Laptop or Desktop: Which Is Right for You?
- 2002.11.22
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The original Macintosh brought
a new type of computer to the world, something in between a
luggable
and a desktop (the first "laptop" PC didn't ship until 1985). The
Mac could be toted around, but it couldn't be run from a battery.
This is where the Mac Portable,
its clones, and the PowerBooks came in.
The first PowerBooks didn't offer quite as much as their desktop
counterparts, but they allowed the user to bring their work with
them. They did allow for some expansion with SCSI ports, just like on desktop Macs, serial ports, and
ADB ports (with the exception of the PowerBook 150). Later PowerBooks offered
internal CD-ROM drives, PCMCIA (PC Card) slots, options for two
batteries, larger screens, and color displays.
The major differences between laptops and desktops have remained
consistent over the years. Laptops tend not to be able to accept as
much RAM as an equivalent desktop. Laptops almost always have
smaller hard drives - the PowerBook
G4 currently has a 60 GB hard drive in the high-end version
(thanks to all those who corrected my last
article - 80 GB is the largest capacity hard drive offered that
can fit into a PowerBook, not 100 GB). The high end G4 tower comes
stock with a 120 GB hard drive and has room for several additional
drives.
The question you really have to ask is whether or not you will
need to upgrade your computer significantly in the future. Most
users add some RAM but essentially keep the computer in its stock
configuration for its lifetime. Power users usually add RAM, maybe
a new hard drive, and perhaps replace the video card. Upgrading RAM
in a PowerBook isn't hard, but PowerBooks can only hold so much
compared to desktops. RAM for laptop computers also tends to cost
more.
Hard drives are reasonably easily replaced, but the special 2.5"
hard drives are expensive compared to the 3.5" drives found in
desktops, and they generally have a lower capacity.
Replace the video card in a laptop? Forget it. I know of no
laptop where this is possible (if you do, please let me know).
Certainly there is no Mac laptop where you are able to swap out the
video card. If Apple did include this capability, it would lose
sales of new machines, as everyone would be upgrading their old
ones.
If you don't mind being limited when it comes to these things, a
laptop may be for you. If you need a faster video card, lots of
RAM, a larger than 80 GB hard drive, a desktop is best.
|
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Min/Max RAM
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128/640 MB
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256/1024 MB
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256/2048 MB
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Std hard drive
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20-30 GB
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40-60 GB
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60-120 GB
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HD RPM
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4200 rpm
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4200 rpm
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7200 rpm
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Max hard drive
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80 GB
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80 GB
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300+ GB, up to 4 drives
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Max HD RPM
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5400 rpm
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5400 rpm
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15000 rpm
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Video chipset
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ATI Mobility Radeon 7500
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ATI Mobility Radeon 9000
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nVidia GeForce 4 or ATI Radeon 9000 Pro
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VRAM
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16/32 MB
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32/64 MB
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32/64 MB
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Max resolution
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1024 x 768
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1280 x 852
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1920x1200
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2nd display?
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no
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yes
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yes
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Of course, your other option is to buy both a desktop and
a laptop, if you can afford it. This allows you to have your main
desktop system with more RAM, a bigger hard drive, and a better
video card, as well as a basic laptop that meets your minimum
requirements for use when you are out and about. If you think this
is the best solution, you might try looking at refurbished
machines. I noticed that Apple is currently offering a refurbished
iBook for $799, and I'm sure you can find similar deals from other Apple dealers.
As for towers? Older G4s (some of which can have their
processors upgraded) are all over eBay
(but be careful - don't buy from anyone with a large amount of
negative feedback, for example) and Mac dealer websites. A used 400
MHz G4 typically sells for under $800, so you may be able to buy
both an older iBook and a desktop G4 for under $1,600. If you don't
mind living without the most current models, this may be something
to look into.
Both laptops and desktops have their advantages and
disadvantages. The best way to work out which is best for you is to
determine which capabilities you need and which ones you can live
without.
Recent Apple Archive articles- iPods, notebooks, and other modern electronics more readily replaced than repaired, 12.07.
Whether it's an intermittent failure or a broken display cable, more often than not it's cheaper to replace a broken electronics device than repair it.
- Options for replacing your older iPod, 11.19.
Whether you've run out of space on your old iPod or want features it doesn't have, here are your options in new and used iPods.
- Could the $200 'green' PC with gOS Linux become a threat to Apple?, 11.14.
The low cost, low power Everex desktop comes with a customized version of Ubuntu Linux, has a Mac-like Dock, and sells for $400 less than the Mac mini.
- Leopard different, a bit buggy, but worth the upgrade, 11.02.
Leopard on a Power Mac G4 and a MacBook Pro: It runs well on both computers, but each has some odd bugs, and some of the changes are a step backwards.
- More in the Apple Archive index.
Links for the Day- Mac of the Day: PowerBook 170, Oct. 1991 - At 25 MHz, the PB 170 was at the top of the original PowerBook line.
- List of the Day: The iPhone List Low End Mac's forum for discussing and supporting Apple's iPhone.
- August 30 in LEM history: 99: The truth about USB speed - 00: Could Eazel kill the Mac? - Mac OS 8.1 on a IIci and LC III - 01: Beyond MHz and GHz - Getting a handle on email - Thanks for the IBM PC, Dad - Apple's anniversaries - 02: Mac OS X v10.2 - iBook video out - 04: Things that freak out my students - 06: Nvu and SeaMonkey can't replace Home Page - 07: DVD-RAM support
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