How many of you use a Mini PC or a laptop for your primary system?

I had a laptop as my main computer. I liked the portability, but I couldn't handle the screen, keyboard, and touchpad for extended use, so I had those accessories everywhere I needed to use the laptop for a longer period. I also didn't have the dexterity or the patience to service the laptop myself.

My main computer is now a mini PC. I still love the portability and better serviceability, but I dislike the fan noise and am worried that I won't be able to find spare parts for it. If I no longer need the portability, a Dell SFF might work better for me, but it probably wouldn't ease my concerns about spare parts.

Buy a cheaper laptop and budget to replace it after three or four years.

Closed lid laptop with external keyboard, monitor and Bluetooth mouse here. Keyboard sits on closed lid with laptop tucked under the monitor. It never goes anywhere.

My first computer was a desktop and hated the bulk. I've had eversince only laptops which became more and more as powerful as desktops. They are more expensive though for the same type of hardware. I'm not a gamer but I still have a fairly powerful laptop for Photoshop. I only have one machine for my work and a smaller laptop for emergencies which I have never used. My next machine will definitely be a laptop.

kelper said:

I might be tempted to get a mini PC, but then I'd need a monitor and keyboard...

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Yep, makes sense if you don't already have one. I use my laptop hooked to a monitor and keyboard most of the time. It's only disconnected when I actually show up in the office. Writing code on a laptop screen is like riding a moped; it ain't much fun, and you better not let your friends catch you doing it.

I have an Asus Vivobook laptop and a big desktop PC. The latter is almost certainly going to go mid-year and be replaced with the much more compact Mac Studio.

hsehestedt said:

How many of you use a Mini PC as your primary system? How many use a laptop? How many still prefer a desktop?

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All mine are laptops, see 'My Computers' below.

Laptop here is main computer, for various reasons, but I have 3 identical ones and various spare parts, in case one develops an issue. Our teen has a desktop in his room for gaming primarily. Not much space anywhere else for another desktop, desk and so on, and I also like to work in different rooms in a comfortable position I dislike sitting at a desk now.

The downsides are - a desktop (or mini desktop) would probably last a lot longer and things like keyboards and other components can be easily swapped. However laptop working works for me.

Been using only laptops for more than a decade now (3rd laptop, currently). Main reason was actually the price - which is quite ironic, cause for a very long time (in 90s and beyond) - a laptop with similar specs to a desktop (lower performance - but still) - used to be unreasonably more expensive. Portable, sure.... but before NVIDIA GTX 1000 series - at the price of a High End desktop - most laptops could barely compete with a mid-range. That changed and kept changing with the release of Nvidia RTX series and beyond - the performance gap between a desktop and same mobile GPU is more like 10% - 30% this days (depends which GPU, ofc). But it's the price that surprise me - after COVID - i found laptops with same specs as a Desktop 20 - 30% cheaper (depends which model and brand). Especially refurbished or second hand.

Prior to my first laptop - bought around 2016, had mainly desktops. Upgraded 4 of them till that point - and still have the last one - gathering for most part. The thing is, a desktop is indeed - a better option for home - performance wise (both raw computing - but even cooling, still rulling in this regard). So i can agree with this point - but another solid concern with a Desktop beyond the space it takes... is their energy needs/consumtion. I mean, my curent laptop cosumes around 80-90% less energy than a desktop equivelent. Since i live in a country - with higher energy bills than most of the countries in EU, i'd rather save and use that money elswere. My gaming interests are not that demanding this days anyway - same goes for editing and such. :)

I use a desktop for work at home. I like having a dedicated workspace, so it being tied to one location doesn't bother me. I have a laptop for travel. I house all of my work files on an external USB drive (that I back up daily), so I can work stuff on both.

I bought my mother-in-law a Mini PC. It suits her needs, and she loves it.

Mine is a VANT closed lid laptop with external keyboard, monitor and Bluetooth mouse.

I'm mobile most of the time. My office is wherever I happen to open my backpack.

It all comes down to needs and lifestyle. I have no need for a large screen or high performance beast. 99% of my activities are done while sitting on my couch in the TV den. Sometimes in the evening I may be browsing forums, working on financials, etc. while the big screen TV in on. My wife OTOH will use the desktop for hours. We are away from home for 5-6 weeks per year and then use our travel laptops.

I've got multiples of both. My wife runs a Dell Optiplex D7080 that she absolutely loves, and I've got a Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra 2 that's a pretty serious machine. My primary work PC, however, is built upon a temperamental B550 Extreme4 mobo with 5800X CPU. I'm getting ready to move it over to an MSI motherboard because of issues with the firmware on its current mobo. Both types of machine have their uses, but I lean more toward mini PCs because of compactness and lower cost.
HTH,
--Ed--

TraderGary said:

I'm mobile most of the time. My office is wherever I happen to open my backpack.

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Gary, you said you work from home, but, you're never home!!!

Edwin said:

Gary, you said you work from home, but, you're never home!!!

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True, I'm mobile a good bit of the time. I can work from anywhere.

@TraderGary prefers to work from Biscuit World or whatever it is.

Still using my Ryzen 7 7700X and Radeon 7800XT OC 16GB based Desktop as my main system.

Just got a Secondary Gaming Laptop not long ago, but so far not using it as my main system. I did consider a Mini PC briefly, but wasn't sure if it could Run SecondLife well or not, so i decided to spend on this Asus Tuf A16 Advantage Edition, Ryzen 7 7735HS, Radeon 7700S, 16GB DDR5, 512GB Boot NVMe (currently installed) installing 2nd M.2 for Game drive at some point.

Overall though happy with both systems, each one has its strengths, and not so good points, the Desktop is so Heavy, i don't lug it far to clean lol monthly, but maybe someday i'll get into Mini PC's fully.

pseymour said:

@TraderGary prefers to work from Biscuit World or whatever it is.

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Or Starbuck's or my La-Z-Boy recliner!

I've been using laptops since 1999 and the last desktop I owned was in 2007. I got sick of sitting at a desk in one room all the time, like I had been at work. Much better flexibility being portable.