Comments on: I'm Tired of Buying New Computers http://j2fi.net/2010/02/23/fifteen-year-conundrum/ Battling Imaginary Windmills in Japan Sun, 25 Jul 2010 01:58:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Jason http://j2fi.net/2010/02/23/fifteen-year-conundrum/comment-page-1/#comment-2597 Jason Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:57:23 +0000 http://j2fi.net/?p=1861#comment-2597 I'll admit that notebooks are quite a bit more limited when it comes to upgrades and that some parts are prone to failure, such as hinges, and this is where superior product design comes in to play. This does beg the question, though ... if notebooks are so prone to short lifespans, why do we buy them? Wouldn't it make more sense to lease or rent them with the understanding that the systems will be responsibly recycled after they've outlived any semblance of usefulness? I’ll admit that notebooks are quite a bit more limited when it comes to upgrades and that some parts are prone to failure, such as hinges, and this is where superior product design comes in to play.

This does beg the question, though … if notebooks are so prone to short lifespans, why do we buy them? Wouldn’t it make more sense to lease or rent them with the understanding that the systems will be responsibly recycled after they’ve outlived any semblance of usefulness?

]]> By: Durf http://j2fi.net/2010/02/23/fifteen-year-conundrum/comment-page-1/#comment-2596 Durf Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:15:56 +0000 http://j2fi.net/?p=1861#comment-2596 Portables are less long-lived by design, unfortunately. All those hinged screens and moving parts and cramped spaces where you can't jam a better video card in later. If you're serious about using something for the long haul then you should spring for something like a Mac Pro or a Dell workstation. 10 years from now you'll be using it with 96GB of RAM and a pair of sick video cards in SLI configuration and a full set of ultrafast SSDs for the OS and multi-TB spinners for the data and whatnot. Whatever laptop you buy today will be a thrashed piece of junk with no upgrade path by 2014. Only buy one if you need the portability; power, cost-effectiveness, and longevity are all the sole province of the desktop, now and for years to come. Portables are less long-lived by design, unfortunately. All those hinged screens and moving parts and cramped spaces where you can’t jam a better video card in later.

If you’re serious about using something for the long haul then you should spring for something like a Mac Pro or a Dell workstation. 10 years from now you’ll be using it with 96GB of RAM and a pair of sick video cards in SLI configuration and a full set of ultrafast SSDs for the OS and multi-TB spinners for the data and whatnot.

Whatever laptop you buy today will be a thrashed piece of junk with no upgrade path by 2014. Only buy one if you need the portability; power, cost-effectiveness, and longevity are all the sole province of the desktop, now and for years to come.

]]> By: Jason http://j2fi.net/2010/02/23/fifteen-year-conundrum/comment-page-1/#comment-2595 Jason Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:21:31 +0000 http://j2fi.net/?p=1861#comment-2595 USB sticks can carry viruses, but I can see your point. Heck, by 2025, I want to have a computer in my glasses read my mind, give me a HUD with lots of work space, and provide an uninterrupted connection to the internet. Maybe then I'd be able to get some work done ... ;-) USB sticks can carry viruses, but I can see your point. Heck, by 2025, I want to have a computer in my glasses read my mind, give me a HUD with lots of work space, and provide an uninterrupted connection to the internet.

Maybe then I’d be able to get some work done … ;-)

]]> By: Jason http://j2fi.net/2010/02/23/fifteen-year-conundrum/comment-page-1/#comment-2594 Jason Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:20:05 +0000 http://j2fi.net/?p=1861#comment-2594 The HP Envy was seriously influenced by the MacBook Pro, but it's complete gold inside (not literally, of course). That's why I've been considering it. However, the next line of MacBooks will be out before I can afford to buy a new machine, so they may have the upgradability that I'm looking for. Still ... if I did get a Mac, I'd likely begin the dangerous trek down mobile app development on a platform that people actually use. That means forgetting 12+ years of Palm and Windows Mobile to embrace The Steve's vision of computing. It's one heck of a shift :roll: The HP Envy was seriously influenced by the MacBook Pro, but it’s complete gold inside (not literally, of course). That’s why I’ve been considering it. However, the next line of MacBooks will be out before I can afford to buy a new machine, so they may have the upgradability that I’m looking for.

Still … if I did get a Mac, I’d likely begin the dangerous trek down mobile app development on a platform that people actually use. That means forgetting 12+ years of Palm and Windows Mobile to embrace The Steve’s vision of computing. It’s one heck of a shift :roll:

]]> By: -Paul http://j2fi.net/2010/02/23/fifteen-year-conundrum/comment-page-1/#comment-2593 -Paul Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:23:33 +0000 http://j2fi.net/?p=1861#comment-2593 For me I still like that I can launch a real unix shell, run windows on the desktop and have all the Apple software. I was a skeptic at first but I was quickly converted... I also have the best of both worlds with workstations and laptops provided by company. The HP envy does look good though. For me I still like that I can launch a real unix shell, run windows on the desktop and have all the Apple software. I was a skeptic at first but I was quickly converted… I also have the best of both worlds with workstations and laptops provided by company. The HP envy does look good though.

]]> By: Nick Ramsay http://j2fi.net/2010/02/23/fifteen-year-conundrum/comment-page-1/#comment-2592 Nick Ramsay Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:15:07 +0000 http://j2fi.net/?p=1861#comment-2592 I would hope that five or ten years from now, you wouldn't need to carry a computer around with you at all. Just a USB stick that you can plugin into the workstation at your destination or the tray table of your shinkansen seat. I don't need portability myself, so my next PC will probably be the best desktop that <a href="http://www.mouse-jp.co.jp/desktop/advs/" rel="nofollow">mouse computer</a> offer. I would hope that five or ten years from now, you wouldn’t need to carry a computer around with you at all. Just a USB stick that you can plugin into the workstation at your destination or the tray table of your shinkansen seat.

I don’t need portability myself, so my next PC will probably be the best desktop that mouse computer offer.

]]> By: Jason http://j2fi.net/2010/02/23/fifteen-year-conundrum/comment-page-1/#comment-2591 Jason Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:55:19 +0000 http://j2fi.net/?p=1861#comment-2591 I've seriously considered picking up one of the recent MacBook Pros so that I'd have the best of both worlds if I ever wanted to switch to Apple (or develop for the iPhone/iPad) but, as you can see with the MacBook-inspired HP Envy (pictured above), I'm absolutely smitten with HP's durability and resilience. This is something I'll definitely be thinking about a lot in the coming months ... :???: I’ve seriously considered picking up one of the recent MacBook Pros so that I’d have the best of both worlds if I ever wanted to switch to Apple (or develop for the iPhone/iPad) but, as you can see with the MacBook-inspired HP Envy (pictured above), I’m absolutely smitten with HP’s durability and resilience.

This is something I’ll definitely be thinking about a lot in the coming months … :???:

]]> By: -Paul http://j2fi.net/2010/02/23/fifteen-year-conundrum/comment-page-1/#comment-2590 -Paul Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:22:26 +0000 http://j2fi.net/?p=1861#comment-2590 My Macbook is the only computer I have owned and used for many years and remained happy. I have owned many many PC's and laptops from work and my Macbook is great. My Macbook is the only computer I have owned and used for many years and remained happy. I have owned many many PC’s and laptops from work and my Macbook is great.

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