QOTD: For Which Apps Do You Need a Desktop?

Handbrake! Quad Cores help alot!

Since I am fortunate enough to have multiple desktops and laptops, I can pick and choose when and where I use either. Since the tech line is getting closer each day (Laptops effectively catching up)- It becomes a question of usability/comfort. I lean towards a desktop for most everything, since (i guess) the larger screens, more comfortable keyboards/persistent mouse/lack of a hot lap and stationary nature have a subconcious draw. Generally the laptops are used when traveling, or when multitasking (i.e tv watching/computing). With that said, it would seem to me that when faced with the choice to have only 1 machine (adolescents and others fall in to this category) the clear choice is a decent laptop,(mobility) which explains the sales tilt. Applications which I absolutely need the computing power of a desktop? Other than the latest games, (arguable depending on the Laptop) none I use personally. As a power user I need both LT and DT.... I would be at a loss if either had to be given up. If I absolutely, positively could possess only 1.. I'm guessing a super powerful laptop would be the result, considering the mobility factor.

Cheaper than the mobile version... he..he...

Ok so lots of people buy laptops for typical home usage, and business users get them to use on the move. But I have a desktop for the following reasons. 2x24" screens, running Cubase, illustrator (vector files 300mb+) excel (odd one yes, but when spredsheets get complicated 20mb+ and you need to start cross referencing between them excel is one hell of a hog.) Also for photographic stuff high res scanning, munipulation of 300mb+ psd files etc etc. For me the laptop is for basic every day browsing etc. so for a typical home user great. But as soon as you do something a little more proffesional or start getting into power user territory a desktop is compulsory.

Apart from gaming I don't really run any applications that would benefit from a desktop (I still don't have a desktop). Aidan R mentions cross referencing. I do this with my laptop a lot but it has to be said that a 15" screen next to a 32" screen isn't the best way to do this. One major benefit of a desktop is the upgradability. With a lappy you would usually only upgrade the hard drive or the RAM. A desktop lets you replace nearly anything thats out dated or wornout. I would love a new graphics card in my lappy now but it can't be done. If I had a desktop I would be able to get that gtx260.

Large screen for programming. High graphics power for gaming. 5.1 sound for better sound (and sound card). Newest CPU architecture for more entertainment. More space for internal HDDs for storing large amounts of media. RAM expansion.

No specific software apps require it, but I certain want and need most of it for storage and performance.

I also have a laptop for convinience and a mobile phone acting as a MID.

I've moved away from my desktop, I've actually found that I no longer need it. My laptop is able to run visual studio without any issues and can play Dawn of War 2 pretty well. I'm crossing my fingers that I can play both SC2 and D3, but I guess I'll just have to wait. If it comes to it, I'll just have to pull the gaming rig back out of my daughters room (what a waste)

We used CAD (SolidWorks) at school for DT class on desktops which were about as powerful as laptops.. and it was awful. I can also see that performance would be an issue with other large multimedia programs.

Web design is easier on a bigger screen, as you have the flexibility to resize the browser window downwards to preview the page at lower resolutions and in vector editing gaps of one pixel seem much larger when zoomed in on the larger screen. Viewing hi-res photos and, of course, movies is better on the desktop. Even web browsing I generally find easier on my desktop - everything's just less squashed-in.

(netbook: 1024x600 10.2"; desktop: 1440x900 19")

Whatever may be the innovations and new inventions laptops cannot come near the performance of desktop at any generation!!!! desky rocks!!

Desktop graphics cards are significantly cheaper (i got a ATI 3850 for 35 pounds). Laptop with Decent Graphics card costs hundreds more. Also laptop graphics is usually not upgradeable

desktop wherever possible for usability - yes you can use a mouse and even a decent keyboard with a laptop, but then you need a desk to put them on...

since the Alienware has laptops (C2Q,GTX285 etcetc..) which are outperfom many desktops the question does not make sense.
anyway i have a latop and i bought a desktop recently for gaming and graphical work.

I have always had a desktop, as it has the grunt I need for VMware/Visual Studio/Dreamweaver/Adobe Premier, so-forth.
I have a 4 monitor setup, overkill, only need 3 when programming.
I have just brought a netbook (Asus 1000HE) for interneting and mail.
Really impressed with the speed, battery last for ever.

You buy the tool for the job, Laptop for portability, Desktop for performance.

to be honest the only reason my main pc is still a desktop is because of upgradeability and interchangeability (adding ability to the end of a word makes it a real word right? xD) i dont earn much money from my job so i like being able to buy one component a month and stick it all together after a few months. this i not possible with laptops i wish it was it would make it loads easier but buying a laptop means i also have to fork out for a built in monitor keyboard and mouse and hard drives which with a desktop pc i can just take from my old computer and put it into my new pc. so until they standardise laptops im always gonna stick with desktops and prolly buy a cheap 300 quid laptop purely for web browsing

Desktop for 2x RAM ammount, 1.5x RAM speed, 2x number HD drives, 6x HD capacity, 1.7x HD speed each, SB X-Fi audio, decent graphics for dual-monitor (rarely games), powered FireWire port, 1.3x CPU speed, 2x DVD drives, no boilling hot desk or lap, laptop screen not good for photo/video edit & graphic design.

Comfort.
For the same price a desktop is more comfortable to use for extended periods than a laptop. While you can get around this by buying more bits, buy the time you do that you may as well buy a more powerful desktop that'll last longer (less overheating).
I'll admit that this ignores mobility, but personally I don't need nor want a mobile computer.

Though I get your point: laptops are nearly as powerful as a desktop, and you can do pretty much everything on them.

I use my PC for a lot of graphics and audio work and an OC'd Q6600 hammers all laptop CPUs. Outside of that, the PC is used for gaming where again the desktop parts are vastly superior to laptops.

Witing for anything, een a button click is still just too slow. Thw web is so jammed up with tracking lag and waiting and scripts and waiting. No computer is fast enuff*.

Ripping a film should take no longer than a click. Blue-ray a double click.
Booting to full surfing from the time it takes to move your hand from the power button to the mouse.

All computers are still too slow. *enuff is enough.

App needs? No, just hate going damned slow.
Other than that, upgrade choices, price, monitor, better components, keyboard/mouse choice, and did I mention upgrades?

For home use it's got to be a lappy!
Has anyone stopped and considered how ugly a desktop system looks no matter how well hidden. There is always that dreadfull screen parked on the table, unit, sideboard or even attempting to hide under the stairs in some cases.
It doesnt go with any decor, it doesnt make you look any smarter and it certainly wont get you a better job and in reality it looks like something placed in a temporary place awaiting transit to the local landfill.
My lappy does everything I ask of it, audio, video, browsing and gaming and the best part is, I can shift it from room to room, house to house and when I'm done, shut it away out of my sight.

I use a desktop to game, and because it has PCI expansion slots which I use for my M-Audio 1010LT sound card. I also like a full sized keyboard and mouse. I know you could plug these into a laptop, but that kinda defeats the purpose. Bang for buck in terms of performance is greater on a PC also, IMO. For music editing I really enjoy the benefits of a 24" monitor. I also like the idea of having a computer that "stays where it is."

@myrddal - sure you can by an alienware with desktop goodies but the cost...

For me desktops all the way - when something breaks just hit the net and buy a replacement, wait for postie and 5 minutes later voila - can't do that with a lappy. Performance is usually better for the same price and i only buy the bits i want/need - my mouse is 3pc's old now

Eddieseven: "It doesnt go with any decor"

Hey, my desktop fits perfectly with the late 80's BBC science fiction look I'm going for. The exposed fans really give the room a nice industrial touch too.
I really should order some fan grills.