Laptop v Desktop

i could not do the cad work i do with a lap top because i like (need) my 2 screens.

I love my laptop, however I do the bulk of my major CAD work on the desktop. I do, however, use the laptop quite a bit in the evenings in teh living room, so I'm not out in the office while the family is watching tv, playing games, etc.

I have a small home network set up, so I can print and plot to the stuff in the office (a separate building on my property, and use the drawings on the desktop as my main files.

I do carry the laptop in the field with me most of the time, especially for my construction jobs. It never leaves the truck, and it is handy to have my most current projects that I'm working on if a client calls and needs something, I can generally handle it in the field, as I also have a small HP printer/scanner in the truck.

Kinda the best of both worlds. I do prefer the desktop for ergonomics as far as larger projects and major office work.

2 screens using a laptop is not an issue - either get a docking port, or be sure to buy a laptop that has the same display port (VGA, HDMI, etc.) as your existing monitor. Bam, you're dual screening with a couple clicks on the desktop.

Laptops are very powerful these days, so with the right purchase you will suffer no difference in performance from a desktop unit.

Short of having a docking port for a movable keyboard, I'll not use one for day in day out use. I have one for out of town trips and it's fine, but I wouldn't want to use it daily.

My set up is my tower is off of my drafting desk and my screen is mounted on the wall (26" flat screen) so I have the full use of my desk which still seems to be cluttered with superfluous crap and files.

Laptop for in the field, desktop for in the office.

The biggest downside to using a laptop as your primary workstation, in my view, is cost. Cramming high-performance components into a small form factor is expensive, and upgrading those components is a similar proposition. Add in the cost of replicating components for ergonomic benefit (docking station, external monitor) and you're even further in the hole. You get a lot more bang for your buck -- along with a lot more options -- with a desktop.

Mouse, Keyboard, Monitors, Wireless... all the same.
You can use the exact same hardware for either Laptop or Desktop.
The Laptop battery and power supply provides the same function as a UPS on the Desktop.

I had been issued laptops for primary use since 2004... I was doubtful at first but no longer. My desktops are now dust collectors.

The only differences I see are portability and cost:
If I wanted a dirt cheep computer I would get a Desktop... hard drives, memory, etc. are more easily swapped out and a little bit less spendy.

For primary use I have a HP DV7 17" "desktop replacement" with 2 500gig hard drives, the second drive is dedicated to auto backup of the primary drive. USB wireless mouse and I am good to go. Dual monitors? just plug it in!
If I were to get a laptop with a small keyboard and no number pad then a USB keyboard that fits me would be the way to go.

My desk top died last year. It would have been cheaper to replace the complete cpu than try and replace parts that were failing. I decided to go mobile and buy a laptop. In addition to the laptop, I bought a wireless keyboard and mouse for it along with a 500gig external hard drive. I would like to get a longer RGB cable and use my 42 inch TV more often, but the flat screen from the old desktop works pretty good for the dual setup.
I run acad10/carlson10 and arcmap10 together on the laptop and it gets me about 7 hours on the battery plus having wifi is a bonus.
For me, going mobile has been nice but convenience is not cheap.

> i could not do the cad work i do with a lap top because i like (need) my 2 screens.

I currently have two external monitors hooked up to my laptop and do not use the laptop's own screen. I set the Windows power settings to "do nothing" when the lid is closed, so I can keep it closed and off to the side.

As most people have already mentioned, cost is probably the primary factor. You can get a lot more PC for a lot less in a desktop. That being said I have a $5000 laptop with a docking station that powers dual 30" Dell monitors at 2560x1600 pixels. It's plenty powerful to drive Civil 3D 2011 and whatever else I can throw at it (and keep in mind it's just under 3 years old too). So performance isn't a problem, assuming you are willing to pay for it. Portability is nice, and I often work on projects in the evening and write programs/websites for the office.

That being said, I probably wouldn't take it to a job site because when I'm onsite I have a data collector, and the data collectors these days have enough computing power to figure out just about any scenario. I have used a laptop to calc boundaries after running control in the field though, we would traverse, calc, and stake it all in one trip.

My advice is to get a computer based on what you are going to use it for. My boss also has a very expensive laptop....... NEVER takes it anywhere. Will you really want to lug it around? Will you really need it at home or on a job site? Ask yourself these questions before buying a laptop.

-Mark

Dell XPS 8300

Here is what I just ordered:

Item Number Quantity Item Description

225-0141 1 XPS 8300
317-6080 1 XPS 8300 Intel Core i7-2600 processor(8MB Cache, 3.4GHz)
317-5786 1 8GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz - 4x2GB
331-0659 1 Dell Consumer Multimedia Keyboard
320-7810 1 No Monitor
320-1784 1 ATI Radeon HD 5450 1GB DDR3
342-2007 1 1TB Serial ATA 2 Hard Drive 7200 RPM
421-4643 1 Genuine Windows 7 Professional, 64bit, English
330-1158 1 Dell USB 6-Button Laser Mouse
318-0282 1 16x DVDRW Drive
410-0458 1 Microsoft Office 2010 Home and Business, English
Subtotal: $1,208.99
Shipping and Handling: $0.00
Sales Tax: $84.62
Total: $1,293.61

I am running a 2004 HP ZV6100 laptop with XP (SP3). It started as my personal fun machine until I went solo in 2008. It came w/ 1GB of RAM, I stuck another 1GB stick in it. I crammed it full of AutoCAD LDD2004, Sokkia, Topcon and TGO GPS processing (for each of my GPS field units), PacCrest PDL configuring software, among others. I am also running Quick Books, MS Office, and other business software. It bluetooths to my data collectors and is connected into my wireless home/office network. I occasionally take it to the field, tether my phone, and download NGS datasheets, TOPO quads, or whatever else I may need that I did not take with me to begin with.

It came with a video output and I run a Samsung 23" HDMI monitor for my cad work, and use the laptop monitor for my "extra" monitor for descriptions while running cad, etc.

When used at the home/office, I bought an external 1 TB hard drive and run Acronis instant backup on it. It runs in the background and automatically backs up files I have modified every five minutes.

For personal reasons, I will never own a DELL even though I live in "DELL Land" (Austin, TX). I have always used HP calculators, printer/plotters and home PCs and have never had a problem with them. I also own a Toshiba laptop, but I let the kids have that one 'cause I did not care for it either.

Pending the economy, I would consider upgrading to a Windows 7 machine and emulate XP on it.

just my .04' worth...

Dell XPS 8300

That will make an excellent workstation.

I have been using an HP 17" laptop as my main computer for years. I just purchased a new one last week. The best deal I found is to buy directly from the HP website. Custom build your computer with upgrades that you want. Use coupon code NB4151 and save 30%. You can't beat that price anywhere.

dv7t Quad Ed
• $21 OFF! Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
• 2nd generation Intel(R) Quad Core(TM) i7-2720QM (2.2 GHz, 6MB L3 Cache) w/Turbo Boost up to 3.3 GHz
• 1GB GDDR5 Radeon(TM) HD 6770M Graphics [HDMI, VGA]
• 8GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• FREE Upgrade to 750GB 5400RPM Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
• Microsoft(R) Office Professional 2010
• FREE Upgrade to Norton Internet Security(TM) 2011 - 15 Month Subscription (activation required)
• 9-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery (over-sized) - Up to 9.5 hours of battery life +++
• 17.3" diagonal HD+ HP BrightView LED Display (1600 x 900)
• Blu-ray player & Lightscribe SuperMulti DVD burner
• HP TrueVision HD Webcam with Integrated Digital Microphone and HP SimplePass Fingerprint Reader
• Intel 802.11b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth(R) with Wireless Display Support
• Standard Keyboard
• HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

$1472.56 to my door which includes sales tax

> Waddya say, yeah or nay ?

Yeah. I've been working with a laptop since 2003. I'm on my third. The latest is a Lenovo running Windows7 64bit. I recommend getting the docking station. Dual monitors are no problem and highly recommended.

You can also have cooling problems with laptops, where the CPU will throttle down during intensive operations, causing things to take longer. If you experience this, a cooling pad can help.

Dell XPS 8300

That will be a very good setup, if your monitor is as old as your busted computer you are going to be limited to a vga graphic input. If you don't have a dvga or hdmi imput on your montior the graphics are not going to be as nice as they could be. Dell has what I consider to be a great ACAD type monitor on sale for $479.00, it is a Dell Ultrasharp 24" Model U2410 with a 1920x1200 resolution.

PS I think the workstation was a good choice, since I got my Ipad I haven't even turned on my laptop.

Dell XPS 8300 monitor

Robert, great advice, I am adding this to my order!

Thanks, Brad

A good laptop is more versatile. With a Good Monitor, a docking station and a keyboard, it can be a desktop also. It is harder to upgrade and expand, so get what you want up front. It is also more expensive. That is what it costs for versatility. Also like Sinc posted a good cooling pad is a good investment.

Get a good laptop with all the desktop accessories such as dual monitors, a good keyboard, a mouse and a docking station. You can unplug the laptop and bring it home or to the field or to an office for a presentation. You can plug it into a projector.

Laptop.