Laptops vs. desktops as gaming computers

[caranorn]

I got my laptop a bit more than a year ago (Dell Inspiron 1525, and yes, it's dying on me already). Since then I've played all my games on the laptop. I only have one game that will not run on it, that's WWI, which I only test ran on my desktop and haven't played since. These days I use my desktop to watch TV, videos, listen to music etc. Gaming, writing, drawing, internet and the like I do on the laptop. Add to that that I can actually carry my laptop around (yes I know, they are made for it, but even a 15" laptop like this takes up space and weight)...

I'm not sure what I will do when this laptop dies, which could be any day now. Originally I planned to get one of those miniature laptops that are really easily transportable (a friend carries one in her handbag (yes, a big handbag)). But I couldn't run any kind of game on that, not to mention having no CD/DVD drive is blasphemy to me. Maybe I'll be able to afford both a good laptop to play games on and a small portable one...

[TiFlo]

There's no way I'll be a guinea pig (no offense to the guinea pigs of the world ) and test Win7, nor will I buy anything that offers Vista only. XP is confirmed stable and I only need a new reliable laptop with a reliable operating system not something with faulty Vista or fashionably new with an experimental Win7 operating system. Maybe the next go around in about 5 years when Win7 has possibly demonstrated its reliability.

I did not mean to imply one should buy a system that doesn't add anything revolutionary in term of usability, let alone its obvious memory hunger. But since we are practically forced to buy a Windows system with a new computer, and since you already have XP, why not as well get yourself Vista, or 7. I personnaly don't see any use in having two installation cds of the same system, when I have to buy a new one anyway despite already having one that works.

At worst, you uninstall it right away and put XP instead, and at best you get to try it and play around with it a bit, while still retaining the availability of ol'reliable XP if you want to rollback

[MarkShot]

The boutique (Falcon-NW) vendor I ordered from last year (a desktop for my wife) ... I ordered with Vista Ultimate 32bit, but sent them an XP Pro 32bit CD for installation. Later, when it was released they shipped me my Vista SP1 media. I doubt I will ever run Vista. However, maybe when the time comes maybe I can use the Vista to purchase a cheap upgrade to Win7 to play with it and learn by running a VM.

I remember prior to the migration from Win98SE to XP, I purchased two thick books on XP and read about 2,000 pages on the new OS and its features. I think I would rather be able to hands on play with a new OS the next time than have to simply read and take notes while working out a deployment plan.

[Doomwalker]

But it just doesn't compare with his "Frankenputer" in the basement.

Ah yes, I have one of those also Mae. It started as an Alienware, and now is Doomwalkerware. The only thing original now, is the case. The next upgrade is a new case, but that is some time away as the old one is sentimental.

My vote is for a desktop, due to the graphics. Which do look great on those monster screens. But, for AACW, my laptop is perfect. I love the portability.

[Doomwalker]

On the XP vs Vista issue.

I myself use XP, and will for the forseeable future. But, Vista isn't too bad. At my last employer, I was tasked with testing Vista for company release. I found some interesting things that could be done to Vista to reduce the drain on a system. Some so drastic as to basically turn it into XP! If you have the resources to throw at it, under 64-bit, Vista can be a great performer.

But as stated, XP is and will be on all my computers for some time.