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: 98

▶ 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

Here’s What’s New in the 2026 Census of Agriculture

Statistics Canada just gave producers an early look at the 2026 Census of Agriculture — and it’s got some timely updates that speak directly to the realities of farming today. The questionnaire keeps much of the core content from 2021, allowing for long-term trend tracking, but it also gets a refresh in areas that matter to today’s ag landscape. Expect more detailed questions about environmental stewardship, new technologies on the farm, and emerging crop and livestock categories. Here’s What’s In It for You: New Crop & Livestock Categories: Got something unique in the ground or the barn? There are new commodity categories designed to reflect what’s really happening on modern farms — including niche and emerging products. Environmental Practices Front and Centre: The census now digs deeper into sustainability practices, giving you the opportunity to show how your operation contributes to soil health, water conservation, carbon reduction, and more. Tech & Renewables: If you’ve adopte

Canola Slips Across the Board as Market Momentum Fades

Canola futures pulled back on Wednesday, posting steady losses across all active contracts. The November 2025 contract led the slide, falling by $5.70 to close at $696.60 per tonne—dipping below the psychologically significant $700 level. Nearby months followed suit, with January 2026 down $5.00 at $707.50 and March 2026 slipping $5.10 to $715.10. The softness extended into the deferred months as well, with May, July, and even November 2026 futures each shedding more than $5.00 per tonne. This broad-based decline signals a lack of short-term buying interest and ongoing pressure from weaker oilseed markets, particularly in soy and palm oil. Technical selling may also be playing a role, as key support levels were tested or breached. Overall, today’s action reflects a market struggling to find upward momentum amid global demand uncertainty and harvest pressure in some regions. Traders will be watching weather developments and export data closely, but for now, the tone remains bearish.

Wheat Wilts, Corn Holds, and Soybeans Stumble in Mixed Market Day

Grains traded in mixed fashion today, with wheat and soybeans under pressure while corn eked out modest gains. The most notable weakness came from Chicago Wheat, where futures declined across the board. The front-month September 2025 contract slipped 6 cents to $5.23 3/4 per bushel, and losses extended steadily through to December 2026, which closed at $6.12 per bushel. The bearish tone in wheat continues to reflect stiff global competition and sluggish export demand, keeping the complex pinned near recent lows. Soybeans took the biggest hit of the day, with losses ranging from 11 1/2 to 14 cents per bushel. August 2025 soybeans dropped 14 cents to $9.67 3/4, while new-crop November 2025 fell to $9.95 3/4, marking a dip below the psychologically important $10 mark. Broad-based weakness in vegetable oil markets and concerns over export demand—particularly with shifting trade patterns and tariff uncertainty—pressured the oilseed complex. Corn, on the other hand, managed to stay afloat.

Canola Council of Canada launches refreshed strategic framework

Today, the Canola Council of Canada’s (CCC) released a refreshed strategic framework, Canola Forward: A Strategic Framework for 2025 – 2030, which builds on the organization’s strong foundation and sets out a clear and renewed focus designed to help Canada’s canola industry thrive in fast-changing domestic and international environments. The framework was developed in collaboration with members and stakeholders from across the canola value chain and beyond. It sharpens the CCC’s focus on areas of critical importance for the industry – with a focus on volume, value and members. The CCC is prioritizing enabling innovation, advancing market access and amplifying the value of Canadian canola, inclusive of a growing opportunity for canola not just as food and feed, but also as fuel. “This framework builds on the strong foundation that has made Canadian canola a global leader,” said Chris Davison, president & CEO of the CCC. “It is focused on priorities identified by the Canadian canola in

KIOTI Tractor Opens First West Coast Warehouse

KIOTI Tractor, a division of Daedong-USA Inc., announced the opening of a 146,327-square-foot facility in Tumwater, Wash., its first location in the region. Located two miles south of Olympia, the site represents a major milestone in the company’s continued investment in its North American infrastructure.

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service