I'm moreso curious if laptop functions have been offloaded to phones. If you have a full gaming desktop, do you see the use case for an additional laptop? or if most people here don't see the need for the increased processing power of a desktop, do you just use your laptop and a phone?

For myself, I mainly use my desktop, but I have a bunch of quite old laptops for tinkering.

  • Tmpod@lemmy.ptM
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    edit-2
    3 months ago

    I've been a laptop-only guy for over 10 years, here's my take:

    At first, I wanted a powerful and colorful desktop computer, so I could play all the games I wanted, maybe touch on some 3D software, and overall have a cool setup. However, I couldn't afford it at all (though times during and after the 2009 crisis, in Portugal), so I ended up just sticking with the handful of years old, 17 inch and 4Kg laptop my older brother had given me.
    The years passed and I never bought a desktop. The mobility and versatility of laptops was too good to give up, and having poured many hours into configuring my system (first years of laptop-only coincided with first years of Linux, pretty much) I didn't want to have to manage and sync two different computers. I wasn't aware of Nix and similar OSs, but even that doesn't solve the sync issue. Now my work requires me to take a computer with me, so I must have a laptop. I also work from home quite a lot, but I like to work outside, in the porch/garden.

    Nowadays you can get really good and mobile (gaming) laptops, like the ones from XMG (and their sister brands) or even the newer Frameworks (which are also great for other obvious reasons). Even XMG laptops are quite reparable, outside of CPU/GPU failures, and DIY is supported by the seller. I'm currently rocking their XMG Fusion 15 L19 (late 2019), and am incredibly happy with my purchase, it's still in pristine shape!

    Of course, this doesn't apply to everyone, but I think a laptop is generally a safer bet, if you know where to buy.
    Happy to discuss this further! :)

    Edit: Just wanted to drop an very nice laptop-focused channel: Bob Of All Trades. It seems they haven't been very active as of late, but they were very informative and had good guides some years ago, when I was looking for a new laptop.

  • CalcProgrammer1@lemmy.ml
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    3 months ago

    I like having a gaming laptop as it's easier to grab and go to game at friends' places. Sometimes I do like to bring my desktop and set up for a good old fashioned LAN party, but other times I want something quick. I also like having a laptop for working on projects on the go, connecting to devices for projects without having to relocate my desktop, etc. Traditional smartphones are too limited for most work and are only good for web browsing and communication tasks. Linux phones are too experimental to rely on but are getting better and better. I have done quite a bit of coding on my Linux phones but their use there is still somewhat limited. I also have a Steam Deck and it is better for gaming on the couch, on the go, or in bed, but it's not really suitable for keyboard and mouse FPS gaming and it's not convenient to do work (such as programming) on without external peripherals.

  • st3ph3n@midwest.social
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    3 months ago

    Yes, I have both. The desktop is pretty beefy and runs Windows (for now) and is mostly used for games and Adobe stuff. The laptop is a Thinkpad running Linux Mint, and is my couch computer. I use it for normal web browsing type stuff, and for managing my home lab server that sits in a closet in my basement. I also play some lightweight games on it via Steam/proton.

  • Spooty@lemmy.ml
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    3 months ago

    I have both. I avoid using my phone for anything as much as possible. Even just general internet browsing is an absolutely chore on the phone, I've never understood the popularity.

  • TheBest@midwest.social
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    3 months ago

    Gaming PC is in the living room for gaming and media center.

    Laptop in my office up stairs for programming and I use Steam Remote Play for games that require keybmouse. Its nice because I can just unplug it from my dock and head downstairs with it if I want to browse on the couch.

    I have a tablet too, but that's used solely for movies, YouTube, or when I'm DMing because the footprint is smaller.

  • mononomi@feddit.nl
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    3 months ago

    Use my laptop for everything, need it a lot at uni and it's beefy enough for desk tasks. Don't game anyways so I never hit a heavy load.

  • cows_are_underrated@discuss.tchncs.de
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    3 months ago

    I have a desktop for gaming and office work. My Laptop for watching stuff while laying in bed and for school work. My phone primarily is for chatting with friends, browsing Lemmy, calling and playing some games.

  • Mangoholic@lemmy.ml
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    3 months ago

    Desktop for work gaming, Laptop to watch movies in bed or work game while traveling long timeframes. Phone always somewhere close by, but only for reading, music staying in touch etc.

  • rickrolled767@ttrpg.network
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    3 months ago

    I'm not sure how much of an outlier I am, but for me it usually goes

    • desktop for more demanding games or if I'm playing with friends. Also use it for running dnd sessions
    • laptop for writing, productivity stuff, or anything else where I don't need a lot of power or if I'm on the go.
    • my phone is usually used for scrolling or other time waster apps

    How much I use each one really depends on the day

  • Melobol@lemmy.ml
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    3 months ago

    I have a beefcake laptop, that could fold into a tablet. But I still usually use it as a desktop computer: connected to all the periferials, speakers and a monitor, folded up to be a secondary monitor on the side.
    While I had some cooling issues with it (had to cough up couple hundreds for repairs) I am still happy with the setup.
    The phone is for during the day, some mobile only games and for reading books - tho I do like to listen to TTS when my eyes are busy.