Anyone go laptop only (no desktop)?

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ml1209

Limp Gawd
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Feb 25, 2007
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I am virtually laptop exclusive. I have (4) laptops - HP Elitebook 8560p, Dell Precision M6500, an old Dell E6500, and a Dell Latitude E6520.

What do they all share in common? Premium displays (which is a priority with me)

All have the highest-level displays - 1080p or 1600 x 900 for the HP. The Dell M6500 has the coveted LG 1920 x 1200 display.

I hook them up to monitors when at home. I do not need a desktop.
 
I have a couple headless servers for VMs & file serving duties. I don't count those.

A docking station goes a long way towards eliminating the need for a permanent workstation, and and at this point, I feel no need for a desktop. My 8560W can handle my gaming on my 24" screen. All my other workstation tasks, the laptop is more than adequate (quad core, 16GB RAM, dual SSDs)

A docking station is something I recommend to everyone who gets a laptop as their primary system.
 
I game quite a bit. If it wasn't for that then I'd only be on a laptop
 
I have my desktop but frankly I just don't use it much any more sadly. My interest in gaming has really declined. I have the room and I already have it, I am keeping it. I know for sure I won't be upgrading anytime soon.
 
I'll probably do this in one more generation or whenever we get to a point where external GPUs mature and come to market.

I prefer hammering away on my thinkpad over my desktop. With a docking station and an external GPU I'd be a happy boy :)
 
I did laptop exclusive for a while, but now came back to desktops and I will never ever go back.
Big desk, huge mouse pad, a mechanical keyboard, 3 displays and all the processing power i need when I am multtasking different compiling jobs..hmmmm so awesome. Seriously if I spend more than 2 hours in front of a laptop my eyes get tired and my back hurts
 
I was laptop exclusive for school (undergraduate and most of graduate school). I just didn't have the money for both a decent laptop and a desktop -- and getting a "cheapo" laptop wasn't an option, since I did so much work and multitasking and whatnot on the laptop that I needed something with at least a little oomph to it.

Ended up using a Thinkpad T61p for most of graduate school as a primary computer -- FANTASTIC machine. Had a series of not-as-awesome laptops for undergrad.

Now? I much prefer a desktop + laptop setup. When my laptop was my primary computer I gravitated towards 15" models since I wanted a somewhat large screen. Not as portable though. I'm about to buy an x230 here during the Black Friday sale though, and that'll be a perfect mate to my desktop.
 
I use my laptop more than Desktop due to night shift work and ability to play games
 
I tried, I replaced my triple monitor, dual gpu setup, with a laptop and, cordless KB/M, and a 30" montor. I ended up constantly wishing my laptop was faster or gamed better, but did not want to pay $2k+ for one that was as fast as I wanted. I ended up going back to having a cheap laptop for when I traveled. Now that I no longer need mobility for any sort of work, I may never buy another laptop, since for media consumption, light browsing, and email duty, a cheap tablet has proven adequate for me.
 
My primary computer is a laptop (or specifically, a netbook). But i can't really call myself a laptop user if 95% of the time i actually use it, it's docked to a monitor/KB/M like a desktop.
 
As I can't sit at a desk for any length of time, so I'm forced to solely use a laptop. However I do spend most of my time using an RDP session to the desktop. It's hard to substitute the power and memory (32gb!) with a laptop (max 8gb). Even with a 15.6"1080p laptop screen I do miss the 2x24" displays. So I'm not in a hurry to dump beefy desktops, but then I'm not a typical user (multiple staging environments on the desktop & working on an in-memory database as a pet project). I do think a laptop/ whatever with winRT will meet the needs of 80% of users.

I do love the simplify of HDMI, just one cable to connect the tv and the sound is piped through my external speakers. It's a world away from having to mess around with multiple cables with iffy picture. Soon you want even need a cable to do this and think nothing of it..
 
I use my Macbook Pro (2011) for everything, pretty much. I have two older Dell laptops that I sometimes use on the side for Windows or Ubuntu environments (I also have an HP desktop set up as a server in my basement, but that doesn't really count). I personally have gone laptop only because I am a full-time student and need portability for note-taking and working on assignments on the road. I've found that laptop power is enough for my limited gaming and video-editing needs as well.
 
I used to run that way long ago with a PowerBook G3, then with a PowerBook G4 but ended up getting a Wintel just for gaming.

For a few years I've had both a desktop and laptop. But as of last month I just have the one laptop. A Lenovo X230. It's faster than either my desktop or laptop was. And I do 80% of my work in my car so a laptop was essential. So I just ditched the desktop. Sold it online for $500. Not bad for a 2008 iMac.

when I'm at my desk at home I plug it into a 23" LCD and wireless keyboard+mouse. And it becomes just as comfortable as using a desktop.
 
I used to do that, but honestly - it is nice to have a desktop if you use the computer mainly at your desk. The cluttered look of the cords, and the space it took up on my desk, bothered me, plus plugging in cords, plugging in the charger, etc. Besides, if you're going the mac route - you can get an imac for nearly the same price as one of the macbooks.
 
I will never go laptop only. Too many compromises and I hate carrying them around everywhere.
 
Still havent found a laptop that compares to a desktop. They keep getting better, but so do desktops. My main rig just runs like butter.

I also like that it is just sitting on all the time to do tasks like downloading, encoding, etc. I know you could do that with a laptop, but just more of PITA for me.

Plus I have a triple display setup, and all the laptop triple display setups are a bit wonky still compared to the simplicity of my 5770.
 
AQ_OC said:
I will never go laptop only. Too many compromises and I hate carrying them around everywhere.
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I'm looking to go laptop / tablet convertible thing.

Something like a Y580 would suit me as a desktop replacement. I really only game a couple of hours a week and a 660M would do quite well at 1080p with reduced settings. I'm going to wait and see what the hardware is like on the next gen consoles before I make the jump. The laptop wouldn't move from my desk, so weight and portability wouldn't be a factor. A lot of people have made this transition already. If you're running a high-res display or eyefinity or something, then yea, a laptop wouldn't suffice. But very few people are doing that

The current convertibles are what really bug me. I still haven't seen a single one that I really like. Something like a 3lb laptop would suffice as well, though it would have to have better internals and display than my current X220 with roughly equal ~10-11hr battery life.

I really don't need the power of a modern desktop anymore. My next build will either be a tiny ITX machine or a laptop as a desktop replacement.
 
100% laptop now. Just trying to decide since my work gave me the laptop (When I leave I just turn in the HD's) Its an Alienware M17x R4. Might think of moving to a M6700 so I can have the docking station feature myself.
 
I was laptop only during college (2008 MBP, then asus 1215n and a G73jh). Worked for what I needed, which was commute capable power.

Now I love my desktop but each new game I get into seems less demanding than the last. I am looking at an Asus U24A (11.6 and i5-3210m) for the portable work horse I need. (Just picked 'em up on my way home, couldn't resist :) )

edit 2: and I've returned the U24A already. It's a bit too small and I need a bit more than the HD 4000 offers. Looking at the U37VC now(Japan only I think, from what I can tell it's identical to the U47VC in the states with different RAM and HDD).
 
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I find myself cycling through using both as my main machine depending on the situation.

2005 - Gaming Desktop
2006 - Dell Inspiron Laptop for school
2007 2012 - Gaming Desktop/s
Now - Macbook Pro Retina for work
 
I went laptop-only for about three years during undergrad (2005-2008), but gravitated back toward a dual setup afterward. I hardly even use my laptop anymore, as my phone takes care of most needs on the go.

I don't game much these days, so I'd be open to getting a nice laptop as a desktop replacement in theory, but there are too many caveats. Limitations on internal storage (SSD + large HDD) is the foremost that comes to mind, as I've got about 1.5 TB filled on a couple drives. Plus, I do a fair amount of Photoshop work and also would like to run a couple VMs at will without any stuttering, so only a very top-shelf laptop would do. The portability and low power consumption would be nice, but are nowhere near worth the tradeoff at this point in time.

It's definitely an awkward time to upgrade, at least from my perspective. Power-hungry but cheap and blazing fast desktops vs. very nice ultrabooks that come with the few drawbacks I just mentioned vs. W8 convertible tablets... and the overlap in functionality with smartphones, which are now ubiquitous. In the past I rarely fell victim to the "waiting for something better conveyor belt" phenomenon, but it's really taken hold the past year or so, as I'm running a 5-year-old desktop and 4-year-old laptop, terrified of investing in the wrong thing at the wrong time.
 
Since the day I traded my custom built PC for a Dell 700m. I was hooked. I have owned 1 desktop since then. That was 2003-4? Traded it here too :D


Laptops have always done what I needed.
 
After my first M17x, I ditched desktops completely. I'd sell my old Alienware and put it towards a new one. I went from an M17x R2 with a 720qm/Xfire 5870 setup to an M18x with a 2920xm/6990m Xfire for only $1100 out of my pocket.
 
I almost never use my desktop anymore. I finally have a laptop that is fast enough and I don't have to make any serious compromises. It has a fast cpu, GPU, lots of ram and 2 SSD's plus a 1TB hd.
 
JPF_ said:
Since the day I traded my custom built PC for a Dell 700m. I was hooked. I have owned 1 desktop since then. That was 2003-4? Traded it here too :D


Laptops have always done what I needed.
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That's about when I switched - and the exact same machine! The 700m was great. Temporarily moved and didn't have the room for a desktop setup, it was perfect.
 
My last laptop was a convertible tablet PC - HP TX2 - which I got for $300 or $400 open box, kept for 2-3 years, and sold for about $190 after fees on ebay.

I like laptops small (12-14" tops).

I find a cheap laptop and a reasonable desktop cost far less than the kind of laptop you need even for casual non-FPS gaming. I don't play much these days, my desktop has a $40 HD4670 card in it, but still. A laptop with a discrete card of any sort in it can get pricey.

I can see how you could buy/sell and ride the curve though...but I don't really ever want to game on a laptop, so for me, it'd be mostly pointless to go laptop only.
 
I used a 13" MBP exclusively for a year while overseas. It wasn't what I would prefer, mostly because I require a lot of HD space, and well, hauling a bunch of external hard-drives isn't ideal. I suppose if I had a Pegasus array, desk, monitor, etc, it would have been fine.

However, I think my perfect setup is close to what I have now. A maxed out 27" iMac, and a maxed out 11" MBA. All the power I need to do editing at home, and the lightweight ultraportable laptop for any document work, browsing, reading, etc. I need to do in the field.
 
UnknownSouljer said:
I used a 13" MBP exclusively for a year while overseas. It wasn't what I would prefer, mostly because I require a lot of HD space, and well, hauling a bunch of external hard-drives isn't ideal. I suppose if I had a Pegasus array, desk, monitor, etc, it would have been fine.
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It won't be as much as a disk array, but you could stick two 1TB drives in a MacBook Pro if you wanted, and then get those 2.5" 2TB USB drives for more storage.
 
I had only a laptop through college and it was ok for what it was then but since building a desktop I could never go back. Put the same components from a laptop into a desktop and the desktop will run cooler, faster, and more efficiently.

Now with tablets and phones being large enough to be small tablets I don't even use the laptop, my wife has taken it over, which she even uses a kindle fire more than it now.

I just couldn't give up a full size physical mouse/keyboard, plus eyefinity, full size hardware, and proper gaming.
 
laptop exclusively except for work.

got a triple monitor setup there, it is so nice for multitasking, it's amazing.
 
robvas said:
That's about when I switched - and the exact same machine! The 700m was great. Temporarily moved and didn't have the room for a desktop setup, it was perfect.
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Agreed. It was awesome. Take it to the bathroom.....take it to the living room.

And the battery life was pretty baller.


37 laptops later.....I have an HP, this will be my 3rd HP I believe. I enjoy laptops a lot.
 
This was the first generation of laptops - and specifically mobile GPUs - with which I could completely get rid of my gaming desktop. I got a good deal on an m18x with dual 680ms three months ago and haven't looked back. Even at 2560x1600 attached to and external monitor, it handles all games perfectly with legs to spare. Overclocked, it's about the equivalent of OC'ed dual desktop GTX 670s. I feel there are no compromises whatsoever at this point (apart from the cost).

Prior to the 680m, I found that gaming laptops just didn't provide enough horsepower to merit getting rid of my desktop.
 
harmattan said:
This was the first generation of laptops - and specifically mobile GPUs - with which I could completely get rid of my gaming desktop. I got a good deal on an m18x with dual 680ms three months ago and haven't looked back. Even at 2560x1600 attached to and external monitor, it handles all games perfectly with legs to spare. Overclocked, it's about the equivalent of OC'ed dual desktop GTX 670s. I feel there are no compromises whatsoever at this point (apart from the cost).

Prior to the 680m, I found that gaming laptops just didn't provide enough horsepower to merit getting rid of my desktop.
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I agree, I hve a Single 680m laptop and on my 1080p screen it handles everything very well. For a laptop it is amazingly fast. Fast CPU and gobs of ram and fast storage help too.
 
srphoenix said:
I had only a laptop through college and it was ok for what it was then but since building a desktop I could never go back. Put the same components from a laptop into a desktop and the desktop will run cooler, faster, and more efficiently.

Now with tablets and phones being large enough to be small tablets I don't even use the laptop, my wife has taken it over, which she even uses a kindle fire more than it now.

I just couldn't give up a full size physical mouse/keyboard, plus eyefinity, full size hardware, and proper gaming.
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Disagree on your desktop vs. laptop points. You may be able to build desktop that is somewhat faster, but no way would it be as efficient. My m18x pulls just over 300W OC'ed. A desktop with similarly-powerful hardware (say an i7 2700k with dual GTX 670s) will pull around 550w without the monitor or other peripherals. Also doubtful you could build an air-cooled desktop where the CPU or GPUs are much cooler than a laptop: my i73820qm stays under 75c OC'ed and the GPUs rarely go above 70c..

Additionally, you don't need to give up the external monitor or keyboard (I didn't) when you're stationary.
 
i switched to laptop only about 6 months ago and havent looked back. thinking about adding an external monitor \ tv for movie watching in my office, but besides that i havent regretted my decision to sell my desktop. i just couldnt justify the energy costs and overkill of a desktop that got very little gaming use.
 
I was solely laptop up until recently when I built my desktop and well. I still use my laptop just not for my applications! I was upgrading the laptop roughly every year and a half just to keep up with games/running VM software and now with the desktop I can switch parts instead!

However, I still keep the laptop for its mobile purposes! :D
 
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