Why I Don’t Work On A Laptop
It just seems strange how many friends have reported that their laptops have been giving them trouble lately. Then, another friend and partner Kelly McCausey said something about not buying laptops anymore because they don’t last. That brought me to a realization, why I work exclusively on a desktop that I’d long forgotten. Every time I tell people I work on a desktop they tend to look at me like an alien so I’ll explain.
First of all, I never really got the hang of the laptop keyboard. I like the numeric key portion of a standard keyboard and use it a lot, every single day. I know where the digits are much like touch typing. Entering numbers across the top is so strange for me. So yeah it’s a habit and I don’t see a reason to break it.
Second, I like working at a desk. Many people love working from their couch or bed or any place that is not a desk or office space. For me, the desk and office keeps me centered, focused. I’m working. The couch is for relaxing, enjoying the family and when I’m at the park. I’m at the park having fun.
Third. It could also be partly because of what I do. If I were a writer or a graphic artist, I can certainly see why it would be great to work on a laptop. You get inspiration to write or draw out in the sunshine and fresh air. But me, I need to have multiple tabs and browsers running to check for cross-browser compatibility, I run a web server to develop applications and test them and I need to be constantly connected to the Internet to look up code, find solutions, test a web site, constantly uploading and downloading.
Yes, the laptop can do all of that but often with less muscle and I cannot stand waiting around especially when you’re testing applications, you want feedback quickly so you can tweak or fix issues right away. In our office, we build our own desktops and we often build it to very high specs to last us a couple of years and we build in plenty of fans to keep the computer cool. To build something of the same configuration on a laptop would cost a fortune and with the packed configuration, limited space and all that, a laptop is just not meant to work hours on end like a tower can. It builds heat too fast, putting it on a cooler feels awkward or the fans are too loud. And heat, is a computer’s worst enemy.
I think that’s why many fellow entrepreneurs find their laptops failing long before time. Because it’s put to work for too long. I know new technology now the laptops today are miles ahead of the ones in the past. I admit that but they still aren’t the work horse a desktop is meant to be.
And a Mac? Yeah, I do have an old Powerbook. It started making crazy noises only after a year. Granted it is nothing severe – I think it has something to do with the sound card or the speakers but the guys at the Apple store couldn’t help me and told me to send it to California. Well… I think I’ll pass. I am pretty disappointed with it though considering the hype everyone gives you about Apple. One day I will get another Mac replacement, after that last incident, I just can’t say when.
Meanwhile, this home built PC of mine has been chugging along faithfully, over 2 years, getting on 3 years now. It’s still fast, robust and kicks butt.
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Such a timely post. My laptop started making strange noises last night and as of this morning will not boot up. My guess is the hard drive has failed. It's a fairly new laptop and has been serving as my primary machine for the last few months.
I enjoy working on my laptop and know I simply could not work without having one, but I am certainly rethinking having it as my primary machine.
Time to invest in a better desktop system and use my laptop less often.
Yep, I'm with you. 🙂 I like my desktop; it means I can get up and leave me work. 😀
I have a little netbook for travelling, but that's because I *have* to have some contact while on the road. Which I'm not, very often.
Sorry to hear of your troubles Michelle. It certainly is a personal
preference. Hope it all pans out well.
We are too alike Andrea and that's right. Laptop just gives me too
much excuse to stay 'at work'. I used to bring the Powerbook along on
travels. Even that I've begun to leave behind. Annoying noises aside,
just find the phone a little more convenient and all I do is email,
some social stuff when traveling.
Such a timely post. My laptop started making strange noises last night and as of this morning will not boot up. My guess is the hard drive has failed. It's a fairly new laptop and has been serving as my primary machine for the last few months.
I enjoy working on my laptop and know I simply could not work without having one, but I am certainly rethinking having it as my primary machine.
Time to invest in a better desktop system and use my laptop less often.
Yep, I'm with you. 🙂 I like my desktop; it means I can get up and leave me work. 😀
I have a little netbook for travelling, but that's because I *have* to have some contact while on the road. Which I'm not, very often.
Sorry to hear of your troubles Michelle. It certainly is a personal
preference. Hope it all pans out well.
We are too alike Andrea and that's right. Laptop just gives me too
much excuse to stay 'at work'. I used to bring the Powerbook along on
travels. Even that I've begun to leave behind. Annoying noises aside,
just find the phone a little more convenient and all I do is email,
some social stuff when traveling.
Hi Lynette,
haven't been here for a long time, so hope I am still allowed to comment 🙂
I still run an old desktop built in 2003, it works but sometimes is sooo slow, sespecially when starting up. I probably will buy it a new HD and re-install XP pro on it this summer (maybe I even will ty out Ubuntu).
I find my old clunker to be more reliable than an old notebook I have, which is also lacking a bit of power and gets too hot after a while. Just running Firefox and Thunderbird on it, builds up so much heat, that you could fry a meal on it.
The good thing about the desktop ios, that it is located in the office. I can close the door when work is done and the PC stays there – no work in the living area of my home.
Could you share the specs of your desktops to give us some ideas what to build in the future?
Thanks and have a nice day!
Tom / orchidflowershelp.com
Lynette,
You make excellent points about the superiority of the desktop over the laptop. For your type of work you are absolutely right to use what gives you speed and robustness, especially since you’re able to build your own.
I like my laptop because of the flexibility of working from many locations, especially when traveling. With laptop in tow I can keep my websites and blogs humming along as well as teach an online class, host my radio show and of course managing email.
When I’m at home office it would make sense to use a desktop. Over the years, however, I began to rely more and more on the laptop and now it is loaded with everything I work with daily.
There are times, of course, when it doesn’t make sense to drag the laptop along, and that is when the point is to get away from work. Separating work and play are critical to sanity and happiness.
Thanks for this post.
Hi Lynette,
haven't been here for a long time, so hope I am still allowed to comment 🙂
I still run an old desktop built in 2003, it works but sometimes is sooo slow, sespecially when starting up. I probably will buy it a new HD and re-install XP pro on it this summer (maybe I even will ty out Ubuntu).
I find my old clunker to be more reliable than an old notebook I have, which is also lacking a bit of power and gets too hot after a while. Just running Firefox and Thunderbird on it, builds up so much heat, that you could fry a meal on it.
The good thing about the desktop ios, that it is located in the office. I can close the door when work is done and the PC stays there – no work in the living area of my home.
Could you share the specs of your desktops to give us some ideas what to build in the future?
Thanks and have a nice day!
Tom / orchidflowershelp.com
Lynette, I like what you said about when you're at you're desk, you're at work. That's it exactly. I mean, I love the fact that I can cart my laptop along on trips, but other than that I really miss my desktop, which is still in storage thousands of miles away…long story.
I use the laptop on my desk 90% of the time though, so that way I am not tempted to get too casual, although occasionally I will move over to the easy chair in my home office with it. 🙂
I confess… if I didn't have an iphone, I bet I would still crave a laptop. My iphone gives me armchair connectivity to monitor and respond to simple issues online. (And I can't wait to use the ipad!)
Hey Tom! Of course you're welcome. Always. I too have Ubuntu
downloaded. Not intended for the main machine though but I will be
looking forward to putting it on my children's machines. My current
computer's specs are no longer anything to shout about. It was when we
first built it and we do it that way so that in a couple of year's
time, the hardware comes down and what was powerful is standard in
most machines. Having said that, this is what I do have.
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 6000+
3 GB Ram – I was going to 4GB but I think we bought the wrong memory
stick I am not too sure my husband is the hardware person in our
family and I'm the software/network person 🙂
250GB storage with 1TB attached
At least two fans on the back, one on the processor itself to keep
things nice and cool
Sonata case to keep it all quiet this is the best, most quiet case
I've ever had.
Hey Flora it definitely is a preference thing. In the very beginning, I did try loading the laptop with everything I have on the desktop but dunno… it just didn't feel comfortable to me. I cannot work on the couch – gives me a headache. I like to sit up in an office chair, alert. I cannot work on small patio or coffee shop tables either it just feels really cramped not to mention the cramped keyboard. My office desk is large (and yes messy but good 🙂 ) Definitely not on the bed – not good for the laptop or my back – ouch. But oh yeah, if I hosted a radio show I'd probably use a laptop too.
Hey Bruce. Oh no! I hope you do get your desktop back soon.
I can totally relate. I quit packing the laptop over a year ago. When I travel, or out of the office everything is done through the phone and realistically speaking it is only for email, Facebook and Twitter. I refuse to do more on the road. But have to say, the ability to do only that is due largely to the fact of having helpers to handle support and other stuff. Things are usually delegated on the road.
Having said that, I do enjoy the use of my phone, love love love Google Maps while traveling. My last trip it has been a lifesaver! Oh oh and also Evernote on the phone. Must have.
I confess… if I didn't have an iphone, I bet I would still crave a laptop. My iphone gives me armchair connectivity to monitor and respond to simple issues online. (And I can't wait to use the ipad!)
Hey Tom! Of course you're welcome. Always. I too have Ubuntu
downloaded. Not intended for the main machine though but I will be
looking forward to putting it on my children's machines. My current
computer's specs are no longer anything to shout about. It was when we
first built it and we do it that way so that in a couple of year's
time, the hardware comes down and what was powerful is standard in
most machines. Having said that, this is what I do have.
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 6000+
3 GB Ram – I was going to 4GB but I think we bought the wrong memory
stick I am not too sure my husband is the hardware person in our
family and I'm the software/network person 🙂
250GB storage with 1TB attached
At least two fans on the back, one on the processor itself to keep
things nice and cool
Sonata case to keep it all quiet this is the best, most quiet case
I've ever had.
Hey Flora it definitely is a preference thing. In the very beginning, I did try loading the laptop with everything I have on the desktop but dunno… it just didn't feel comfortable to me. I cannot work on the couch – gives me a headache. I like to sit up in an office chair, alert. I cannot work on small patio or coffee shop tables either it just feels really cramped not to mention the cramped keyboard. My office desk is large (and yes messy but good 🙂 ) Definitely not on the bed – not good for the laptop or my back – ouch. But oh yeah, if I hosted a radio show I'd probably use a laptop too.
Hey Bruce. Oh no! I hope you do get your desktop back soon.
I can totally relate. I quit packing the laptop over a year ago. When I travel, or out of the office everything is done through the phone and realistically speaking it is only for email, Facebook and Twitter. I refuse to do more on the road. But have to say, the ability to do only that is due largely to the fact of having helpers to handle support and other stuff. Things are usually delegated on the road.
Having said that, I do enjoy the use of my phone, love love love Google Maps while traveling. My last trip it has been a lifesaver! Oh oh and also Evernote on the phone. Must have.