Hello summerz,
Thank you for your question.
I have owned both laptops and desktops since the mid 80's and have
built every desktop I have owned. Even though there are "reported"
desktop replacements, for the way I use my office machine I really
need to have both. But many people are more than satisfied with a
desktop replacement laptop and you may find this will meet your needs.
You seem like a new laptop buyer / user, so let's start with a few
basics. Although the following article is for Apple OS laptops, it
applies to Windows machines equally:
Lowendmac.com
http://www.lowendmac.com/archive/02/1122.html
"The major differences between laptops and desktops have remained
consistent over the years. Laptops tend not to be able to accept as
much RAM as an equivalent desktop. Laptops almost always have smaller
hard drives -- the PowerBook G4 currently has a 60 GB hard drive in
the high-end version (thanks to all those who corrected my last
article -- 80 GB is the largest capacity hard drive offered that can
fit into a PowerBook, not 100 GB). The high end G4 tower comes stock
with a 120 GB hard drive and has room for several additional drives.
The question you really have to ask is whether or not you will need to
upgrade your computer significantly in the future. Most users add some
RAM but essentially keep the computer in its stock configuration for
its lifetime. Power users usually add RAM, maybe a new hard drive, and
perhaps replace the video card. Upgrading RAM in a PowerBook isn't
hard, but PowerBooks can only hold so much compared to desktops. RAM
for laptop computers also tends to cost more...."
Very good points. Also realize that not only are you locked in to the
video card built in to the laptop, but the external monitor port
usually only will drive a monitor to moderate resolution and color
depth. In some cases, no more than 800 x 600 and 16 bit color.
The article continues:
"...Hard drives are reasonably easily replaced, but the special 2.5"
hard drives are expensive compared to the 3.5" drives found in
desktops, and they generally have a lower capacity.
Replace the video card in a laptop? Forget it. I know of no laptop
where this is possible (if you do, please let me know). Certainly
there is no Mac laptop where you are able to swap out the video card.
If Apple did include this capability, it would lose sales of new
machines, as everyone would be upgrading their old ones.
If you don't mind being limited when it comes to these things, a
laptop may be for you. If you need a faster video card, lots of RAM, a
larger than 80 GB hard drive, a desktop is best..."
Scope Notes at ARMA
http://www.armaedmonton.com/scopenotes/s_technology.htm
"...One law states that electronic gadgets need electricity, and the
more electronics you cram into a given space, the more electricity it
will consume. Another states that when a gadget consumes electricity,
it converts quite a bit of that energy into heat.
These problems are easy to solve when you're designing
microprocessors, memory modules and other circuits for a desktop PC.
If you make a faster CPU, add more memory chips or a bigger monitor,
all you have to do is draw more current from the outlet. To get rid of
heat, you add a fan to draw air through the case for general cooling
and another on top of the processor to keep it from cooking itself.
Unfortunately, that leeway disappears in a laptop. When you're running
a notebook-size device on a battery, you don't have room or power to
spare for large fans. (No one wants to sit next to a noisy laptop on a
plane, either.) Faster CPUs and memory chips consume more power and
create more heat.
As a result, laptop makers have to buy low-power versions of their
processors, which are slower and more expensive than their desktop
counterparts. The same goes for floppy drives, hard disks and CD-ROM
drives. That's why laptops rarely match desktop PCs in performance and
why they cost more. And it's hard to find a laptop that will give you
more than three hours of work on a charge..."
And, a few excerpts from Laptop Universe
http://www.laptopuniverse.com/nb/info/pcfaq1.shtml
"If you're interested in portable computing, odds are you're already
familiar with desktop computers. While the basic components are the
same for both (display, keyboard/mouse, processor, memory, and hard
drive), there are fundamental differences between the two that are
often missed by those less technical-minded. A portable computer is
NOT a desktop in a really, really small case. It's designed
differently and with different goals in mind. That's a great deal of
what this part of the FAQ is about...
...Currently, laptops are designed with 3 basic goals and buying the
unit depends on which of those goals you share:
Desktop Replacement:
This is the largest of the portable family, weighing over 6.5lbs.
Usually the portable with the most features, such as a large screen,
large hard drive, CD-ROM drive, multimedia capabilities, built-in
modem, and occasionally even a printer! These systems are often the
most expensive, because the user can have one as a sole computer
without many compromises. Current well-known examples would be the IBM
77x series, Toshiba Tecra 8xxx series, and Dell's Inspiron 7000...
...There are limitations inherent in these form factors, varying from
slight to radical. Portables are designed to use less power and take
up less room than their desktop relatives, but are expected to perform
comparably by the users. Innovations are constantly being made, on
some fronts more than others. Here I'll cover the basic computer
components, and how they've been altered for portable computing...
DISPLAY:
One of the most radical differences between portables and desktops is
the use of a flat LCD (Liquid Crystal Diode) display. While
performance isn't as good as a CRT, the latest developments in size
and control have made them comparable, though pixel sizes and
resolutions aren't as versatile. LCD screens are among the most
expensive parts of a portable, being easily $600 or more of the
system's value. They are also the most fragile. NOTE: There are few
ways to damage a display and still have it covered under warranty, and
because of the cost and lack of availability of replacement screens
from anyone other than the manufacturer, it is frequently simpler to
buy a new system than repair one with a damaged display...
PROCESSORS:
Probably the most problematic component in a portable computer design
is the CPU. It draws considerable power, draining the battery, and
outputs considerable heat, making the system uncomfortable to use at
best, and self-damaging at worst...
HARD DRIVES:
Portable hard drives are essentially the same as desktops except in
dimensions. Portable drives tend to have 2.5" platters, measure around
4" in length, and either 12.5-7mm high (for subnotebooks and slim
notebooks) and 17-19mm high (for larger desktop replacement models).
For this reason, portables trail desktops in storage capacity, with
the largest currently being about 25GB. Some ultralight models are
8.45-9.5mm high, with the largest drives being 8GB at this writing.
Laptop drives also tend to run slower, averaging a 13ms seek time, and
only 4200 or so rpms - the slowness of portable drives is the chief
reason you'll notice a serious performance difference between your
laptop and desktop. Most notebooks and desktop replacement models also
have user-removable drives, so that businesses that have more
employees than laptops can share a laptop and keep data separate for
each user, and allowing for easy (and expensive) upgrades from the
manufacturer..."
All good points. You might wish to read the entire article.
Let's look at some of your more specific questions:
"Some of my concerns are:
What is the hardrive interface between the motherboard and Hd. I know
in desktops it's ATA which can be paired with two devices, is this the
same for laptops?"
This is going to vary by make and model and may be ATA, IDE, EIDE or
other variations such as ATA-4 or ATA-5. There is usually no ability
to add a second hard drive to a laptop UNLESS the specific machine has
the ability to swap accessories in a plug-in bay. These machines may
allow you to use a CD-ROM, CD-RW, second hard drive, floppy or even
second battery in some models. You can not use all peripherals at
once, but can swap as your needs and desires change.
I have never come across a laptop that can have a second drive added
other than in this bay or externally.
"Even though laptops have the same rated processing chip as desktops,
is their performance hindered by low power consumption."?
Yes. The same rated chips will run hotter, may throttle down due to
temperature and will not perform perceptibly as speedy as a similarly
rated desktop. And, it will cost more! RAM will be more expensive and
in general, the maximum installable RAM on a laptop is significantly
less than on a desktop. And remember, both low power CPU's and RAM are
more costly than their desktop counterparts.
"Is reinstalling a O/S on a laptop as easy as a desktop ((format
c\s:=>fdisk=>run setup.exe from a win9x=>install drivers. Desktop
routine)) ?"
Yes...and no. The biggest difference is in finding and being prepared
with the proper drivers for your laptop. It is not as easy as going to
Diamond or Matrox for your video driver, Logitech for your mouse
driver, etc. Laptop drivers are most often machine specific. You will
need the manufacturers discs or downloads from "some" of the better
laptop manufacturers. Other than being confident you have all the
drivers required, it is almost identical to reinstall an OS.
"What are some of the pitfalls of buying a cheaper, highend laptop
(some with what look like the same features can be over $1000
cheaper."?
Screen quality, keyboard quality and feel, ruggedness and build
quality, warranty and actual real world performance. I personally buy
only Toshiba, IBM and Sony laptops, though opinions on these vary
among users and reviewers. I have had excellent warranty experiences
with Toshiba and IBM. Lots of people swear by Dell.
"I'm not sure if there is a large variety of motherboards around for
laptops...I'd like to know why they're cheaper. Manufacturers won't
tell the downside to their computers.)"
Which ties in to:
"Can you build a generic laptop"?
I have never seen laptop parts available to build a generic laptop. If
you were to buy parts from a manufacturer, the cost would be
astronomical. As noted above, replacement screens can go as high as
$600, maybe more. Cases, keyboards and motherboards are non-standard
and not sold as desktop kit parts are.
I have never heard of anyone building a laptop from components.
However, that didn't stop me from searching to see if it has been or
is being done:
http://www.notefloat.com/build_your_own_laptop.htm
build your own laptop
"HOW TO CHOOSE A LAPTOP
What is a laptop, or Notebook?
A laptop or notebook is simply a portable computer, similar in many
ways to your desktop computer. Whereas laptops used to be less
powerful that desktops, they have become very powerful and flexible in
the last several years. Now the main differences are cost and
expandability...
...What are the Special Features You Can Choose for Your Laptop?
A laptop is like a spouse. Better to find out how they work before
committing for the long haul. Given all of the different models
available, it can be difficult to figure out which laptop is right for
you, particularly if your laptop-purchase budget is restricted..."
Do read their shopping list to be sure you have considered all you
need to consider for your purchase.
Although the site was "Build Your Own Laptop", it is really just a
guide to understanding the variables so you can choose the appropriate
model for your wants, needs and desires.
Access Micro
http://www.accessmicro.com/laptopsystem/index.phtml
"Configure Your Own Desktop Replacement System
AccessMicro.Com is proud to introduce the new X-Book Pentium 4 BTO
Laptop configurator . With our wide variety of P4 CPU, memory and hard
drive size, you now have greater flexibility to configure your dream
laptop. We will assemble your laptop to your desired configuration,
test it, thoroughly burn-in ,and load all necessary software before we
ship it. Due to our strict testing procedures, we are able to offer 1
year parts and labor warranty. (software support not offered)...."
Again, a chance to specify custom configurations. This is about as
close to building your own generic laptop as I believe you will find.
Microwest does something similar:
http://microwest.com/store/product.asp?viewby=Title&sku=&show=l
And finally, the Overclockers Forum probably puts the idea to rest
here:
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/archive/topic/16262-1.html
"I want a laptop, but short on $$$ i wouldn't mind building one if it
was possible, is there anyway i can? or is it just a stupid idea?...
...Nope.. Everything on a laptop is pretty much integrated and they
are designed very specifically. I only wish you could build one, but,
that is not an option a the moment.
I have heard of people building PC's in brief cases and getting a nice
LCD monitor and making a portable PC in a brief case but that is
expensive as hell..."
Lastly, MSN News also has a rather good article on 2 current desktop
replacement notebooks. I think you will find this of interest:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/860278.asp
Search Strategy:
differences between laptop and desktop
laptop hard drive interface
add +"second hard drive" +laptop
"build your own" OR "do it yourself" OR diy +laptop OR notebook
I trust my research will provide a foundation for deciding which
laptop will do the job for you. If a link above should fail to work or
anything require further explanation or research, please do post a
Request for Clarification prior to rating the answer and closing the
question and I will be pleased to assist further.
Regards,
-=clouseau=- |
