Laptop/Desktop Advice

Casper

Casper

Midfield
Need some recommendations on what to go for. I currently work on a laptop with 12.5 inch screen, propped up on a stand, its fairly quick but could do with something with a bigger screen and a bit more static.

Would i be best getting a monitor to plug into laptop? Or would it be better to buy an all in one?

Only use it for email and work tasks, no gaming or graphic design etc.

I like the aesthetic of an imac but not sure about using the OS.

Or is there another option I've not heard about? Budget up to £600
 


You won't get a new Mac for 600 like unless they've released a cheap model I'm not aware of.

Depends what you want.

Do you want a slightly bigger screen of about 17 inches or much bigger around 27 to 32 inches?

You always get more for your money buying a desktop and there easier to upgrade parts but loads of people opt for laptops to use in their front rooms.
 
Casper said:
Need some recommendations on what to go for. I currently work on a laptop with 12.5 inch screen, propped up on a stand, its fairly quick but could do with something with a bigger screen and a bit more static.

Would i be best getting a monitor to plug into laptop? Or would it be better to buy an all in one?

Only use it for email and work tasks, no gaming or graphic design etc.

I like the aesthetic of an imac but not sure about using the OS.

Or is there another option I've not heard about? Budget up to £600
Click to expand...
Mate if you use it for work only and no gaming you can buy pretty much anything and it should run just fine.

When you say static do you mean you'll never have to take it anywhere? If so could I recommend a PC, It would be even cheaper.

But I would definitely not go for anything flash at all. Go to curry's/PC world, tell them what you need it for, they'll recommend something about 400 quid. Happy days.
 
Banks said:
You won't get a new Mac for 600 like unless they've released a cheap model I'm not aware of.

Depends what you want.

Do you want a slightly bigger screen of about 17 inches or much bigger around 27 to 32 inches?

You always get more for your money buying a desktop and there easier to upgrade parts but loads of people opt for laptops to use in their front rooms.
Click to expand...
I'm happy to go refurbished. Im thinking 20" + to be honest. Just don't want the big tower to go with it.

Aituk7 said:
Mate if you use it for work only and no gaming you can buy pretty much anything and it should run just fine.

When you say static do you mean you'll never have to take it anywhere? If so could I recommend a PC, It would be even cheaper.

But I would definitely not go for anything flash at all. Go to curry's/PC world, tell them what you need it for, they'll recommend something about 400 quid. Happy days.
Click to expand...
Yeah wouldn't need to move it.
 
Does your laptop have USB-C? If it were me I'd keep the laptop and get a dock with a keyboard, mouse, and decent sized (27"?) monitor plugged in. Best of both worlds.
 
Casper said:
Need some recommendations on what to go for. I currently work on a laptop with 12.5 inch screen, propped up on a stand, its fairly quick but could do with something with a bigger screen and a bit more static.

Would i be best getting a monitor to plug into laptop? Or would it be better to buy an all in one?

Only use it for email and work tasks, no gaming or graphic design etc.

I like the aesthetic of an imac but not sure about using the OS.

Or is there another option I've not heard about? Budget up to £600
Click to expand...
Monitors are relatively cheap mate if you are happy with your laptop.
 
Casper said:
I'm happy to go refurbished. Im thinking 20" + to be honest. Just don't want the big tower to go with it.


Yeah wouldn't need to move it.
Click to expand...
PC's are even cheaper mate, the equivalent PC version of a laptop (same spec) is always cheaper. Or you could spend the same amount and get more bang for your buck.

Plus they tend to last longer because they have better cooling fans etc.
 
Casper said:
I'm happy to go refurbished. Im thinking 20" + to be honest. Just don't want the big tower to go with it.


Yeah wouldn't need to move it.
Click to expand...

Big towers are a thing of the past mate. You can get tiny cubes now that just sit on your desk.
 
anth said:
Does your laptop have USB-C? If it were me I'd keep the laptop and get a dock with a keyboard, mouse, and decent sized (27"?) monitor plugged in. Best of both worlds.
Click to expand...
Don't think it has usb c to be honest, can it be done without?

Banks said:
Big towers are a thing of the past mate. You can get tiny cubes now that just sit on your desk.
Click to expand...
Ill have a look at them cheers

Abu Dhabi Red and White said:
Monitors are relatively cheap mate if you are happy with your laptop.
Click to expand...
Probably a very amateur question, my laptop has HD screen when you set it up with a monitor does the clarity suffer?
 
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Casper said:
Don't think it has usb c to be honest, can it be done without?


Ill have a look at them cheers


Probably a very amateur question, my laptop has HD screen when you set it up with a monitor does the clarity suffer?
Click to expand...
Depends what you're connecting it with mate? HDMI? Good monitor etc.

On your general point, go for a standalone desktop PC as has been suggested. I'd get the best spec you can though as long as you're not breaking the bank to do it, don't just settle for the £400 PC World recommendation as ultimately it won't last as well and performance will suffer in the not too distant future.
 
Casper said:
Don't think it has usb c to be honest, can it be done without?


Ill have a look at them cheers


Probably a very amateur question, my laptop has HD screen when you set it up with a monitor does the clarity suffer?
Click to expand...

The monitor and Laptop video outputs are completely different.

For example your laptop could be 720 and your monitor 1080p so the monitor would have the better quality image
 
Casper said:
Probably a very amateur question, my laptop has HD screen when you set it up with a monitor does the clarity suffer?
Click to expand...

As said above, doesn’t matter what your laptop screen is. The graphics card in the laptop determines what resolutions it can output. What model laptop is it?

Chances are it can output a much higher resolution, so you will have an even crisper image on a bigger screen (of course it depends on what screen you buy!)
 
Aituk7 said:
Mate if you use it for work only and no gaming you can buy pretty much anything and it should run just fine.

When you say static do you mean you'll never have to take it anywhere? If so could I recommend a PC, It would be even cheaper.

But I would definitely not go for anything flash at all. Go to curry's/PC world, tell them what you need it for, they'll recommend something about 400 quid. Happy days.
Click to expand...

Don't do this
 
Sleepy said:
As said above, doesn’t matter what your laptop screen is. The graphics card in the laptop determines what resolutions it can output. What model laptop is it?

Chances are it can output a much higher resolution, so you will have an even crisper image on a bigger screen (of course it depends on what screen you buy!)
Click to expand...
Does the laptop need to be open beside it for this to work or can you turn off the sleep on close option and shut it?
 
Casper said:
Does the laptop need to be open beside it for this to work or can you turn off the sleep on close option and shut it?
Click to expand...
Yeah the settings on the laptop can be adjusted to do this.

If you right click on the battery icon in the bottom right hand corner, go to power options, change plan settings, advanced plan settings.

There is a feature in there that will say something like Lid. If you drop down that box it will ask you what to do in the event of the lid being closed and you can choose sleep, hibernate, power off or do nothing.

I have mine set to do nothing and I just rig a HDMI lead up to my TV
 
Casper said:
Don't think it has usb c to be honest, can it be done without?
Click to expand...

you can get normal USB ones, but they are notoriously painful to use and you still need to plug a power cable in, the advantage of USB-C is you can plug one cable in and it does everything. It might not be an issue plugging everything in if you don't move it around that much.
 

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