the things. A desktop allows you a semi-permanent spot in your apartment or house for ‘your machine’. Connect it to a booming stereo, or a big-screen TV. Have your microphone, webcam or other accessories permanently attached.
A decked-out desktop becomes a true media and communication ‘center’, rather than that simply being a metaphor.
More For Less
Again, as with performance, the time of laptops being drastically more expensive are long over; it’s a question of simple supply and demand. With more people buying them, the cost has gone down.
But desktops obviously remain much better value when performance is the only consideration. A reasonably powerful computer can be put together for $500, and a $1000-$1500 will get you near top-of-the line stuff: Intel i7 processors, fast video cards, 4-6GB RAM and at least 1TB of hard drive space.
That still cannot be said for laptops – at least if you want a fast laptop.
A Hybrid Solution
To be clear, I wouldn’t want to give up my laptop. In fact, I’m typing this post on one right now – while staring at a lake. It’s pretty great.
But when it comes to my main work computer that I use for the bulk of my writing, surfing, and media consumption, I want a big, powerful, slick desktop stuffed with high-end components. Like audiophiles still want CDs instead of MP3s despite their convenience, I want the power and expandability of a desktop for my primary computing experience.
And hey – can you blame me for wanting the very best?
Do you also still want a desktop, even if you you’re not a gamer or designer? Or do you think that the mobile nature of the laptop computer or tablet overcomes the performance advantages of the desktop?
I honestly cannot stand the iPad! Such a waste of money, kids are starving around the world and people throw down $500 and it doesn’t even have a usb port!!!
Pretty sure thats the number one thing people say when they look at a cost they think is over priced. More of a mom thing to say, actually. 😛
I actually agree with @inspirationfeed. I think it’s way overpriced. As is the iPhone 4. Here in Portugal I hear they are going to be asking 1300 euros (around 1500 USD I think) for an unlocked iPhone 4. Now, I understand that it’s a great phone and all but, wow!
Meh. I bought my iPad simply to surf the net and read books while laying down in bed, and it does a damn good job at what I bought it for. In fact, I would say it’s unparalleled in doing what I bought it for. It is the best pdf ebook reader on the market (especially once you get Goodreader) and I can walk around with literally hundreds of books at my disposal at any time. I’m currently reading 4 books, there’s no chance I would ever be doing that on my laptop because if you’ve ever tried reading ebooks on your laptop its just akward. The iPad experience is really awesome whenever I want to have lots of comfort but still want to read an article or book. Not to mention some of you people act like $500 is going to put people in the poor house. If someone makes say, $800 a week, then what the hell is $500?
Considering a lot of homes only bring in 600 a week with two bread winners, it is a lot for the middle class… but that doesn’t stop us from buying hummers and 1080p 50″ tvs… it’s ok though the starving children will make a paycheck burying my old tv 🙂
Desktop was always the best choise. I dislike laptops despite of their mobility.
When out from home or office, i’m offline. No need to get online this time.
Can’t even imagine surfing web while staring at a lake, I would never ever do so, no matter what.
There’s time for online, and time for offline too, and I respect both.
Now back to the topic.
Desktop got better upgrades than notebooks, and cheaper ones.
How would you upgrade a laptop gpu? How much it’ll cost? A hundred bucks as desktop handles that?
Just upgraded my desktop with a “not that much high-end as i dreamed about” GPU and a terabyte extra storage.
Oh, and planning to upgrade it to a i7 as soon as possible.
I am a designer, but nonetheless, I would still want my desktop. One of the main benefits is the nice big screen. Having got my 24″ iMac just over a year ago, I wouldn’t want to go back at all. It makes everything so much easier.
You can hook your laptop up to that monitor…. In fact people do that at work everyday… instead of opening the laptop they just hook it into their monitor.. they don’t even have to open the laptop to set it up…
I agree ..
i’m use desktop until now 🙂
Building a desktop right now 🙂
Haven’t had one in awhile, I miss it. I like having a stationary work station to do just that, work. Although I love being able to do stuff out and about, when I want to focus on work I go to my “office” and sit at my desk in front of my computer. I have wrist pains from typing so I prefer an external keyboard to the laptop and certainly more than one giant monitor to the laptop equivalent.