In praise of desktop computers.

Yeah, but what happens when you spill your Molson and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese on the PC?

Damn Canadians.....

I buy a new keyboard. What do I do when I spill a beer on a laptop keyboard?

Tablets is where it's at

And the dumbest comment of the day goes to...



Are you trying to imply that laptops are impervious to spills? If anything, they're more vulnerable.

Computers are lame...haven't touched anything electronic in years!

Yea i hate them too. You can`t build your own laptop with what you want, instead you get ~3 kgs of unknown crap.

Laptops is for sheeple who don`t mind buying a new one every 1-3 years after the old one roasts.

Um, you're somewhat behind the times. I have over 15 desktops and about 7 laptops in my home. I use some of the desktops as servers and I don't even have monitors, keyboards, or mice connected to them. I connect to them remotely.

My point is, I use a laptop on every TV that I have. I have a wireless keyboard and mouse for each laptop connected to a TV. I use them instead of paying for cable. I can watch TV shows, movies, and other streaming media just fine.

Take a device for what it is. Don't make yourself a fanboi of any particular genre of electronics. You will limit yourself technologically if you do.

I definitely like Desktops more but almost exactly two years ago I bought a 2,500 laptop that was basically the best shit ever (and it still is, really) and it's been a godsend through college. I can do whatever I want on it. Games, movies, lightning fast browsing, schoolwork, it's incredible.

When I get my own place I'm going to get a pimpin' desktop for sure, but this laptop will probably be in use for at least another five years.

I'd hate to pay your electricity bill... lol

I have one desktop iMac.... a Macbook, an iPad, and an old Compaq I keep around for those rare times when I need Windows for something.

I think each computing platform has its purpose in different situations. If I'm at home... it's the iMac. At the office... it's the Macbook. And when I'm out and about traveling, my iPad works great.

I don't put any of the types of computers over the next.

RB2, you are really going to be pissed off when the electrical grid goes down.

We all will be unhappy, but you will need convincing that life without computers is worth living.

Buy a new laptop. Your whole computer is fried.

It's not all that bad. I replaced all my light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs and like I said, I don't have many monitors installed. I have two very nice LCD screens, that's it. In fact, I hooked up a mini fridge in my office to stock some beer and crap and I'm still under my electric budget.

I do confess however, I have no Mac computers. I wish I did but they're too expensive for my tastes.

Replacing the keyboard on a laptop is only a bit harder than doing it on a PC. Go to google, purchase the keyboard for the laptop, remove a few screws, unplug a ribbon cable, plug in the ribbon cable of the new keyboard, lay it down, re apply the screws and you're done.

Nah I'll be alright. It's a hobby and a living but really, I'm flexible enough to do without. I'm living a good life now because I've worked hard for it. I haven't forgotten where I came from, which is a very poor family.

RB2, I just learned something. Thanks.

You are most welcome my friend!

They are expensive.. but I've had too many bad experiences with Windows-based PC's and that pushed me away from them. Linux is an alternative but it's too hard to find software that is supported on it. Unix/Solaris/BSD/etc are too command-line oriented to be useful to me.

I've messed with Linux before and enjoyed it but the lack of support from games is what had made it not my OS of choice. I will say, I'm probably going to start moving towards Linux in the future.

I have always had problems with Windows based PCs but nothing that I couldn't fix. Honestly, anything mainstream is going to have the bulk of the problems. If Apple based computers ever come out on top, you can expect to see more malware and virii made for the Mac OS.

If that ever happens, I hope I have also gotten a Mac. I've worked with them before and they also have a command line. In fact, I remember having to execute a command to reset the NVRAM with them to make the display visible again.

I wish I could find a great deal on a used one but generally I can get a smoking PC for the price of a used Mac.

You've got a serious masochistic streak to fuck around with that much hardware. The power bill must be sweet.

Malware/Viruses are hard to make for Mac OS because it is based on Unix... and Unix is very secure. I won't say it's COMPLETELY secure... but compared to other OS's, it's definitely got a leg-up on them.

Have quick reflexes and grab the board real fast and dump it upside down,its worked for me...so far

Again, it's really not. I have two computers for gaming, laptops for surfing, servers for hosting my files, development boxes, experimental boxes, etc.

I pay probably about $60 a month on electric bills.

If you are quick enough to do this and leave it disconnected or if a laptop, off, for at least 24 hrs and then take a blow dryer to it, you'll probably be fine. Especially if it's a sugarless drink.

The sugar tends sometimes to form a syrup which will stick to the contacts.

That's not really true. I mean its not entirely, its partially true. The main reason is because a Windows platform is not only more susceptible but much more widely used.

I've worked heavily with UNIX for a while and have seen it's fair share of quirks. Most phones today employ a mixture of UNIX/Linux within themselves and most of them are easily hacked to allow the user Super User access.

I must say, I wish Windows was more of just a GUI front end on a UNIX based system. It seems so much more stable and I think that's where Mac really has Windows beat, the stability, not necessarily the security.

you would think they would have waterproof laptops by now???

That doesn't compute, unless many of those machines are off much of the time:

[link to forums.cnet.com]
[link to www.eia.gov]

All but two machines actually have a monitor, keyboard, and mouse installed. I have taken the steps to ensure that all lights in the house are not only CF bulbs but almost always off. In addition, I attempt to make sure that AC's and such are never run.

I'll be honest though the $60 is an estimate. I have never had a bill over $100 except when the xmas lights are connected.

By the way, your first link is from 2006, plus monitor switched off is different than no monitor at all. Plus this also accounts for no cable box, no DVR, no DVD players, etc...

I only have a few power vampire devices in the house (the ones that consume power even when off). I think my microwave is one of them.

Last Edited by RB2 on 06/30/2011 02:35 AM