Desktop Replacements and the 11 Pound Pencil

Marco Ramius writes "Tom's Hardware Guide has an article up entitled 'Unwieldy Laptops or Portable Desktops?' in which the author lugs an Alienware Area-51m desktop replacement to a 32 hour LAN to assess what advantages and disadvantages desktop replacements have over desktops themselves." They also have a related article entitled The Case of the 11 Pound Pencil where an office adopts a desktop replacement solution to unsatisfactory ends. Both interesting looks at appropriate uses for hefty hardware.

HP pavilion ZD8000

[quokkapox]

My desktop replacement notebook does just what I need it to do, it replaced my desktop. Plus it's mobile. I spend 90% of my time using it near an outlet anyway, so the brick just goes everywhere with me and the machine itself. Combined weight with brick and targus case is ~15 pounds. Battery lasts about an hour unless you try something ridiculous like transcoding and burning a dvd.

The nice thing is, the 2.8 GHz processor and constantly running fans literally warm up the entire room where I happen to be working and provide a pleasant, white-noise droning all the time. My hands stay nice and toasty because there are built-in handwarming areas. Plus I can keep my coffee reasonably warm by resting it on top of the power brick.

All in all, no complaints from me.

firewire?

[iotaborg]

It's great to see that a laptop with 2 cd drives, 4 usb ports, etc etc still does not have a full-fledged 6-pin firewire port.

RAID array!

[syd2000]

From TFA:

...there's even a RAID array!

Wow, how'd they pack all those drives in there?

Re:portable ENIAC

[zenmojodaddy]

You're right, a Toughbook is way too much for your dad's job. In order to prevent this shocking misuse of equipment, I hereby volunteer to take it off his hands. I know, I know... it's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.

Re:Come again?

[vertinox]

Since when did any "IT Professional" ever consider purchasing a fucking AlienWare machine? A laptop that has "a little alien head on the back"?

Well... Maybe the guys who work at SETI ;)

Re:Well...

[Savage-Rabbit]

"...pencil."

noun,
An archaic instrument for writing or drawing, consisting of a thin stick of graphite or a similar substance enclosed in a long thin piece of wood or fixed in a metal or plastic case.

Re:Well...

[ajs318]

Sounds expensive ..... I would have thought you could get a pencil for eleven pence if you went to the right place!

Re:One computer.

[ROOK*CA]

I know that many of us have at least a whole room dedicated to their computers but we are the minority.

I know I do, it's referred to in hushed tones around the household as "The Temple" and smells of incense and candles.

Re:Are Lan Parties still Revalant.

[jellomizer]

Yes slashdot....a female

Hosts Mom?

Re: Yes, they are

[johnthorensen]

Nor can it replace...the smell.

Re:Are Lan Parties still Revalant.

[Anonymous Coward]

Poor cat :/