PC Laptop vs. PC Desktop vs. Macbook

[Mike]

I'm looking into getting a new computer, just not sure whether I want a PC or Mac, and if it should be a desktop or laptop.

I currently have a fully functional laptop, it works great, very fast. If I were to get a desktop, I could have Teamviewer on it so I can always access it from school, jobs, etc. using my laptop.

I'm a student in graphic design, and professionally I do website design and development. I do all of my learning on Macs in school, but I can't stand them honestly. I'm torn on whether I should buy one and force myself to use it, or if I should stick to what I know best, PCs (in school I learn everything on Macs but do all assignments and projects on my PC).

I have basically 3 options right now that I'm considering...

- Desktop with dual or tri screens to always leave in my apartment, and can connect to it remotely using my current laptop (but will be doing work from my apartment for the most part).
- Some kind of Macbook and sell my current laptop.
- Some kind of PC laptop and sell my current laptop.

Anyone have any recommendations on which I should buy?

I'd be using it for mainly design (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign - basically the whole spectrum of Adobe products), as well as development and a bit of gaming on the side (but nothing too big).

My current one is a Dell XPS L702X, kind of bulky but it's fast and does everything that I need it to.

Also, if you think the desktop is the best option, anyone have any opinions on a good monitor that I can buy 2 or 3 of that look good together (small borders)? I looked into a BenQ one that had no borders, but it got absolute poop reviews. I'm currently considering

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.

My budget is about ~$1,000-1,200 for the entire set up. Obviously if it were a Macbook then I'd do a bit more budgeting and save up for a bit longer.

 

[Detox]

I have all three. A Macbook Air, A Hp Probook and a Desktop PC.

I personally NEVER use my desktop PC, except when doing server work. Which I don't often do anymore as I don't run a server anymore. I also used to use that computer for gaming, but I don't normally play games anymore. The Hp Probook i normally use for school and business, while the Mac I use for designing, video & photography editing and partly programming.

It's really comes down to what you want to use them for. Personally I've been considering buy a Mac Pro lately, combined with my Laptop PC & Mac I pretty much have everything I need. If you're becoming a graphical designer and web designer, like myself I do a lot of freelancing in both of those fields, I would recommend a mac. It's designed to do exactly those tasks.

 

[Big G]

Well, my answer to you is Laptop. It just simple, Portable and nice.

 

[SirEpicWin]

I would normally recommend a Desktop no matter what.But I came a cross this beast a few months ago :

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with a core i7 quad and a GT755M SLI for $1k, you can design and play the latest games at highest settings.

Intel Core i7-4700MQ :

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GT755M SLI benchmarks :

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ideapad review @ notebookreview :

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(you can check other sties they all almost gave it 80% approve.)

 

[Baha]

I would normally recommend a Desktop no matter what.But I came a cross this beast a few months ago :

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with a core i7 quad and a GT755M SLI for $1k, you can design and play the latest games at highest settings.

Intel Core i7-4700MQ :

You must be registered to see links

GT755M SLI benchmarks :

You must be registered to see links

ideapad review @ notebookreview :

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(you can check other sties they all almost gave it 80% approve.)

It's a really great laptop, just note that the battery life isn't so good.

 

[SirEpicWin]

It's a really great laptop, just note that the battery life isn't so good.

Yes due to the SLI configuration which is acceptable.

 

[Rishwin]

Yes due to the SLI configuration which is acceptable.

No, due to the specs. The SLI will not even run on the battery, the battery physically does not have enough power to run it. These kinds of laptops are to be plugged in at all times. Don't even try gaming on battery - battery life aside the games themselves will run like poop because the battery can't run these components at high enough voltages to actually render games. You would literally be turning the GPU's off & running it off integrated GPU if you wanted to use it on battery.

 

[Robert]

Desktop PC.

You already have a perfectly good laptop, there is no point in replacing it with something basically the same. Like you say, you can 'always' connect to it through VPN software, and doing that would give you far more processing power than any laptop for the same price.

As for a Mac, sigh. If you need to ask the question, then you don't really want a Mac. The only people who should use a Mac are those who have already been indoctrinated by Apple to buy their stuff. Seriously if you really need to use the Mac OS you can always install it on a partition and get far better performance than what you'd have gotten buying a Mac for the same price.

As for a monitor, I really want one of these:

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basically dual monitor size, but without the bezel annoyance.

 

[Emetophobic]

Desktop PC will always be the best solution. According to your budget, dual-screen would be the best option, since setting up too many screens can end you to get a pretty high-end dedicated graphic card to handling up those.
To the laptop side, I've not really tested Macbooks so I can't judge it at the moment, I will also be a web design student in September and my current laptop is a 2013 high-end gaming laptop from ASUS ROG series (G750JX-T4145H) that cost me around 1500€ (which is equal to 2100$), If you're interessed in the rig:

Intel Core i7-4700HQ @3.4GHz Quad, Hyperthreaded (4p, 4v)
16GB RAM 1600MHz
Nvidia GeForce GTX 770M SLI 2-way (pretty useless on a laptop but good to know though) w/ 3GB of dedicated memory (It equals a GTX 660 Desktop), got an update months ago that add support for up to 4k displays over HDMI may be good for you ^^
2x500GB Hybrid HDD 7500r/min with hard RAID
17.3" LED Full HD Screen
All USB port are USB3
Minidisplay port (which serve me as an intel thunderbolt port)
Backlited keyboard
And for the optical drive it's a CD/DVD combo and blu-ray reader
Support for Gigaethernet

But it's a bit bulky (4.2kg battery inserted), considering that I have the same usage as you I definitly adivce you to save for getting this one (G750JW are cheaper but configurations are lower too, check by yourself) but if mobility is not that much a criteria I will still adivce you go for a desktop rig.

 

[jamesmartin]

I saw all above suggestion for your query, As per me I will suggest Laptop because you can easily carry and move from one place to another place. I am using laptop from 10 yrs and I have not feel any problem with this.

Thank you for discussing this post with all of us.

 

[NoBrain]

with a core i7 quad and a GT755M SLI for $1k, you can design and play the latest games at highest settings.

Apart from ArmA 3!

As for the topic, I would always purchase a Desktop over a Laptop (including Macbooks). Simply because it's future proof, with a laptop you'd have to keep buying brand new ones with a Desktop you can just pick a part to replace and upgrade it. And last but not least, NEVER GAME ON BUILT-IN GRAPHICS. You will eventually just burn out the chip because of the heat generated. And this includes Minecraft

Edit
I own a Mid-2012 MacBook Pro, worst decision ever. Although it makes porn more easily accessible. It's really not worth over £1000. I should have just bought a new Desktop >.>