Hello all with a question

dixielandjazz

dixielandjazz

Member
Hello all, new to the forum and a bit of a techi novice.
I have an `old` Acer laptop which is giving me problems which would probably cost in excess of £100, so am looking to buy a customised PCSpecialists replacement.
Question: Is it sensible to buy a laptop in view of the new mobile technology. My friend uses a mobile out and about and gets fast internet access in more places than my laptop. Further to this,why aren`t laptops adapted to the mobile connections and will this network superceed broadband ?
I don`t use the laptop for gaming but do connect via HMDI to my tele. for iPlayer etc.
Regards
Dixie:scooter:
 
ubuysa

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
Hi, and welcome! :)

A laptop will be expandable and upgradable, tablets/phones aren't. A laptop has faster (and more standard) interfaces than a tablet/phone (including HDMI). A (PCS) laptop will be massively more powerful than a tablet/phone. A laptop has a massively bigger application pool than a tablet/phone. A laptop can even run other operating systems (linux for example) whereas a tablet/phone cannot.

In terms of Internet connectivity, none of the PCS laptops (as far as I know) have 3G/4G connectivity built-in, though all have fast wifi cards. A cheapish mifi will give you 3G/4G connectivity for a laptop pretty much everywhere a tablet/phone will.

If you want a computer that you can upgrade, connect peripherals to, with data storage capacity in terrabytes, and with the power to handle any application you throw at it then you need a laptop. If you just need a device that can browse the web, send/receive emails, run some basic apps, and with data capacity in the low gigabytes then a tablet/phone will probably suit.
 
dixielandjazz

dixielandjazz

Member
Hi ubuysa,
Thanks for your help ubuys
A mobile devise would not replace the way i use my laptop and although I don`t use it nearly to the extent of what it has to offer (who does) I`m intrigued to know whether the connection of laptops will eventually be consolidated to the mobile form. At the moment ,if I travel I use a ```buy as you go ` 3connect dongle. The mobile form of connection seems so much more convenient. OK BT have numerous hot spots around the country but it`s difficult to know which way technology will lead us.
 
keynes

keynes

Multiverse Poster
Not sure what the question is, you are asking for someone to predict or speculate what may happen in the future with mobile devices?
 
steaky360

steaky360

Moderator
Moderator
Maybe in the major long term (like 10 years + in fact, probably more!) but I would highly doubt it in the short to medium term. Although mobile internet is coming along leaps and bounds (3G-4G and beyond) it wont have the required bandwidth to counteract the sheer amount of information transmitted over the traditional internet. Of course, traditional wi-fi is also being improved with the new 'ac' format being significantly faster than the 'n' or 'g' bands currently available.
 
ubuysa

ubuysa

The BSOD Doctor
steaky360 said:
Maybe in the major long term (like 10 years + in fact, probably more!) but I would highly doubt it in the short to medium term. Although mobile internet is coming along leaps and bounds (3G-4G and beyond) it wont have the required bandwidth to counteract the sheer amount of information transmitted over the traditional internet. Of course, traditional wi-fi is also being improved with the new 'ac' format being significantly faster than the 'n' or 'g' bands currently available.
Click to expand...

I deliberately avoided answering this question in my first post :eek: because I really don't know the answer. I seriously doubt anyone really does.

Personally I think that if we're talking about 3G/4G and WiFi I'd hope they both continue to grow because they serve two different needs I think. 3G/4G is about mobility, seamless communications whilst on the move. WiFi is about delivering high bandwidth for largely static users. Of course, if 3G/4G (or even 5G & 6G whenever we get them) can deliver the bandwidth and the network capacity to replace WiFi it would make better sense to go that way and consign WiFi to the museums, but I don't know whether it can (or ever will).

Serious Internet users and those needing reliable, high-bandwidth connections will stick with physical (fibre) cables I think. If we were living ashore I'd certainly be looking at a fibre connection to our home.

But I would strongly advise the OP not to choose between a laptop and a tablet based on whether it comes with 3G/4G connectivity, that would be like choosing between a Ford and a Ferrari because one comes with an ashtray and the other doesn't. :)
 
dixielandjazz

dixielandjazz

Member
Thanks guys,seems i need both to get functionality and convenience.... good news for manufacturers/suppliers/designers etc.
 
P

PokerFace

Banned
ubuysa said:
that would be like choosing between a Ford and a Ferrari because one comes with an ashtray and the other doesn't. :)
Click to expand...

For your considered replies (as usual) and making me (almost) spit my red wine over my monitor....have some rep.

[rollinglaugh]
 
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