Need to buy desktop, laptop/tablet

[wescobrk]

I need to buy a desktop, laptop and maybe a tablet.

Just curious if you guys wouldn't mind telling me what you like and dislike for the above?

I will use all three for a combustion of personal and business.

Thanks!

[gary17]

If you buy the surface pro 2 you'd get all three.

 

I'm a Mac guy now thinking of going back to windows :)

[wescobrk]

I mean combination of personal and business.

I was thinking of apple but wondering if it would be a pain to use windows and Microsoft excel.

I'm not that technical. I don't want to partition for two operating systems.

I guess I can just install excel and use apple os.

[muscleman]

I need to buy a desktop, laptop and maybe a tablet.

Just curious if you guys wouldn't mind telling me what you like and dislike for the above?

I will use all three for a combustion of personal and business.

Thanks!

 

I prefer a desktop with a big screen for trading and everyday use.

Then I have an ipad for travel.

I think that should be sufficient. There is no need for a laptop.

[mlcglobal]

I use a windows 8.1 laptop plugged into a 27 inch Hp envy monitor using HDMI, and wireless printing. When I need to travel I just take the laptop and use a google nexus 7 for mobile checking or hanging out (eg. Using IB mobile app to check on the markets etc). Chrome syncs to all my devices which is great and I use multiple hard and soft copy backups of all files (USB, HD, Cloud - Skydrive, Symantec). I also email myself some encrypted files to store them with my email provider. If it all burns down I have copies in and out of the office and house in soft and hard format. USB on keyring is a good idea as your keys tend to go where everything else is not!

[Parsad]

I have a terrific all-in-one HP desktop for my home office, and I love it.  Nice to have that big screen for reading late into the wee hours. 

 

I also have a very light laptop for work between my home office and work office, as well as when travelling.  But I'm thinking of switching to a Surface tablet...almost bought one today on The Home Shopping Channel, but then decided not to buy until Boxing Day.  While my laptop is small (13"), it is still much more cumbersome on the plane or commuter train than a simple 10" tablet. 

 

In terms of Apple or Microsoft, I love my iPhone, but for business I'm not happy with Apple or Google Docs.  Microsoft still has a huge advantage with Office, but the problem is now IE which seems to run slower and have more problems than Chrome, Firefox or Safari.  I often have sites that don't load properly or slowly on IE, but run smooth and fast on Chrome or Safari.

 

If you do decide to go the tablet way, you have to find one that has enough connections to work properly as a laptop...such as USB ports, Powerpoint/Video port, etc.  As well as enough memory, storage and processor speed to work effectively as a laptop.  I'm going to go and try a few out this weekend at Best Buy.  Cheers! 

 

 

[DCG]

I have a 2007 macbook pro that is pretty slow these days and I'm running out of hard drive space. Will prob get a new computer in the next year or so. I'm thinking probably a macbook air, but need to decide on a way to store more of my content online, since I think they only go up to 250GB.

 

 

I prefer a laptop & a large monitor over a desktop computer, as I like to bring my laptop to coffee houses, and even from my office space (ie. spare bedroom) into the living room.

 

 

My iPad has replaced the majority of my computer use though.

[rkbabang]

I like to build my own desktop systems and then use my ipad for a tablet, but I don't really travel for business so the iPad is just for web surfing and email.    What I would look for if I was you would be one device that can do everything.  Like one of these from Dell:

 

http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/xps-12-9q33/pd

 

They look well-built, I used to have a business class Dell laptop made out of aluminum and it was very well built, this looks like similar construction.  Get one with an i7 processor and 8GB of RAM so that it will last you a long time without you wanting to upgrade and get the docking station so that you can just plug it in at your desk and use a large monitor, desktop keyboard, & mouse.

 

[gfp]

I use the 13" macbook air and it is a great computer.  You can get 500gb of flash storage on the current models, which are very good with the i7.  They still haven't upgraded the macbook air display to 'retina' quality, no that would be the only thing to wait for.  I use a laptop a lot - whether I'm traveling or not.

 

I have never liked using my laptop as my desktop and I always use a dedicated desktop, currently a Mac Pro.  I use two large monitors with the left own always being full screen windows XP (through full screen parallels) and the right one regular mac osx.  I use the mac side for everything but Microsoft Office, Quickbooks and eSignal.  I've used this type of setup since the first intel macs came out and I could never go back to anything different.  27" of windows on the left, 27" of OSX on the right.  Full access to all your files on both sides since its the same computer...

 

I also have a full size iPad that is loaded with SEC filings and ARs as PDFs in an app called goodreader.  That keeps you from getting bored on planes or in the bathroom, etc...

 

Everything can easily be backed up to drives attached to the wireless router and a few thumb drives for particularly important files.

 

 

I have a 2007 macbook pro that is pretty slow these days and I'm running out of hard drive space. Will prob get a new computer in the next year or so. I'm thinking probably a macbook air, but need to decide on a way to store more of my content online, since I think they only go up to 250GB.

 

 

I prefer a laptop & a large monitor over a desktop computer, as I like to bring my laptop to coffee houses, and even from my office space (ie. spare bedroom) into the living room.

 

 

My iPad has replaced the majority of my computer use though.

[Palantir]

You should buy a Surface Pro, you are pretty much their target market. It is a tablet, it is a laptop, and if you connect it to a monitor, you have a desktop. I would get the one with 8MB Ram.

[gary17]

Surface pro 2 8)

[Mikenhe]

I have a desktop as our main pc. The kids use it mostly and its out in the open so I can see what they are up to!!

 

I use a laptop all the time as I like to be able to move around and not just steal the dining table for my home office.

 

I am considering a tablet for my next move. love Samsung products so I'm looking at them. I still have a laptop as my works pc.

 

we also have nooks for reading/ light browsing.

[DCG]

fwiw, Dells are pieces of garbage.

[rkbabang]

fwiw, Dells are pieces of garbage.

 

What makes you say that?  If you buy one of their cheaper laptops, yes, but that is true with a cheap laptop from Samsung or Acer as well.  They are all plastic and you will find the USB ports will stop working as something inside snaps off after you've used it for 6 months and don't dare drop them, etc.  If you buy one of Dell's aluminum laptops they are very well built and durable.  Yes, Dell loads their machines with all kinds of crap that you need to spend a day removing from your system, but I've seen this with Acer and HP as well.  The best thing to do is format the Harddrive and install the OS fresh no matter which brand you buy.

[valueorama]

Just look at Asus T100. It is a netbook size laptop. The screen is detachable and can be used as a tablet(10").

 

Seems best of both worlds.

[Ross812]

If you are contemplating a tablet, I would suggest getting a chromebook instead. I've had an iPad2, Nexus 7, and Kindle Fire. I bought the chromebook and would never go back to a tablet. You have a keyboard to get real work done, instant on, good battery life, and if you need to use a full OS you can use Chrome Remote Desktop. Only $250 to $300.

 

http://www.amazon.com/HP-Chromebook-14-Ocean-Turquoise/dp/B00FGOTA6K/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1385135968&sr=8-5&keywords=chromebook

 

http://www.amazon.com/Acer-Chromebook-11-6-Inch-Haswell-micro-architecture/dp/B00FNPD1OY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1385135968&sr=8-3&keywords=chromebook

[benhacker]

What do you plan to use the computer for?  That's pretty critical.

 

Do you care about OS / applications (is MAC OS ok, iOS, Windows... ???)

 

Ben

[CorpRaider]

I use the 13" macbook air and it is a great computer.  You can get 500gb of flash storage on the current models, which are very good with the i7.  They still haven't upgraded the macbook air display to 'retina' quality, no that would be the only thing to wait for.  I use a laptop a lot - whether I'm traveling or not.

 

I have never liked using my laptop as my desktop and I always use a dedicated desktop, currently a Mac Pro.  I use two large monitors with the left own always being full screen windows XP (through full screen parallels) and the right one regular mac osx.  I use the mac side for everything but Microsoft Office, Quickbooks and eSignal.  I've used this type of setup since the first intel macs came out and I could never go back to anything different.  27" of windows on the left, 27" of OSX on the right.  Full access to all your files on both sides since its the same computer...

 

I also have a full size iPad that is loaded with SEC filings and ARs as PDFs in an app called goodreader.  That keeps you from getting bored on planes or in the bathroom, etc...

 

Everything can easily be backed up to drives attached to the wireless router and a few thumb drives for particularly important files.

 

 

I have a 2007 macbook pro that is pretty slow these days and I'm running out of hard drive space. Will prob get a new computer in the next year or so. I'm thinking probably a macbook air, but need to decide on a way to store more of my content online, since I think they only go up to 250GB.

 

 

I prefer a laptop & a large monitor over a desktop computer, as I like to bring my laptop to coffee houses, and even from my office space (ie. spare bedroom) into the living room.

 

 

My iPad has replaced the majority of my computer use though.

 

You're the man.  I have a similar set up but with a mac mini instead of a pro an no use for windows.  Excel is obsolete OP.  Check out the free google and mac productivity apps.  It was a good run from the Lotus 1-2-3 features they stole.  P.S.  I am not long MSFT.  hah.

[Borgesian]

I have a Surface Pro, its perfect especially when you couple it with the Onenote Software.

[wescobrk]

What do you plan to use the computer for?  That's pretty critical.

 

Do you care about OS / applications (is MAC OS ok, iOS, Windows... )

 

Ben

 

Some light spreadsheet and some writing but mostly reading with some occasional printing and scanning.

I'd like to have Microsoft excel but other than that not partial to any OS.

Thanks for all the responses!

[meiroy]

 

 

Anyone been reading fin. statements on Nexus 10?

[TorontoRaptorsFan]

I love Apple's Ecosystem.

 

At work I use a MacBook Air.

At home I use a MacBook Pro & iPad Mini Retina 128gig (arriving today)  ;D

 

 

[gary17]

 

Do you not find Microsoft Word and excel lag a lot on a mac?

 

I have a new Mac mini and it sucks so much - it can't handle two browsers (albeit I have 30 tabs) and iTunes and excel open at the same time. I have 4gb ram too.

 

My old hackintosh from a windows machine did better. So is the office PC.

 

I'm seriously thinking of getting a surface pro two...

 

I love Apple's Ecosystem.

 

At work I use a MacBook Air.

At home I use a MacBook Pro & iPad Mini Retina 128gig (arriving today)  ;D

[DCG]

 

Do you not find Microsoft Word and excel lag a lot on a mac?

 

I have a new Mac mini and it sucks so much - it can't handle two browsers (albeit I have 30 tabs) and iTunes and excel open at the same time. I have 4gb ram too.

 

My old hackintosh from a windows machine did better. So is the office PC.

 

I'm seriously thinking of getting a surface pro two...

 

I love Apple's Ecosystem.

 

At work I use a MacBook Air.

At home I use a MacBook Pro & iPad Mini Retina 128gig (arriving today)  ;D

 

 

Seems odd. The new mac minis are more powerful than my old macbook pro and I don't have that issue.

 

 

You use 30 tabs at a time?  :o  Seems like that would slow down any browser.

[gary17]

Doesn't slow down the machine in my office which is running windows 7, and there i probably have fifty tabs over three browsers, ten pdf, ten excel work sheet, etc

It just doesn't crash, ever.

 

I'm wondering if either I got a mini lemon or the ram is no good. But I'm just so lazy to go line up at the genius bar; these days there seems to be more people in that line.