Is it better to get a laptop or desktop for home use?

Well, that of course depends on whether you want to travel with it. On average, desktops perform better and last longer. But of course, they’re big and immobile. If you have two children in high school/college, they’re probably going to want to take it to class with them, but that’s up to you.

What did you have before it broke? Were you happy with it?

since it is going to be shared and used at home only, i would think about a desktop.

i don’t pay attention to brands, but actual computer specs. if specs aren’t your thing,
you can go with a brand like dell or the like; they seem safe enough
(however, i am a mac user, so i can’t say for sure).

personally, i say always get as much warrenty as you can afford. it is a good thing to
have.

@Quagmire: I had an HP desktop before. It lasted almost 4 years.

I will have to decide if I want my sons to be mobile or not since we will be sharing it

3 years ago, I bought my wife an HP laptop. She is still pissed.

For myself, I can’t see myself as having anything other than a laptop, because I like to be able to travel with it and I’m taking it to college, but I have my own computer and it’s different. When you’re sharing a computer, it could be either one, but a desktop does last longer and will be less likely to get damaged. If something does go wrong, they’re a lot easier to repair. Laptops can be dropped and desktops are more sturdy and much more customizable. Also, if you want the computer to stay in one place so one person isn’t hogging it or something like that, a desktop is a better idea.

It seems the popularity of desktops are on the way out, but I still prefer them. It’s much easier, and cheaper, to diagnose and replace a part on a desktop. Plus, for the same money, you’ll get a more powerful machine. Laptops have their uses, if you’re on the go a lot or if you don’t have room, but you give up some things when not going with a desktop.

As long as you won’t be taking it anywhere, get a desktop. Here are some reasons:

1) It will last longer – better cooling system, less chance of being knocked off the table or something
2) More Secure – less chance of being stolen (it happens, believe me)
3) More powerful – you can cram a lot better specs into a desktop than laptop
4) Cheaper – you can get more computing power for your dollar
5) More inputs and usb ports – great things to have in general (you can also probably wire up more monitors than you could with a laptop)
6) Monitor choice – you can get however big of a monitor you want, no more sticking with a tiny laptop screen
7) Less chance of hogging – one sibling can’t take it in his room and use it for the whole night

I personally use a laptop, but that’s simply because I’m not sharing the computer and I’m a student and need to bring it everywhere.

@Sunflower, I’m on my second HP desktop I got in April. I’m VERY pleased. And with my 23 inch monitor, I love it. And the 2.1 logitech speakers that I got with it, AWESOME. No laptop will have speakers like that.

What I DON’T recommend is SONY. Not for computers.

@Sunflower lurve given. Welcome to fluther!

If you don’t need it for travel, you can get more machine for less money with a desktop.

If two boys are going to share. Never make it mobile.

Desktop.

Welcome to Fluther.

@Marina says it all, more for less with a desktop.

However my laptop is like a 200 drawer filing cabinet with everything I need to know right there locked inside it, and I can take it with me anywhere I go.

So I vote for a laptop for you and a desktop for the kids at home.

Don’t waste your money on an extended warranty. They are almost never worth it.

Electronics fail in a pattern called a “bathtub curve.” This means that IF they are going to fail, they will fail early in their life (first 90 days or so) or late in their life (after many years). There are very low failure rates in between (the time of the extended warranty). If the computer is good for 3–6 months, you will have a reliable machine for years.

Whenever I am offered an extended warranty by the checkout person, I always answer, “Why? Do I need one? Do these things fail a lot?” All they can do is mumble.

@rooeytoo, makes a good point. It struck me too that you only have one machine and I can’t see how that’s enough. Get one and one, then a router and make yourself a home network.

Edit: Forgot about the warranty. I agree with @PerryDolia. Do not do the warranty! Rip off.

I always go for the 3 year extended warranty. @PerryDolia and @Marina – is that “bathtub curve” a statistically sound theory?

And don’t get a Gateway! Total trash. Stick with HP or Dell.

What Consumers SHould Know About Extended Warranties

Excerpt:

“Electronic stores make more money off the extended service plans than any other product. The plans themselves don’t cover any accidental damage. That includes anything they determine could have be caused by accidental use, even if it wasn’t. Although the sales counselor will tell you they are very reasonable, that’s not necessarily true. If they can justify not paying for the repair, they will. If your laptop screen cracks, don’t expect them to fix it.

Most of the repairs actually needed do occur within the manufacturer’s warranty period and thus are covered. So even if you buy the service plan and your product breaks you may still have to deal with the manufacturer directly. This is especially true on the smaller replacement protection plans and on some computer service plans.”

I have both and I prefer the desktop, which was built to custom specs in 2004 and still worked very well even with all the latest software. My laptop is an HP and though I’ve had no operational problems with it I don’t like my laptop so much because A) the battery life is an abysmal 2 hours, and B) with Vista Home Premium pre-installed, I can’t network it to my XP Pro desktop.

Bienvenue à Fluther, @Sunflower!

I have a Dell, my wife has an eMachine. Both are good desktops. If you have a little computer savvy, you can go here and get a pretty good deal on a barebones model.

I’d definitely have to say a laptop, but be strict about how and when it’s used. Since there are two boys around the same age, they’re going to fight over it occassionally. Also, if you go with a laptop, DO NOT GET AN HP LAPTOP. They have terrible motherboards and cheap wiring. A year and a half ago, me & my three roommates bought laptops on the same day. I bought a Toshiba, Heather bough a Dell, and Ty & Matt bought HP’s. Guess which two laptops are still running?! That’s right! Mine & Heather’s. Out of the two of ours, I’d say go with Dell. Heather’s seems to be lasting a bit longer and doesn’t have the little problems mine does. They’re essentially inexpensive and can be personalized! :)

If you do decide to go with a desktop, make it a Dell. Toshiba & HP are good, but Dell is better. Whatever you do, don’t get a Gateway. They’re so scarce these days for a reason.

Oh, and one other thing – if you so decide to get 2 laptops, ACER is a good brand for basic things – word processing, internet, etc. So maybe get a Dell for your high school son & you and an ACER for your college boy? Let me know! :)

I have to add my 2 cents worth. I had an Acer and in Australia, there are no service centers to visit. And if you search on their website it is like looking for a needle in a haystack to find out how and where to get service. They are not service oriented AT ALL here. Perhaps it is different in USA but I would check that out before I purchase one.

Yeah, ACER’s def. have service centers here. I live in Gainesville (Home of the Florida Gators!) and we have 3 I think. There’s RadioShack which is an authorized service center, BestBuy which is an authorized service center, and then 1 regular one. Just depends on the area I suppose.