No desk top computer?

[Steve Lamb]

On 02/12/2010 11:16 AM, Neil Winchurst wrote:
> So I am wondering about replacing the desktop with a (good sized) laptop
> computer. This leads me on to wonder if any list members do not use a
> desk top at all, and rely on a laptop only. Anyone? Anything to consider
> if I go down that route?

     As others have pointed out laptop have their own host of problems. 
However, I think having productivity work on a laptop makes sense.  Emphasis 
on productivity work.  The reason it makes sense to me is because you can 
always just pick it up and go.  Move to another room.  Move outside the house. 
  Move to a relative's place.  You setup is there, all the time, exactly as 
you like it.

     If your machine is going to be used for gaming at all then it should be a 
desktop as those are easier to update.  However the combination of Linux 
(KUbuntu in this case, I am guessing) and laptop hardware means if you're good 
to the machine you probably will not need a replacement for years to come.

     Myself I have two personal machines at home for two completely different 
tasks.  I have my quad-core gaming rig running W7 with all the bells and 
whistles.  The whole point of that machine is to run games and run them well 
enough that I am frustrated more with the game (or the other players in the 
game) than the performance of the game.

     The second machine is my web/work machine.  From 1999 to 2009 it was two 
of the same make and model, a Dell Latitude CPx.  667Mhz PIII w/256Mb of RAM 
and a 40Gb HD.  The first I had to return when I left the company that had 
assigned it to me.  Since I had bought the dock for it at home I eBayed 
another one.  Between the two I got 10 years of solid use.  Did I have to 
replace batteries?  Sure.  But in that time I replaced the guts of my gaming 
rig at leas twice.  CPU, MB, RAM, HD, case, the whole kit-and-kaboodle... 
Well, except the sound card.  W7 forced me to give that up for a lack of 
drivers.  >.<

     The reason I finally decided to abandon the Latitude was because the 
battery had died again so it was stuck to the dock.  I actually do move my 
productivity machine around.  I had a choice, try to find another battery for 
it or finally upgrade to something a bit snappier.  So now my productivity 
machine is a Dell Mini 10v.  I've had this thing for 6 months and couldn't 
imagine not having it.  And yes, it was an upgrade from the CPx.  ;)

     For your stated purpose *if* you want the machine to be mobile and the 
machine is solely for productivity and not gaming then you should be fine. 
However, if space is the primary concern and you don't see the machine as 
being all that mobile but you want to reduce the footprint on the desk itself 
consider the Meerkat or Meerkat Ion from System76.

http://www.system76.com/index.php?cPath=27

     Bonus points for Ubuntu being preloaded (so you know they're compatible 
with KUbuntu which is a "sudo aptitude install kubuntu-desktop" away) and for 
giving your business to a company dedicated to Linux.