Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Would you buy a laptop or a desktop?

Spent the afternoon specing out computers on Dell's website. Replacing an old Gateway desktop. Undecided which way would be better. Looking at an Inspiron 560 desktop with 20" monitor with 6g ram or inspiron 1545 laptop with 4g ram. Everything else is very similar specs. We have dsl and Lynksys wireless router. Currently also have another Dell desktop and kids have a Dell laptop. The Gateway desktop has been our main computer and where the dsl is connected. WE are using an hp printer that is connected to the desktop but would like to connect it through the wireless to all the computers. Should I replace the desktop with another or would I be ok with a good laptop? Kinda on the fence here. TIA.

Views: 95

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Anstey on March 2, 2010 at 3:28pm
since either one would probably do the job for you, buy the one that would fit your workspace, and you would find easiest to see (the monitor) and to use (the keyboard) Most machines come with built in wireless capabilities these days, so its just plug and play. I like my laptop because of its portability, but when I am doing my books, I like the number pad on the desktop. Of course you can hook an ordinary keyboard up to a laptop, which I should do next time I'm number crunching. After awhile, I don't find the battery lasts very long, so dreams of number crunching under the shade of the big maple haven't really materialized.
Permalink Reply by littlelamb on March 3, 2010 at 6:52am
I'd go laptop, less space on the desk, portable and unless you want to hook up all the fancy things too it like a gaming computer or something, in my opinion a laptop these days are just as good as a bulky desktop.
Permalink Reply by Wayne Black on March 3, 2010 at 3:10pm
Originally I would say depends on what the purpose is. In my situation I need a desktop since the laptop has a screen that is much smaller than my current 24" and it is cheaper to replace parts or upgrade a desktop internally. I like to have multiple windows open at one time so the big screen is handy.
On the other hand I now have a PDA. I will never buy a laptop now. For the price of a decent laptop I can get a killer desktop and a good PDA. I rarely use the desktop since my PDA goes everywhere with me (fits in my pocket). It also syncs with my desktop wirelessly so you still need the wireless network.
Permalink Reply by Roadrunner on March 8, 2010 at 5:17pm
Hi Guys:

I decided to go the laptop route...pretty inexpensive and with the wireless internet...pretty convenient.

Thanks for the feedback.
Permalink Reply by Joe Dales on March 13, 2010 at 5:15am
The laptop is becoming pretty inexpensive so that is likely a good choice for most people.
I think if you are using a computer to storage valuable data - accounting or production records - you may want to have a desk top...it is less likely to be lost, dropped etc. If you are good at backing up your important files to a disk then you may be ok with a laptop.
A laptop with wireless is a good way to go and should make it easier to do work with the computer...you are not tied down to the office desk.
One of my friends who farms alot of acres is looking at a laptop with a Cellular internet access so he will be connected in the pickup or tractor cab.

Joe

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Ukraine and Russia Ceasefire's Long-Term Impact on Grain MarketsImpact

Russia and Ukraine have continued to dominate the global grain market, despite infrastructure damage from the war.

Canola Crush Falls in February

The Canadian canola crush declined in February, falling below 1 million tonnes for the first time in five months. A Statistics Canada crush report on Friday pegged the February canola crush at 882,610 tonnes, down 12.6% from January and the first sub-1-million tonne monthly crush since September. Last month’s crush also fell 1.6% below the same month last year. However, the cumulative 2024-25 crush (August-February) is still running 6.2% ahead of the previous year, totalling 6.81 million tonnes. That is 59% of Agriculture Canada’s full-year crush forecast of 11.5 million tonnes, potentially a new record high. Although western Canadian canola crush capacity has expanded in the past couple of years, the canola industry is now facing trade wars on two fronts. On March 20, China officially imposed 100% tariffs on imports of Canadian canola oil and canola meal. According to the Canola Council of Canada, total canola exports to China in 2024 were valued at almost $5 billion and include

MPP for Leamington Trevor Jones named new Ontario agriculture minister

Fresh off re-election in Chatham-Kent—Leamington, the riding’s Progressive Conservative MPP is now heading a cabinet portfolio in the provincial government. Trevor Jones was named minister of agriculture, food and agribusiness on Wednesday, replacing Elgin–Middlesex–London MPP Rob Flack, who moves to municipal affairs and housing. A news release from the office of Premier Doug Ford stated the cabinet is an experienced team that will “deliver on the government’s mandate to do whatever is necessary to protect Ontario in the face of tariffs from the United States,” while building a stronger, more resilient economy. “As Ontario faces one of the greatest challenges in our history, workers and families are counting on us to stand up for their jobs and well-being,” Ford said. “Our government will double down on our plan to build, train and reskill workers for better jobs and bigger paycheques, tear down internal trade barriers, retool companies for new customers in new markets, attract mo

Second avian flu case this month reported in Lambton County

Another confirmed case of H5N1 avian influenza in birds has been reported in Lambton County by Lambton Public Health. The new case isn’t connected to one reported March 14, the agency said in a release. The latest case was reported at a commercial poultry site, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website. The earlier Lambton case was also at a commercial poultry site. Lambton Public Health said it is working with Ontario’s Health and Agriculture ministries and the federal food inspection agency to “contain, monitor, and respond to the situation.” Avian influenza is a viral disease that mostly affects domestic poultry and wildlife such as geese, ducks, and shore birds, the agency said. No human cases of the virus have been reported so far in Ontario or Lambton County, it said. Only individuals who have worked with affected birds are considered at risk and Lambton Public Health said it is following up with those individuals.

John Cranfield named dean of the Ontario Agricultural College

John Cranfield is the new dean of the Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Guelph, removing the “acting” part from his title earlier this month. He had been serving in an interim capacity since July 2023, taking on the role after the university named the previous dean, Dr. Rene Van Acker, as its interim vice-president (research). The five-year term that started March 1 is the latest in a longstanding relationship between Cranfield and the university, where he began as an undergraduate student. Cranfield told The Observer he had spent most of his adult life as part of the University of Guelph, starting as an undergraduate studying biology before transferring to agriculture in his third year. “It really set me on an amazing path, partly because I think I was a little older when I transferred into the program. So, I had some good habits, matured a bit,” said Cranfield. “I just felt incredibly well supported, and a lot of opportunity was created for me, especially as a ma

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service