5 ms·

You might not like it, but lots of developers use laptops as their primary computer. Performance is relative anyway.

pixelpoet 7y ago
This isn't about what I personally like, I'm try to argue about sensibility. I am obviously aware that lots of developers use laptops, why else would I have written that post? Do you have any substantive disagreements to what I wrote?
- zodiac 7y ago
  Here's a disagreement: you're right that it would be nice if benchmarks included desktops, but I continue to want to do "serious work" on my (expensive, underpowered relative to a desktop) laptop.
  - pixelpoet 7y ago
    Again, I get that, and that's why I wrote what I wrote; what I'd like is some insight as to why this is so. People downvote me as if I've just insulted their mother, when all I'm doing is asking why on Earth people would prefer laptops over large dual monitors, full sized keyboards, ... and so much better performance and cost effectiveness. Seriously, I'd like to know, and if I can't ask it on HN then yeah, probably I should just forget it before I get lynched or something for daring to make those rational points in public.
    - barrkel 7y ago
      For me it's because it's what the business mandates. I have a docking station so I still have two big monitors (three if I want to keep the laptop open) and a mechanical keyboard, but the business wants me to use a laptop because it can be locked away after work, it can be brought home for home working or on call, and it's part of the disaster recovery plan should the office become unusable.
    - umanwizard 7y ago
      Answering your question in good faith, though it seems obvious to me: people prefer laptops because they are portable. You can work from home, or the train, or another city, or a meeting room. By the way, it is possible to connect a laptop to whatever monitors and keyboard you want
      - deleted 7y ago
        [deleted]
    - codetrotter 7y ago
      Because a laptop is possible to carry with you when you go places, and a desktop is not.
    - skavi 7y ago
      The reason is obviously portability. People like the ability to take their entire development workstation wherever they please, or perhaps to even sit on a sofa or bed. I’m not sure why you’d need that explained.
    - stanferder 7y ago
      Laptops can be carried to meetings, so you always have your whole setup with you, and they make it easier to do work someplace other than your desk.
    - rsynnott 7y ago
      > why on Earth people would prefer laptops over large dual monitors, full sized keyboards, ... and so much better performance and cost effectiveness. I think I'd struggle to bring that around meeting rooms all day. I have a monitor and keyboard to plug in on my desk, of course...

This isn't about what I personally like, I'm try to argue about sensibility. I am obviously aware that lots of developers use laptops, why else would I have written that post? Do you have any substantive disagreements to what I wrote?

zodiac 7y ago
Here's a disagreement: you're right that it would be nice if benchmarks included desktops, but I continue to want to do "serious work" on my (expensive, underpowered relative to a desktop) laptop.
- pixelpoet 7y ago
  Again, I get that, and that's why I wrote what I wrote; what I'd like is some insight as to why this is so. People downvote me as if I've just insulted their mother, when all I'm doing is asking why on Earth people would prefer laptops over large dual monitors, full sized keyboards, ... and so much better performance and cost effectiveness. Seriously, I'd like to know, and if I can't ask it on HN then yeah, probably I should just forget it before I get lynched or something for daring to make those rational points in public.
  - barrkel 7y ago
    For me it's because it's what the business mandates. I have a docking station so I still have two big monitors (three if I want to keep the laptop open) and a mechanical keyboard, but the business wants me to use a laptop because it can be locked away after work, it can be brought home for home working or on call, and it's part of the disaster recovery plan should the office become unusable.
  - umanwizard 7y ago
    Answering your question in good faith, though it seems obvious to me: people prefer laptops because they are portable. You can work from home, or the train, or another city, or a meeting room. By the way, it is possible to connect a laptop to whatever monitors and keyboard you want
    - deleted 7y ago
      [deleted]
  - codetrotter 7y ago
    Because a laptop is possible to carry with you when you go places, and a desktop is not.
  - skavi 7y ago
    The reason is obviously portability. People like the ability to take their entire development workstation wherever they please, or perhaps to even sit on a sofa or bed. I’m not sure why you’d need that explained.
  - stanferder 7y ago
    Laptops can be carried to meetings, so you always have your whole setup with you, and they make it easier to do work someplace other than your desk.
  - rsynnott 7y ago
    > why on Earth people would prefer laptops over large dual monitors, full sized keyboards, ... and so much better performance and cost effectiveness. I think I'd struggle to bring that around meeting rooms all day. I have a monitor and keyboard to plug in on my desk, of course...