Question

[katikat]

I have a question for all of you who have both a computer and a laptop at home: for what do you use your computer and for what the laptop? I want to buy a laptop too and my plans got me thinking...

And as a thank-you for replying - a picture. That's also an answer to my question, don't you think?

Comments

[sharona1x2.livejournal.com]

Aw, kitty! How cute!

I use my computer for regular day-to-day stuff, and take my laptop with me when I travel. I also use the laptop to play anime when I want to watch something on the sofa or in bed, instead of in my home office.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I just needed to justify the purchase for myself. I convinced my mum of the necessity to buy a laptop, but I need to do the same for myself :)

[tgreywords.livejournal.com]

Basically, I use my computer for day-to-day internet/downloading stuff and I also use it as a backup hard drive for my laptop. I plan to network the two at some point, so at the end of each day, I can copy the hdd of my laptop over to the computer. This is important because I use my laptop soley for writing, nothing else. I like being able to sit down on the couch at night and write, that is usually when I get the most work done. :)

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I needed to justify the purchase for my inner self too :D

[deityofdeath.livejournal.com]

Well I havent gotten a lap top yet........ but when I do I plan to use it for writing purposes. I want to be an author and its really hard to concentrate at home. I always get ideas when I'm walking around somewhere or visiting friends.

It would also be nice to have one for when I go places (like anime conventions) especially if it has a DVD player. Helps curb the boredom in con lines or when chilling in hotel rooms.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :) I know that I need the laptop, but sometimes its hard to justify the purchase for my inner greedy self who likes to hang on MONEY! :D

[deityofdeath.livejournal.com]

It's worth it and plus you should spoil yourself every now and then.

[morgan-idril.livejournal.com]

Got both, the desktop was to drag me into the twentieth century, and the laptop was so I could take it places and write, my son will tell you it was so we could watch DVDs.
Er, both was correct, I made sure the laptop had separate memory.

Now, desktop rebuilt to adapt to kid gaming, and downloading manga, anime, SG1 and stories, lots of stories. And hold my writing. Same applies to laptop who also has visited Animefest several times serving as a pacifier as we drove across Texas. or rode the train. Still attempt to write on them but have a tendency to prefer to compose by hand, a royal pain to transpose to puter.

Oh yes both have contributed to my ebay hunts for anime, manga and GW figures.

Any help?

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D Looks like your laptop is a well-travelled boy! :D

[rochan01.livejournal.com]

Hi, wandered through via GundamHerald (http://http://www.livejournal.com/community/gundam_herald//), to drool over your fics.

I have both, have had one of each for many years.

Desktop=workhorse.
Over 400gig storage (3 HDs), dual DVD burners, 1 regular & one double-layer (after having burnt out 2 cd burners), dual boot system (Win 98 & XP Pro, used depending on which programs I need - not all work on both). Nice big 20" monitor, the usual peripherals (scanner, printer, webcam, microphone, speakers, etc). Used for DL fansubs/scanlations & burn same, most home websurfing, most home word processing, - really most home stuff due to size of monitor and ergonomic keyboard. Now that I am spoiled, I will ALWAYS have a huge monitor. I work on a back-up team on a fansite, most of that work is on the desktop. Any financial stuff also goes on desktop for security reasons. Desktop also hooked to both internet cable and cable television via video card, a nice luxury. Work on most of the screen, watch a program in a small box in some of the screenspace. It is very nice to have all these things stationary and not having to connect/disconnect stuff from laptop all the time (the old laptop had no docking station, the new one is just networked in as needed).

The desktop is completely custom-built. While that's not necessary, it is awfully nice to be able to have enough space in the case and know your way around it enough to be able to swap in components as you need them and can afford them. Processor, which helps prevent obsolescence, & More storage space, especially! Started as a 1-drive, 1-burner machine, with slower processor, peripherals & upgrades as needed/budget permitted. Space has also enabled complete XP OS backup. If something horrid happens to one XP operating system drive, I can boot in XP off the other and have all my programs. Handy for potential HD failure, and some kinds of viruses.

All this flexibility is why I would take a desktop as #2 machine and not another laptop. You can just keep plugging stuff in as needed, and components/upgrades are SO much cheaper than for a laptop.

Laptop=portable and auxilliary machine. Primary use is for travel, & portable entertainment. Always used to DL photos from camera when on the road, also for web access while travelling. Viewing DVDs or reading fanfiction or eBooks on a plane, or while stagnating in airports.

I've also actually taken my wireless router on vacation w/25 feet of cable to ensure signal, talk about handy! Nothing like doing your work on the deck watching the ocean roll in. At home, with wireless internet, used when I can't be at my desk (cooking, usually, or in the yard watching pets). Also a great spare hookup when 2 people working. Or if I'm doing my own stuff and also working from home, I may run both at the same time, or if the desktop is currently cranking out a video conversion (converting to VCD, for example) that is very processor and memory intensive, I use the laptop at those times for all other tasks.

Current laptop is reasonably high-powered, actually has faster processor than desktop, XP Pro and Office 2003, cd burner, etc. I have never regretted getting a powerful portable. (This is the 2nd, the ol' Win95 machine was hot for its day but finally became functionally obsolete) I have duplicated all critical (to me) software - Japanese word processing, ftp programs for site updates, all the internet favorites - so I am fully functional with either for the most-used, or hardest to replace programs. When on vacation, I take duplicates of the electronic tickets and the itineraries, reservations, etc with me in the laptop. If 'certain people' (grrrr, there's one in every crowd) forget their paperwork, all I need is a hookup in the airport or hotel and can reprint. Oh yeah, also very good for backup pda. That way you have your data with you if pda crashes on vacation and takes all your ph# with it.

Anyway, it's a nice little luxury to have, if you can afford it. If nothing else, having 2 machines can keep some harmony in the home when more than one person wants access.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

First thing - hi there! Nice to meet you! *shakes hands* I didn't know such an LJ comm as GundamHerald even existed :)

And *blinkblink* Wow, you have the whole thing really well thought through. I mean, wow... my desktop is 40gb, 512mb, 1,3Mhz thingy with CD burner only and wireless web connection :D I want to buy a simple laptop of 60gb, 512mb, 1,5Mhz, DVD+/-RW DL and WiFi. The only thing I do with anime, is download it and watch it. I have no idea how to do conversions and my work is all about sitting down and writing - I'm translating fantasy books from English into Czech. And so I really want to have the possibility to work where I want and when I want and not be that dependent on electricity - especially during storms >.< - and to be able to hide in bed from the freezer that's my room during winters. And I don't have to worry about anybody claiming my computer since I live only with my mum who uses computers just to play cards :D

Thank you so much for assuring me of the necessity to buy this toy ;)

[rochan01.livejournal.com]

Fabulous! My father was born just outside Prague, emigrated around 1945 for obvious reasons.... Unfortunately although he speaks around 7 languages, they did the "become American" thing and raised me with one only. Had to learn a few more on my own and wish Czech was one. Oh well. All I can do is say the names of a few favorite foods!

If you have a lot of storm outage problems, remember the batteries are usually only good for a couple hours, 3 tops. If it happens a lot you may want a spare battery and charger but not if it only happens occasionally - they are expensive! Your laptop sounds about like mine and I am very happy with it. I do sometimes use it in bed!! You may want to check where the cooling vents are on yours - many have some on the bottom and to prevent the thing overheating from the vents getting blocked when it sinks into the blankets on a cold winter night, you may want a lap desk with a hard top surface.

um... that's about it. and ebags.com has pretty decent cheap laptop sleeves and cases. Coupons here http://www.allonlinecoupons.com/st/ebags/