[vox] Desktop Recommendations

[Jeff Newmiller]

By "vendor desktop" I was explicitly excluding custom-built desktops. I don't have experience with the vendors you mention, but the vendors I do have experience with tweak their hardware to cut costs and reduce interoperability.

But these days I run a Chromebook with the Linux LXD and rent cloud computing when I need more horsepower. Different strokes and all.

On February 19, 2022 2:42:59 PM PST, bill broadley <bill at broadley.org> wrote:
>On 1/26/22 20:59, Jeff Newmiller wrote:
>> Feels a bit quaint to think about buying a vendor desktop these days.
>
>Heh, I'm sure laptop makers would like you to think that.  I still recommend 
>desktops for many use cases because:
>
>1. Desktops are easy to fix, lasting 10+ years of daily use isn't particularly 
>hard if you are willing to troubleshoot and replace parts.  Often just a 
>phillips screw driver or two is needed. Laptops often require multiple tools and 
>significant planning, things like removing a dozen or two screws that look 
>similar, but are different lengths and have different threads, torx and even 
>security bits or pentalobe drivers are sometimes needed. For normal folks I 
>wouldn't particularly consider laptops as user serviceable.  Even dimms and 
>storage are increasingly soldered to the motherboard on laptops. With a desktop 
>replacing things like a SSD, GPU, or hard drive is a few screws and some common 
>sense, even a motherboard isn't particularly hard.  Keyboard and mouse are 
>trivial, just unplug a usb cable and plugin the new.  On a laptop, even simple 
>things like a keyboard often involves significant time, planning, more tools, 
>and playing along with an hour long youtube video.  Even a cookie or spilled 
>drink is MUCH more likely to kill a laptop than a desktop.
>
>2. Desktops are much more expandable, adding 3.5" disks allows adding a large 
>amount of storage easily.  I recently added 5x14TB to a desktop case.  Even 
>2-4TB of storage is a challenge on most laptops, and typically very expensive 
>for the size.
>
>3. Generally skipping a laptops LCD, integrated keyboard, integrated touchpad, 
>battery, battery charger, tiny fans, (generally) cheap plastic case, makes 
>desktops more reliable and cheaper than laptops.  Also desktops use standard 
>parts, so it's MUCH easier to keep a desktop going, I'd recommend at least a 3 
>year warranty on a laptop, because even things like keyboards, fans, 
>motherboards, storage, etc are custom parts or not user replaceable.
>
>4. Desktops parts, even with the same model name (like gtx 3080 or intel i7) are 
>faster on desktops.  So even a lower end desktop (with an i5 and gtx 3070) can 
>end up faster than a higher spec laptop.
>
>5. Laptops are often storage limited, which often requires an external disk 
>chassis or a NAS (network attached storage).  NAS are great, but expensive.  
>Laptop replacements because of lack of ram expansion or storage expansion are 
>relatively common.
>
>6. Desktops are generally easier to live with.  Ergonomics of a big LCD panel, 
>mouse, and keyboard are generally much better and easier to customize than a 
>laptop and can be customized easily. Sure laptops can use external keyboards and 
>monitors, but that adds cost on top of the higher laptop pricing.  Desktops are 
>generally quieter, especially under load.
>
>
>If you don't need mobility I'd recommend an Intel NUC or System76 Meerkat, if 
>you need something expandable there's quite a few options from many vendors, 
>including System76 or Dell if you want Linux support.  Dell has a list at:
>
>https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/overview/cp/linuxsystems
>
>But generally I favor system76 since they not only are they supporting Linux on 
>their hardware, but actively trying to improve the Linux desktop experience.
>
>Because of the GPU shortage I'd consider a desktop with an AMD APU (like the AMD 
>Ryzen 5700g) in a chassis that allows adding a GPU later.  So when the GPU 
>supply/pricing returns to normal you can add a GPU (if needed).
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Sent from my phone. Please excuse my brevity.