2y ago

Do you prefer PC or laptop?

I was having a friendly discussion with someone this morning about PC and Laptops for work/education stuff, he suggested that I could use a chromebook for all this stuff and this would be a good idea and make things easier. I strongly disagreed with this, mainly because I hate laptops, the keyboard and touchpad make me angry and my PC does everything I need. Most things are synced to my phone for the rare times I may want to add something while out and about. So I thought I'd come here and seek other peoples opinions on laptops vs pc your needs? also if you are feeling bored and want to head on over to the survey ive linked and fill in a few questions I can more easily gather data to make into fun graphs, which if the data agrees with me, I can shove it in his face or should I be in the minority I can let him have this win.

57 comments

Aren't all laptops PCs?
Oh, rereading, I see you're talking about netbooks specifically, which, yeah, are kind of not really PCs.
I prefer PCs for most things, no real preference for desktop or laptop as long as I can use a mouse; I usually do desktop because they're cheaper to build and usually quieter.
Netbooks are fine for classwork, browsing, and webdesign in most cases.
- PC is a funny word. You can ask Mac or PC (From the era when PC was short for IBM (compatible) PC (vs Apple's PC offerings). But apparently laptop vs PC is also a distinction for some people.
  Nowadays I think of a PC as a computer that isn't a dedicated headless server. Or maybe one that isn't a work station for your professional work?
  Anyway, is really a term from a bygone age.

Your choice of vocabulary is a bit odd.
A laptop can be a full fledged computer. Chromebooks are specialty devices that lack the functionality of a standard desktop or laptop computer. I'm not sure if the term "netbook" is still used these days, but that's how I would describe a Chromebook. It's not a full laptop.
I prefer a full laptop, not a Chromebook. I am not a power user, so it can run all of the games I play on it just fine (high end modern games will not work obviously). I can take it with me anywhere and it was a lifesaver for note taking in grad school. If I'm traveling, I can just stuff it in my backpack and go.
At home, I keep my laptop connected to a keyboard, mouse, and an additional monitor, giving me dual monitor support. It's easy to bring that desktop comfort you're used to to it.

Laptop - it does everything a computer needs to do in one compact, easy to handle package. Even the cheapest of laptops is faster and more powerful than what the vast majority of people need these days, and since virtually everything is web based, I don't even own a computer. I use my phone/tablet for everything. Work supplies the laptop.

PC is short for personal computer, which includes both laptop and desktop form factors.
But to answer the question, I generally prefer a desktop because you can upgrade them and work on them more easily.

"the keyboard and touchpad make me angry"
I think you need to try this out with an open mind. Plenty of people use laptops as their only computer, only with trackpad. Plenty others just toss a Bluetooth mouse in their bag and use that.
I get using a PC, but a laptop does have its advantages.

Completely depends if you need to carry it around.
For best of both worlds: Docked laptop with full monitor and maybe keyboard. You can find monitors everywhere for cheap.

Laptop by far, it’s not even close. There’s practically no advantage to a PC I’d be missing at all. I can quickly grab it and bring what I’m meddling with anywhere I go quickly, and the battery makes it so I can jump between my desk, couch, or down the street. If I need to run an external peripheral for some strange port, I have a Thunderbolt external PCIe enclosure at my desk.
That said, I wouldn’t consider a Chromebook a practical replacement. Not because it’s a laptop, but because a lot of what I fiddle with is just easier on a normal OS.

I can't use a laptop for work (graphics intensive, need a powerhouse) but I would if I could. I love being able to use it literally anywhere I go—at my desk, in bed, on the toilet, on vacation, on the bus, at a cafe, etc—and...
I installed a headless Debian OS, added a keyboard-focused window manager and I don't have to futz with the trackpad nor find a place to put an attached mouse. It also is a much slower drain on the battery. Best of all worlds.
I use it for web-browsing, word-processing/spreadsheets, checking email, making memes, coding, managing my home network, controlling my headless SBC, and modding. Also occasionally for cyber CTFs or remoting into my desktop at least to do so.

Desktop 1000%. They are just more ergonomic in every way. A laptop without a mouse is basically torture. For lots of typing a laptop without a full size external keyboard isn't pleasant. For viewing anything laptops screens are too small and generally poor quality, so you need an external screen, or better, 2 or more. So now you have a docking station with all your peripherals plugged in to, being powered by a machine that if it were a desktop would be at least twice as powerful and have much longer life through upgradability.
For the odd task that requires portability then laptops obviously have uses. But I'd rather have a cheap laptop just for that job rather than pretend an expensive laptop is a good desktop replacement.

Moved from pc to laptop about a decade ago and I don't think I could ever go back. It seemed so normal back then to spend all my time in one room at my desk.
But now, yeah I can spend time at the desk and I can even plug the laptop in to external everything and it's just like having a pc. But ALSO I can laze around on the couch watching TV with my other half while I play Deep Rock Galactic, or I can lounge in the sun in the conservatory and still edit video, or I can pick up and take it on a trip somewhere and still have access to everything I need without having to fiddle with a phone.
The only downside of a laptop is the cost compared to a similar spec pc. But when I think of going back I think of being chained to a desk in that one room and just...nah.
- Excluding GPU extensive operations a used ThinkPad is so good and cheap it's incredible.
  Bought a T490 16GB 512GB for 260€ ... I think my desktop will be used less and less ...
  
  Used Thinkpad with upgraded screen and retrofitted classic keyboard = perfection.

If I had to choose only one, it would be a desktop. The experience of using a machine with a good keyboard/mouse and large monitors can't be beat, plus it's much cheaper for the same quality of hardware. The main downside is that it's not portable. Whether I'm working or gaming, I'm confined to that one desk. I can't work on the couch, in the park, in the waiting room at the doctor's office, or anywhere else I might find myself that day.
The ideal setup is to have both. A desktop for when I can be at my desk, and a cheap laptop that I can use to remote into said desktop. That way, you get the convenience of a laptop with the power of a desktop at a much more reasonable price.
- A monitor and keyboard/mouse that you can attach to your laptop gives you the best of both worlds.
  But a desktop/workstation that you can leave on and double as a server for some things is nice to have.
  
  I use my old laptop as a server, and so far no issues with leaving it on 24/7

I prefer working at a desk with a full sized keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Often these days I end up using a laptop for this though. Mostly because being stuck in the "computer room" at all times isn't fun.

Lightweight/low-power laptop (aka chromebook) + homeserver seems ideal, IMO. Especially if you have gigabit upstream at home, and know how to set up a VPN.

I like the concept of laptops but I hate using them. When I'm away from my house I don't need a computer. I'm barely able to find a use for my phone when I'm out and about.

If you only use your computer for the most basic of operations (browsing the Internet, watching Netflix, writing documents, etc.), Chromebooks are fine. However, I'm assuming this discussion is about laptops versus desktops.
Basically, all you need to care about between laptops and desktops is the balance between portability, power, and affordability. If you travel a lot, get a laptop. If you need the processing power for video editing or gaming, get a desktop. If you need to edit videos while traveling, get a gaming laptop. If you don't need any of those, get a second-hand Dell desktop.
If you need to use a laptop but hate the keyboard and trackpad, nothing is stopping you from chucking a separate mechanical keyboard and a mouse into your backpack. A lot of people in tech actually just do that.

Both. Both is good
Though depending on your situation a laptop will do both, think the thing you're missing is that you can plug a laptop into a monitor mouse and keyboard the same way you do a PC and it will be functionally identical, except you have the option to unplug it and take it with you if you need to
Personally I have a gaming PC at home and a laptop for work, and a USB c hub that lets me plug said laptop in and use it as a desktop if needed. Perfect setup imo
- This is exactly what I do too, plus a tablet for quick notes or reading when I'm studying or somewhere a laptop might feel a bit excessive (basically anywhere that I need to be waiting for something).
  
  I've got a pine64 tablet on the way that I'm quite excited for. Going to run gnome mobile and waydroid so I can switch between android and Linux at will and use it as a laptop if need be

I've worked on both, and as long as I can plug the laptop in a nice monitor, with keyboard and mouse I don't care that much. Laptops great for mobility, and the keyboard and trackpad, well you get used to it, and doesn't bother you that much. For myself, its wfh and then going to the office, isn't a big deal, all stuff is on the laptop and things are synced if I need to do disaster recovery. It depends on the situation, would you benefit from it. if not, desktop's fine

I live offgrid in a campervan, which places limits the amount of power and interior space I can devote to computing. So a vanilla laptop for me.
the keyboard and touchpad make me angry
External kb/mice are allowed. :-) Using a mechanical kb with my laptop right now.

I require both. Laptop is a real laptop and not a Chromebook.

My setup is two laptops (home and work) but 90% of the time they are just used connected via usb-c to my desk in the front room.
Pull out one wire and swap between work and home setup.

I have a laptop for work, it's useful for that purpose because it's portable. I've owned several personal laptops over the years and rarely used them. If I traveled more I'd consider buying one.

For work and general browsing, I prefer a laptop. But for gaming, I definitely prefer a beefy desktop.

I was desktop-only during my whole college studies and gotta say, I really enjoy the freedom that working from a laptop gives you (especially being a remote worker). I like the fact that I can now dedicate my desktop setup for gaming and entertainment, it keeps work and daily life separated :)

Laptop, because I can work from anywhere and it doesn't take up much space

I like my thinkpad. the keyboard is okay. i don't use the touchpad. i can carry it everywhere, take it to the livingroom or kitchen or watch a movie in bed. Downside is: i'd like to have more storage and RAM.

PC for most of my work, laptop for when I just need to access things from elsewhere. Although, I would never touch a Chromebook. Tried it, was very underwhelmed. IMO chromebooks defeat the purpose of a laptop. What's the point of portability if you need wifi to use it?

they both have there pros and cons, but i prefer desktop becasue you can set up your own liitle computer area and desktops can be custimized more than a laptopbut laptops ar eportable and often cheaper and some things about a laptop can be anoying.

I just use my desktop on my lap. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Laptop and Chromebook are two very different things. A laptop is sufficient for any use case that doesn't demand GPU power, but if you're ever considering buying a "gaming" laptop, don't. You can get a cheap laptop and a decent gaming desktop for the same price and they'll last you longer and run better.
A Chromebook is just walled garden bullshit.

Haven't used my desktop in ages, has been completely replaced by my personal and work laptops.

Laptop. I'm simply not in one place long enough for a desktop to be useful.

PC. I love a beefy rig for gaming. I build myself so it is cheaper than laptop. My Smart TV is like a tablet with a big screen and has taken over some things that my PC used to do.

Under normal circumstances I prefer desktop since, at least mine, has plenty of USB plugs when compared to the crummy laptop I currently have. I also have never really been a huge fan of laptop keyboards or trackpads over a standard USB mouse and keyboard.
The only thing my laptop currently has/does that better my computer is the ability to more easily carry it around and that it has a detachable touch screen monitor thing. Otherwise, I'd say my desktop is superior in just about every other way.

In a support role, I definitely prefer dealing with laptops. At home, I prefer having a desktop.

I prefer an all-in-one. If I want to work downstairs (or give a presentation at another venue) one day it’s about as portable as a laptop.
my posture is better on a desktop / all-in-one and the larger screen lets me use a workflow that suits me better.

In regards to focus and typing speed, laptops seem to do it best for me. My laptop is usually in sleep, and my desktop off, so it's much faster to bring it from sleep and do what I need to do. A laptop, too, was my first computer, so I feel fairly comfortable with the experience unless I really need a mouse. Desktops are insanely comfortable, though, and I guess primarily that's what I'd use, but thankfully I can do about equal things on both outside of gaming, so it's mainly about how I'm feeling at the time.

Right now a PC but I may need a laptop in the next 2 years

I feel like you are approaching this wrong. You buy a laptop so you can be mobile. This is good if you travel or even just in an office where you might have to switch rooms (e.g. a meeting room). If you don't need to be mobile, then you don't need a laptop.
Some applications will restrict you to using a PC, gaming for example, or anything that needs a big GPU. In this case you don't have a choice.
If you get a laptop, please, buy some peripherals. Get a docking station, a proper screen, a good keyboard and mouse. Pay attention to ergonomics. Dont give yourself RSI or back pain.

Thank you I'm am really enjoying reading all the answers, I was fairly sure most people would have and like laptops etc not being tied to a desk is a bonus. Also yup I didn't word things well but thanks for answering in the spirit of my question. Its great seeing the answers coming in on here and seeing the surveys data.

I used to use desktop computers both at work and at home (and laptops only when away), but that killed my back – too much sitting. Since then at home I use only laptop – I can lay down with that. I do hate touchpads too, so I don't use that – just a regular mouse. Yes, one can connect a mouse to a laptop. ;-) I would prefer a full keyboard, but the one on laptop is not too bad.
Recently I have bought a powerful PC for gaming, but I only use it remotely, from my laptop (Steam streaming is great).

Ideally, I'd use a high-performance stationary computer as a workstation and a laptop as a terminal (for small work and SSH access).
However, it would by more expensive, not power-efficient, you would always need an internet connection for your laptop, a static IP address and you will need to handle power outages/unexpected shutdowns for your computer.

57 comments