Is It Right For You?
Nov 23 '00
Today's laptops are faster, lighter, and sexier than they have ever been. I recently purchased an IBM i Series 1200 ThinkPad to replace my NuTrend Sierra i810 desktop system. Although I bought the laptop to replace my desktop, I would not classify the new portable computer as a 'Desktop Replacement System'.
A 'Desktop Replacement System'
Laptops that are classified as desktop replacements are the high end systems offered by computer manufactures. These systems are usually powered by 700+ MHz processors, a minimum of 128MB of RAM, 10+ GB hard drives, large TFT LCD displays, internal DVD-ROM or CD-RW drives, two PC Card slots, internal floppy drives, built in modem and network interfaces and a complete range of ports (serial, parallel, USB, S-Video out, VGA, 1394(Firewire), and IrDA). The manufactures try to give these systems all the power of their desktop offerings in a portable package, but the fastest of notebooks is much slower when compared to todays high end desktops.
The Lowdown On Laptops
Perhaps the greatest achievement of desktop computers today is standardization. Virtually every part of a desktop computer can be swapped out for a new one, making upgrading very easy. Laptops have almost no standardization. Processors are soldered onto the systemboard, video ram is non-upgradable, and you are stuck with the original screen. With these limitations in mind, and to achieve the longest life for your system, it is usually a good idea to purchase as much laptop as your budget can handle.
What To Get
If you truly want to purchase a notebook that will serve as a good desktop replacement for any length of time there are a few things to keep in mind. Chief among these is processor speed. There is no way to upgrade your laptop's CPU. The one you purchase will be the one that stays with the system for as long as you own it. This makes it especially important to buy as much processor power as possible. As of this writing the fastest mobile offering is from Intel with their 850MHz Pentium III. Typical systems with this chip price at over $3000. For comparisons sake, a desktop running with an PIII 850 could be purchased for about half as much. Screen size is very important to keep in mind. A laptop's LCD display is usually 12.1, 14.1, or 15 inches in size. The size you buy is the one you are stuck with. Screen technology is also very important, TFT screens provide the best display, but are also more expensive. Video RAM is also an important consideration. If you plan to use your system for graphics design, gaming, or DVD movie playback, 8+ megs of video RAM is highly recommended. Most of these systems will offer 8-32 megs of video RAM
What Is Upgradable
Thankfully, most laptop vendors have standardized the modules for system RAM. Virtually every modern laptop will allow additional RAM to be added beyond that which is shipped with the system. My laptop shipped with 64 megs, upgradable to a 192 meg total; the priciest systems can accommodate up to 512 megs of RAM (compared to 1.5+ GB of RAM for high end desktops). Hard drives are mostly standardized as well, although there are a couple of different form factors that limit how much storage your laptop can handle. The maximum size of any notebook hard drive is presently at around 30 GB. This seems large, but a desktop's hard drive can be as spacious as 80 GB. Further expandability is usually limited to external devices connected through the systems ports or PC Card slot. These components will offer added features (i.e. netcams, TV tuners)but generally no increased system performance.
Length Of Use
The most important factor in determining whether or not to purchase a desktop replacement should be the length of time you plan on getting high performance out of the machine. As laptops have limited upgradability they are rendered obsolete faster than their desktop counterparts. If you plan to purchase a top of the line laptop and stay on the cutting edge of system performance, you will likely be purchasing a new laptop in about a year, if not sooner. Purchasing a high end desktop will give you many upgrade options to keep your system current for a longer period of time.
Recommendations
If you have some serious money to burn, or need the added portability of a laptop I would very seriously recommend purchasing a desktop replacement system. The compact, all-in-one nature of notebooks is great freeing up space, and is definitely more aesthetically pleasing. If, however, you are working with a somewhat more limited budget, or would like greater system performance for a longer period of time, I would recommend purchasing a desktop computer.
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Epinions.com ID:
bub78
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Location: Maine
Reviews written: 26
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