Laptop as workstation? Or beefy desktop and lesser lappy?

[Oli-G]

Hello hello,

Well, i never got around to getting a tricked up desktop, so now I have a dilemma; Macbook pro/equivalent PC based laptop (eg, Samsung x60), or regular Macbook + new desktop box?

The rundown of each scenario:

Scenario 1 - Macbook Pro


- Looks great, pleasure to use
- I'm given the impression it is quite powerful (can anyone compare its performance to some desktop specs?)
- I can run my 20" LCD with it from home in unison
- Economy of space - I won't have a big ugly desktop in my room
- Can run a fast external HDD from home for all intensive video work, music files, etc
- Fast for freelancing and uni work

Disadvantages: None from what I can see? Maybe just more expensive to upgrade and pull apart down the line, and more of a worry when carrying around (more value).
Scenario 2 - Desktop + regular Macbook


- Paying the same for a desktop more powerful and easily upgradeable than the MBP, *and* a laptop essentially very similar in power to the Macbook Pro.
- Macbook should be quite fast too, certainly fast enough for freelancing etc. Just can't run a large screen off it nor do big 3d/video work, hence the necessity to buy a desktop box.
- Macbook is more portable than the MBP, and i'd be less worried about it for whatever reason.

Disadvantages; Less powerful laptop for freelancing (though probably not a problem in my line), and i'd have a big ugly box somewhere in my room. More cables, more clutter.

Also, it looks like both the MB and MBP can take audio/line in, which is important as i'll be recording quite a bit of vocal and instrument tracks into either protools or acid.

So, i'd like any thoughts from you guys regarding the choices here....

Another thing to consider is, how long it will be until the new intel chips are being throwin into their product line.

I really like the idea of having a lappy as the main workhorse which I can take everywhere for freelancing, uni work, and studio work; just less clutter. But if the power and worry of breaking/theft outweigh the portability performance advantages, the we have an issue.

Ta!

[Anogar]

I am a big desktop fan. Especially with the new Intel Core Duo 2 chips coming out, which offer absolutely smoking performance for really very little money, I see very little reason to pass up all that awesome performance for a laptop, which is more expensive for a fraction of the power. :puzzle:

[kirupa]

I used to use a laptop as my primary workstation, but the convenience/performance of a desktop forced me to rethink. I now use a semi-portable laptop for most work, and for more heavy-duty stuff I use a desktop.

:)

[ya3]

- Desktop would be noisier, too - especially in a bedroom.
- MacBook has a mini-DVI port.

# Mini-DVI port
# DVI output using mini-DVI to DVI adapter (sold separately)
# VGA output using mini-DVI to VGA adapter (sold separately)

;)

[Anogar]

So put it in the office. ;)

[Oli-G]

Dammit, why can't you all agree on something :P

Good points Kirpupa and Anogar - I had been leaning towards scenario 2. I just need to hear some compelling disadvantages towards the MB.

@ya3 - ...and I imagine they charge a pretty penny for it too ;). I just cant believe the prices those guys charge for 2gig of ram. Screw that.

[Anogar]

When I was travelling a lot across country, I really liked having a nice laptop. That was a few years ago, and now that I have a house and an office in my house, I'd never even consider paying for a nice laptop. It really depends on your life more than the computing power - for just 2D design and web development, a high end laptop will do. A desktop just gives you the ability to do it really fast, and a generally smoother experience.

[revelations1318]

i love laptops. i can have 2 or 3 running in the space where my desktop used to be. it means you can spread your work.

however, personally, i'd go for the second solution.

but maybe consider an apple desktop. iMac ideally but i've used Mac Mini's extensively and they are surprisingly powerful. i've used them for movie creation (involving after effects) and CS2 work.

[travis]

It really depends on how much time you plan to spend on the road, if it is a lot, the I would go with a nice MacBook Pro, but if it's a only a little (once or twice a year) then the MacBook shuld be fine.

[theflash]

I like laptop for portability, but it still does not work fast enough for some programms.. but if you really are moving around laptop is the best option.