[quote author=“TruthSeeker”]What do you guys think?
Makes sense. Cheaper sells.
The average person sees a $349-399 desktop vs. $699-750 baseline notebook…considering they aren’t a mobile user, which do you think they pick?
Notebooks were designed for business use, with price drops the ‘experienced’ user now has the option to go portable, but PC sales flourish in the ‘inexperienced’ market which is why Gateway and E-Machines type companies sell a ton of PCs (I am not saying they make money, just volume of sales).
This is basically why us non-flash HD based people get our opinions from…the general public goes for cheaper over specialized 9 out of 10 times.
This is also the reason why PDA sales are horrible right now. At $199 a PDA can sell, at $600, its a tough sell to the average person.
I don’t think it’s just cost per se. Compared to desktops an equivilent laptop has always run 2 times more.
As the article states, I think the push to media serving and video media in general are a primary impetus. I don’t think people want to pay for or pack around the power necessary to serve or create media. I think they see the disadvantages of having the media server unavailable because dad took it to the office.
I love my TR and the geek in me would love the DVDRW drive. The truth is that other than for backup it’s neither cost nor time effective.
My desktop PC, which cost $1k less than I’ve invested in the TR has twice the processor, 4x faster hard drives, more drive capacity, 128Mb graphics, 4x screen area and is easily upgradeable. If I’m going to *do* video, I know which machine I want to be on. If I wanted to serve video and still have any cycles left for local use, I know which machine I’d want to use.
The laptop is reverting back to what it always really was, a mobile solution for people who wanted or needed a mobile solution. I think this trend bodes well for the small & light market segment and an unlamented death for the luggable desktop replacement.
what it boils down to is:
1) how close laptops and desktops are as substitutes
2) how elastic (how price sensitive) the two goods are
3) how the goods themselves are differentiated
these simple, yet profound microeconomic concepts at work in the real world!
As the article states, I think the push to media serving and video media in general are a primary impetus…..
......The laptop is reverting back to what it always really was, a mobile solution for people who wanted or needed a mobile solution. I think this trend bodes well for the small & light market segment and an unlamented death for the luggable desktop replacement.
I certainly agree here. The desktop is offering something the notebook simply cannot. As usual, it all boils down to what you need.
dbs, isn’t “luggable desktop replacement” an oxy-moron?
dbs, isn’t “luggable desktop replacement” an oxy-moron?
I can’t take credit for the term or its usage. It dates back to the days when portable PC’s were almost suitcases and was courtesy of a reviewer at PC Mag or Byte. Most likely the former. I think a lot of the laptops out there still qualify. They’ve just got it down so a strong man can carry the PC and the accessories.
[quote author=“dbs”][quote author=“tifosiv122”][quote author=“TruthSeeker”]dbs, isn’t “luggable desktop replacement” an oxy-moron?
Not for Lan-Parties.
Erik
Are those as much fun as the ones where you have to bring your own wesson oil?
Not sure what your talking about, but when I was 15-20 Lan Parties were the best…now, I am a bit too mature for them…I think. I only have ‘Lan Get-togethers’ now…just 2-3 people, not 20 like it once was…
Well I think it makes perfect sense. Honestly no laptop can come close to the sheer power of a desktop rig (a high end rig that is). Laptops don’t have the room or upgrade capabilities that a desktop does. Now most people can replace a desktop with a laptop but people like hardcore gamers can’t because laptops generally have much less powerful hardware then the top of the line desktop.
Then you have the price. A laptop still costs more then a desktop of equivalent power. Cheap is always a selling point.
[quote author=“MegaManXcalibur”]Well I think it makes perfect sense. Honestly no laptop can come close to the sheer power of a desktop rig (a high end rig that is). Laptops don’t have the room or upgrade capabilities that a desktop does. Now most people can replace a desktop with a laptop but people like hardcore gamers can’t because laptops generally have much less powerful hardware then the top of the line desktop.
Then you have the price. A laptop still costs more then a desktop of equivalent power. Cheap is always a selling point.
Bravo..well put, and in very few words
Laptops are either for the people who only need mediocre computing needs (at least with an ultramobile) or for those who have a more than adequate desktop system for more demanding tasks. Overall… a laptop will never be able to compete with a desktop for expandability, performance, or temperature stability…at least nothing under 12 lbs… :wink:
But they are more for those who need computing ability on the go, or… those who just like laptop systems more than the “wired” contraint of many desktop systems… like me :wink:
I say…get a fairly mobile laptop for anytime, and an adequate desktop for those “needy” times.
[quote author=“OnMyWayUp”]Laptops are either for the people who only need mediocre computing needs (at least with an ultramobile) or for those who have a more than adequate desktop system for more demanding tasks.
...or those who need to compute some place other than where their desktop is.
I think we’re also gradually changing what we think when we say “mobile computing”. My company has a bunch of local sales and marketing reps across the country, mostly working out of their homes and do a lot of travelling. We used to have them all outfitted with laptops but over the past two years, we’ve been outfitting them with Blackberries and replacing their laptops with desktops. Most of their work is phone, email and the occasional word doc or excel sheet. The BB handles that just fine, and is right their on the user’s hip. The laptop is big and clunky and when we actually interviewed our people about their laptop habits, they reported that they never used the thing when on the road until they got into their hotel. Even then, it’s not uncommon for a rep to get back to their hotel room after 1AM.
We save our people several pounds of grief and get their work to their hands all the time. It was an easy transition because sales reps love toys as much as IT people.
[quote author=“Drachen”][quote author=“OnMyWayUp”]Laptops are either for the people who only need mediocre computing needs (at least with an ultramobile) or for those who have a more than adequate desktop system for more demanding tasks.
...or those who need to compute some place other than where their desktop is.
I think we’re also gradually changing what we think when we say “mobile computing”. My company has a bunch of local sales and marketing reps across the country, mostly working out of their homes and do a lot of travelling. We used to have them all outfitted with laptops but over the past two years, we’ve been outfitting them with Blackberries and replacing their laptops with desktops. Most of their work is phone, email and the occasional word doc or excel sheet. The BB handles that just fine, and is right their on the user’s hip. The laptop is big and clunky and when we actually interviewed our people about their laptop habits, they reported that they never used the thing when on the road until they got into their hotel. Even then, it’s not uncommon for a rep to get back to their hotel room after 1AM.
Drachen, you just described my dilemma. Only I usually do not travel more than an hour or two away from my home or office. Now you understand why I am attracted to gadgets like the U70 / OQO. :drool:
Don’t you still have electricy there though jigs?
U don’t actually have to travel somewhere to charge up multiple batteries do you… :shock:
I thought that 3 batteries thing was a joke
And also…I’m actually REALLY attracted to getting a 17” widescreen… :oops: :oops: :oops: ...no flogging please…
I just don’t know if I really need the portability THAT much..aside from carrying 10lbs PLUS everything else in my backpack… ...OK…maybe another 15.4”
widescreen :wink: but I love the portability of my TR and the S series’. But I don’t really NEED it…hmm… difficult decision…PLUS… most 15.4” widescreen range notebooks are $200-$350 cheaper than the same specification equivalent TR and S. Or the ones I’m looking at at least.
Truth: The OQO looks AWESOME as an “underpowered laptop/overlypowered handheld”... I’d love one of those…but I don’t need it…too bad..
[quote author=“OnMyWayUp”]Don’t you still have electricy there though jigs?
U don’t actually have to travel somewhere to charge up multiple batteries do you… :shock:
I thought that 3 batteries thing was a joke
I think its just jigs and the crocodile hunter out there. :wink:
