The laptop versus desktop debate
I guess I should call this post the “keep a home-office anyways” vs. “you already have two offices, why do you keep one at home too” debate. Hear me out. I have a desktop at home, as well as internet which broadcasts wireless. On occasion, I work from home. Also on occasion, I bring my laptop home to do some work (but mostly, I keep my laptop at my office at The Network Hub).
Since I am keeping my laptop more and more at the office, I have pondered whether I really need two computers and whether I should just bring my desktop to my office downtown. I feel more comfortable writing blog entries, journal articles, draft manuscripts, etc. in my desktop than the laptop.
On the other hand, I need my laptop for mobility. To give talks and teach. To liveblog events. To bring to client meetings. I do need to keep a laptop, I think. But I’m torn. Do I get rid of the home office altogether? What to do, what to do?
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- On working from home and office setup
- Laptop bag review: Kensington Contour (Backpack Style)
Given your situation, I’d move the desktop to the office (at Network Hub) and keep the laptop at home, aside from taking it along for liveblogs and the like.
Personally, I’d probably opt for…well, what I do: keep a monitor and peripherals at both ends and carry the laptop back and forth. I definitely can’t use my laptop for long AS a laptop. I need the ergonomic advantages of a full-sized monitor and keyboard. So I male sure I have them!
Oh! I like Catherine’s suggestion better. Do that.
Speaking for myself, my “home office” still consists of my laptop, but I have it with a notebook cooler, wireless mouse, and wireless keyboard. I intend on adding a “real” monitor to this some time soon too.
I actually bought a laptop to replace my desktop.
I still connect it to a mouse and a second monitor when it’s at home, but I love being able to detach from the desk and go whereever.
Meetings at coffee shops, working at the cabin (like I am now), to event just chilling on the couch or balcony.
I love using a laptop all the time. Saves on space and power too (or at least I think it saves on power lol).
What I did is started using Google Docs for everything, so it doesn’t matter if I’m on my laptop or desktop or even at the library, since all the info is stored remotely and I can edit it through any web browser (on Mac, Linux, PC, or even my phone.)
I’d also suggest a netbook over a laptop, since most laptops are so unportable that they get left at work, at home or in the car cause we just can’t lug them around. This model (http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=46448&vpn=1201N-PU17-BK&manufacture=ASUS) is one of the newest, and it’s quite fast so you can do most anything you can on your desktop, like HD videos or even some games.
I mentioned a phone above, and you should consider a decent Android phone if you don’t have one. If you’re using Gmail, then your contacts are automatically synced both ways through the air (no plugging-in required), and your mail is delivered instantly, eliminating the need for a computer in many situations.
My computer is at home in my main room so I can entertain guests with it, bring up Youtube videos, wikipedia articles relevant to whatever debate/discussion is going on, etc. For your desktop, get wireless everything. Then you can sit down a few feet away when you need to and it’s not unlike a laptop.