OK, I've been buying and repairing IBM thinkpads for about 7 years now. The good ones!

I'm not about to mistake a laptop with a desktop. My current desktop has a Microsoft "ergo" split keyboard, LARGE wireless mouse (got it here LONG time ago) and a 27 inch Samsung monitor. It also has 5 or 6 different HDDs, and 2 DVD burners.

TRY THAT on a laptop!

Oh, I have been able to run up to 4 different IDE devices, on a T23, at the same time.

steve

A laptop that has an external monitor, keyboard and mouse all plugged in. The only time I ever use it as a laptop is when I take it to the Genius Bar.

Desktop. My desk has all kinds of neat stuff to make computing fun. I can't mobilize all that stuff with a laptop.

I must say a desk top (or 5) is the answer for me, my ‘Viktor’ is custom built and I won’t brag about him too much but he has swirly fan light in him and is a 12 core and 32g of ram, I forget how many terabytes of memory is internal, oh, all usb3, 3D Bluray burner as well. Can’t do all that with a lab burner. Oh, It dubs as a heater in the winter and weighs in at over 100 pounds.

This poll was not entirely shocking, unbelivable... different even, as computing trends are constantly shifting, and it's always interesting to see what consumers prefer.
For instance, Sony's VAIO line ceased making desktops years ago in favor of laptops, as they predicted trends to move in that direction.
With the proliferation of tablets and the new Windows 8 OS, computing will inexorably move in that direction.

All in all, I consider laptops and/or tablets to merely be an alternative.

Call me Old World, but my homebase is, was - and always shall be a big, honkin' desktop with tons of periferals...Thank you very much.

And by the way, not to sound like a total suckup; Woot is a fun and interesting place for computer and consumer electronics deals.

Where's the option for all of the above? Of course we have a main desktop for music editing and taking care of the websites, and that's what the boys usually use for their homeschooling. While fixing breakfast and taking care of the housework I am always checking in on my laptop, the netbook is tethered in the car for NPR and TED talks (and wootoffs) when running errands and shopping. Reading and doing some research on the my tablet while the kids had game time on theirs before bed, and checking in here on my DroidX2 while up for the middle of the night piss, (be kind to your prostate boys or you will regret it when you get old). Couldn't use just one of these for everything and have gotten so used to having the options that I would hate giving up any particular one

tibault wrote:This poll was not entirely shocking, unbelivable... different even, as computing trends are constantly shifting, and it's always interesting to see what consumers prefer.
For instance, Sony's VAIO line ceased making desktops years ago in favor of laptops, as they predicted trends to move in that direction.
With the proliferation of tablets and the new Windows 8 OS, computing will inexorably move in that direction.

All in all, I consider laptops and/or tablets to merely be an alternative.

Call me Old World, but my homebase is, was - and always shall be a big, honkin' desktop with tons of periferals...Thank you very much.

And by the way, not to sound like a total suckup; Woot is a fun and interesting place for computer and consumer electronics deals.

I'm liking this guy!

In the "field" a laptop is fine. But, at home, the REAL computer is where it's at.

steve

Mobile Cray Y-MP C90 is the only way to compute! Just be sure you have your commercial semi-truck license up to date, and plenty of fuel for your 500kW generator! ;-P

As a gamer, gotta say desktop. My video card alone is almost half the size of a laptop.

As a family often on the move, no desktops. Three laptops, two of which are connected to monitors, a netbook and 2 tablets. I use my tablet and one of the desktops mainly, but they each have their ups and downs.

skou wrote:OK, I've been buying and repairing IBM thinkpads for about 7 years now. The good ones!

I'm not about to mistake a laptop with a desktop. My current desktop has a Microsoft "ergo" split keyboard, LARGE wireless mouse (got it here LONG time ago) and a 27 inch Samsung monitor. It also has 5 or 6 different HDDs, and 2 DVD burners.

TRY THAT on a laptop!

Oh, I have been able to run up to 4 different IDE devices, on a T23, at the same time.

steve

You are right but try to carry all these hardware instead of a tablet. every hardware has a different use but in my opinion I can bring it to a cafe and write (now) or read something...

I really wish there was an option for all four.

I have been known to sit in front of my desktop or my laptop (which I use like a desktop) and use my tablet and smartphone at the same time.

With cloud storage I find it unnecessary to take my laptop places. So I end up using my desktop and tablet more.

It depends.

Desktop for gaming and HTPC.

Laptop for anything else.

And smartphones for on the go or looking up something quick while watching TV.

All of the above. I have 2 desktops, 3 laptops, 2 tablets, 2 smart phones, and a kindle. They all get used. If I am on the go, tablet. If I am on a business trip with downtime, tablet and laptop. If I am at home, desktop for media, gaming, photo stuff, and reports, tablet for surfing the net, checking email, reading books at night, and generally just playing round. Kindle for reading during the day. Phones for when I have to answer it or text someone because I don't want to talk.

Built a desktop, own a 17" MacBook Pro, a kindle, and a smartphone. I've got the best of four worlds, all of which serve a different purpose to me.

If your laptop spends more than 90% of its time on your desk, you would be better off with a desktop and a smartphone.

This is like asking an auto mechanic if he uses more than one tool. Each brings some capability in play better than the other.

You forgot Slate (not a Tablet, i.e. iPad or an Android consumption tool, but like Samsung Series 7 or Asus EP121). It trumps them all.

laptop, tablet, smartphone.

Somehow our family is managing with 1 computer (laptop) after the kids spilled a water balloon on their laptop and I'm refusing to replace it. However, we have a total of 6 iOS devices for 4 people, which helps with the 1 computer thing.

I have a desktop at work and at home, as well as a laptop. I am definitely partial to the desktop and have dual monitors on both setups. There is nothing like being able to spread things out over 2 screens!

Desktop,We have two desktops,mind and my wife's,she also has a laptop,that I bought her some years back,its a HP G70T.The hard drive just died,so I am replaceing it with a 7200RPM WD 500,and 8gb of memory,and updating it with Windows 7 64bit.I am also building a new desktop for myself,new case and all the good stuff.It is nice being retired,so I can do all the stuff I want,and not worrying about going to work.

Each has it's own place. I find the desk top easier to use at home/office. My laptop is used during buisness for presentations and occational at home when I want to be out of my "office". The smart phone is my quick link to email and limited apps/internet.
I am looking for a tablet to use while traveling, vactioning, for reading, and use away from the desktop.

So many people saying "Desktop" and yet at this moment, Laptops are leading....


In our house we have 3 desktops, 3 laptops, 1 tablet, and 3 Android smartphones.

Whenever I want to sit and watch TV, I will use the laptop. However, if that TV show is on Hulu, I will take the laptop to my office, set it next to my desktop, and watch Hulu on the laptop while doing some real computing on one of the desktops.

Price:Performance ratio of a desktop can't be beat.

Some will assume that I have some super new desktops and old crappy laptops, but in actuality, the desktops are all at least 1 year older than the oldest laptop, and the most expensive desktop still cost me less than the cheapest laptop I own, including large monitor, great keyboard and mouse, etc.

So for me, a power user, a desktop is a must and I am good with that. I still use laptops as mentioned above, for casual use, or travel, but for the real work (or play) give me a desktop any day.

Duh! All of the above!

Why isn't there a 'Both" option.

I picked desktop but I use a desktop for gaming and a (very small) laptop for anything that involves me using a computer around the house or at other peoples' houses. I couldn't do without either one. I could do fine without my smartphone.

I'm curious about the person who has multiple desktops, laptops, tablets and a kindle and uses them all. Specifically: how!?

I did 'not' expect Desktop and Laptop to be tied. I figured it would be overwhelming advantage to Laptops.