Laptop or desktop...

[Cifixier]

This problem has bothered me for while now but first of all little background which has lead to this:
I have a few years old laptop, 15"/3GB ram/dual core 2.16GHz/basic VideoCard, which is still runing quite smoothly windows 7 except when i'm using external monitor: the image is not clear with HD resolution so i have to use 1440x900 which is kind of annoying 'cos I bough a new monitor resently when i noticed that one monitor is not enought and I would love to use it's full potential. Secondly I can't use both my monitors and the video output is VGA. Then my old desktop is reach it's end (64Bit AMD 3500+/2GB ram/Ati Radeon 850 pro [but I already found a buyer for it]).

So I have two 24" monitors + I don't play games by my computers but the new computer has to have enough power to light weight photo manipulation, (to run virtual linux system if it will be my only computer) and have multiple tasks as runing at same time... (default situation is that i have eclipse, couple browsers, spotify, chats, few explorers, older photoshop and few other windows open at the same time)


okey, then. The problem is that now i have to buy a new computer and I have been bouncing betweed a new laptop or a desktop. So the guestion is in two part's. if I buy a new laptop how can I get both monitors in use? Does it need some docking station that has dual DVI port and if so which manufacture you guys suggest/recommend? I did a little browsing and found out that only few ones has docking station support... the second part is that I have been thinking if I also sell my current laptop and only have this one laptop with docking stations... i know it's bit risky choice but does anyone has experience from that type of situation? is it enought...? Normally i run my computer 24/7 and reboot it once in Month Still, these decisions are hard one choise defines my next 3-4 years... the desktop has it's benefits: great upgrading abilities, cheaper... also the laptop has it's own: compact, All-in-One, easy to take it with you... when i have two computers it's always balancing betweed them... another has always it what you will need into the other....

Like you can see... i can't make these type of decisions: please help me clear my mind...

[chrisportela]

I've thought of this my self a little bit. I personally think the IDEAL situation is to get a workstation laptop and maybe get a netbook to do some remote access stuff if you need the power of the workstation on the go if you catch my drift.

But I prefer a laptop over a desktop because of the mobility for sure.

You can solve the 2 screens + laptop with a VGA splitter, it should work fine that way. I use them on some Machines I work on at school and they split a single VGA port in to 2 without any noticeable issues.

[sarinson]

Hello!
This Laptop or Desktop is something like Playstation 3 or Xbox360...
If you really need the mobility of the laptop then buy a laptop but just if you really need it.But be careful if you buy a laptop the price will be higher and if after 1 or 2 years you want to upgrade it will be very hard and expensive.If you'll use the computer in your sweet desk chair then why to buy a laptop when you can have a nice desktop that you can upgrade very easy and cheap.
And i think you can use some hardware from your old computer and put it in your new one like ram and hdd.
Hope it helped!
If you need further info please replay!

[Assassian360]

I use both simultaneously.

[xhor]

I've got an old ass laptop which I use for 80% of what I need. I have a desktop that I use for gaming and RAM intensive stuff like Ableton. The laptop I do all development on and I can take it with me when I need to. It's better than doing stuff on my desktop and exporting on usb drives or whatever.

Also it's nice to browse stuff late at night on your bed, like read an e-book and crash out. Also porn wait what?

[Dwere134]

If you have a buyer for both your current machines, I suggest back your data up, sell them, and then buy one high end laptop. I can't give you any specs because I don't know EXACTLY what you would need for the processes you're looking for. But that's what I would do.From this point on, I won't BUY a desktop anymore. I'll accept free ones, for server purposes/storage purposes, but I won't buy them. No point in it. Laptops are equally powerful, and mobile. Who wants something stationary when you can get the same power, in a backpack sized case and go anywhere with it? That's just my opinion though.

[floomby]

The best solution to me seems to be to get a powerful desktops cause they are fairly cheap compared to powerful laptops and then get a laptop that is just so-so but then is highly portable and has a good battery life.