Is there a computer magazine that doesn't pander to the mainstream?

[Vidda]

Maximum PC.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: TallBill
Ok, well technically any notebook can replace a desktop. You guys are making up something that doesn't exist.

No, you just are ignorant of the notebook size class terminology that's been in use for the last decade. A "desktop replacement" is, and has been, a notebook that has sufficient features, speed, and screen size to be a legitimate "only" computer. A 12" ultraportable cannot replace a desktop and maintain the feature set. A "desktop replacement" class notebook is typically heavy (7+ pounds), may not fit into most laptop bags, has limited battery life, and tends to run hotter than other laptops. A "desktop replacement" is intended to spend most of its life on a docking station whereas an ultraportable is pretty much never expected to be used when a desktop might be available.

Originally posted by: TallBill
Even a 17" notebook is HIGHLY portable when compared to a desktop.

And a desktop is HIGHLY portable when compared to a mainframe. What's your point?

A 17" notebook is not intended to be used during travel by most people. It's intended to sit on a desk and only very rarely be moved.

ZV

 

[Cabages]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: Cabages

Originally posted by: mugs
Maximum PC is the magazine you're looking for.

So can anyone find a subscription for cheaper then $12.

Well, it just so happens I got 2 years for $7.50 (no CD of course) from a magazine place that apparently has a very bad reputation of not delivering. I cant believe how lucky I was, I wasnt expecting to ever see it.

magazinepricesearch.com has good prices, just watch who your buying through in the end because the place I ordered through was on there.

 

[RbSX]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: TallBill
Ok, well technically any notebook can replace a desktop. You guys are making up something that doesn't exist.

No, you just are ignorant of the notebook size class terminology that's been in use for the last decade. A "desktop replacement" is, and has been, a notebook that has sufficient features, speed, and screen size to be a legitimate "only" computer. A 12" ultraportable cannot replace a desktop and maintain the feature set. A "desktop replacement" class notebook is typically heavy (7+ pounds), may not fit into most laptop bags, has limited battery life, and tends to run hotter than other laptops. A "desktop replacement" is intended to spend most of its life on a docking station whereas an ultraportable is pretty much never expected to be used when a desktop might be available.

Originally posted by: TallBill
Even a 17" notebook is HIGHLY portable when compared to a desktop.

And a desktop is HIGHLY portable when compared to a mainframe. What's your point?

A 17" notebook is not intended to be used during travel by most people. It's intended to sit on a desk and only very rarely be moved.

ZV

Pretty good summary of what I was going to say.

I can't lug around a 12lb 17" laptop on an 8 hour flight, I have a bad shoulder.. and it's ****** heavy.. it's not easily portable which is kind of the point of a NOTEBOOK.

 

[Rubycon]

Back in the day it was Byte Magazine.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
And a desktop is HIGHLY portable when compared to a mainframe. What's your point?

ZV

A notebook is meant to be portable. Thats its sole purpose to exist. Your argument is retarded. "Desktop Replacement" is nonsense term. A laptop is still a laptop. I cant be a desktop, because it is a laptop. If you have a laptop, then it automatically replaces a desktop. Because you will now be doing work on a laptop instead of a desktop.

 

[morkus64]

Originally posted by: RyanSengara
I can't lug around a 12lb 17" laptop on an 8 hour flight, I have a bad shoulder.. and it's ****** heavy.. it's not easily portable which is kind of the point of a NOTEBOOK.

That might be the point of a notebook for you... to me the point of a notebook is that it is portable at all. I don't care if it's 20 pounds, it's in a form factor which allows it to be more easily moved from one point to the next like a desktop. I'm considering getting a 20" lappy soon so that I can do CAD work at school or at home. I'll have to plug it in wherever I go, but for my purposes it may well be a perfect notebook.

 

[morkus64]

PS - added a poll!

 

[TallBill]

Btw OP, you listed Wired as a computer magazine, but its anything but. Its a technology magazine, and the only computer articles that it sees are related to future tech.

 

[IronWing]

My first computer was a 29 pound portable. Where does that fit?

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
And a desktop is HIGHLY portable when compared to a mainframe. What's your point?

ZV

A notebook is meant to be portable. Thats its sole purpose to exist. Your argument is retarded. "Desktop Replacement" is nonsense term. A laptop is still a laptop. I cant be a desktop, because it is a laptop. If you have a laptop, then it automatically replaces a desktop. Because you will now be doing work on a laptop instead of a desktop.

thats how the terminology goes bud... don't knock the messenger. its just like how cars are divided into different classes... compact, mid-size, full size...

it doesn't have to make sense. a new compact like the elantra can be larger than an old mid-size camry from the late 80's...

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

thats how the terminology goes bud... don't knock the messenger. its just like how cars are divided into different classes... compact, mid-size, full size...

it doesn't have to make sense. a new compact like the elantra can be larger than an old mid-size camry from the late 80's...

Yes, but when it makes no sense, I wont use it. There is no such thing as a Desktop Replacement laptop, just as there is no such thing as an Assault Rifle.

 

[flawlssdistortn]

I love Computer Power User, it has in depth reviews like all the other mags, but it also has articles focusing on the technical aspects of the hardware. You can learn a lot reading CPU, not just learning about what to buy. Also, our own Anand has a column!

 

[mugs]

I think whether you think a 15.4" laptop is large depends on your perspective. The OP apparently thinks larger = better with laptops. To many people, smaller=better when it comes to laptops. If portability is your main concern, 15.4" is large.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
And a desktop is HIGHLY portable when compared to a mainframe. What's your point?

ZV

A notebook is meant to be portable. Thats its sole purpose to exist. Your argument is retarded. "Desktop Replacement" is nonsense term. A laptop is still a laptop. I cant be a desktop, because it is a laptop. If you have a laptop, then it automatically replaces a desktop. Because you will now be doing work on a laptop instead of a desktop.

"Desktop replacement" is a class of laptops that sacrifice some portability (size and weight) in order to be closer in capabilities to a desktop.

 

[morkus64]

Originally posted by: mugs
I think whether you think a 15.4" laptop is large depends on your perspective. The OP apparently thinks larger = better with laptops. To many people, smaller=better when it comes to laptops. If portability is your main concern, 15.4" is large.

Larger isn't necessarily better, but it is in certain cases. I just think that as general terminology, given that most people (see poll) own a 15" laptop, it's reasonable to consider that "medium"

 

[Captante]

(1) Computer Power User

(2) 15 Inch

(3) 17 Inch+

 

[bcoupland]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
cpu/max pc

QFT.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: morkus64

Originally posted by: mugs
I think whether you think a 15.4" laptop is large depends on your perspective. The OP apparently thinks larger = better with laptops. To many people, smaller=better when it comes to laptops. If portability is your main concern, 15.4" is large.

Larger isn't necessarily better, but it is in certain cases. I just think that as general terminology, given that most people (see poll) own a 15" laptop, it's reasonable to consider that "medium"

My point is that you're dismissing PC Magazine readers as "pretenders" because PC Magazine calls a 15.4" laptop large. But if their readers are interested in laptops for portability (i.e. business travellers, not college students), 15.4" is large and 17" is not even an option.

Just because someone has different needs, that doesn't mean they aren't a power user.

To me:
12" = small
14" = medium
15" = large
17" = too large
20" = what the hell?

 

[SSP]

Ditto on everything mugs said.

 

[TheoPetro]

I have a 17" lappy and I love the size of it. I honestly dont think I could stand a 12" screen. Going from my 24" desktop to a 17" laptop is hard enough. It does weigh alot and I do carry it to each class around campus daily. It goes to work with me and it my main computer for home.

I cant do photoshop on it or play games but it handles all my note taking, finance management, music, web browsing, and data manipulation flawlessly (well after the jump from 512 -> 1G of ram). It is portable enough for me and honestly it only got heavy when I was carrying it around an airport for the 45 min walk from terminal A to F.

I dont expect it to be a desktop replacement because I would imagine it would be difficult to jam 2 7900GTXs, 6 hard drives, and a A64 dual core running at 2.6GHz into it and power it for more than 8sec off a battery. I expect it to do almost everything I can do on my deskop but its dumb to expect it to run supreme commander at 1920x1200 at max settings in a 6 player game. Just isnt going to happen.

So in conclusion no its not a desktop replacement, its a computing enhancement. It lets me do most tasks anywhere but it is still limited.

 

[Shawn]

My laptop's screen is 12.1" and weighs 4.4lbs. I could never get anything bigger.

 

[morkus64]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: morkus64

Originally posted by: mugs
I think whether you think a 15.4" laptop is large depends on your perspective. The OP apparently thinks larger = better with laptops. To many people, smaller=better when it comes to laptops. If portability is your main concern, 15.4" is large.

Larger isn't necessarily better, but it is in certain cases. I just think that as general terminology, given that most people (see poll) own a 15" laptop, it's reasonable to consider that "medium"

My point is that you're dismissing PC Magazine readers as "pretenders" because PC Magazine calls a 15.4" laptop large. But if their readers are interested in laptops for portability (i.e. business travellers, not college students), 15.4" is large and 17" is not even an option.

Just because someone has different needs, that doesn't mean they aren't a power user.

To me:
12" = small
14" = medium
15" = large
17" = too large
20" = what the hell?

Well, I understand the argument about laptop size, but that was just one example... you can't tell me you've actually read PC Mag and think it's geared in any significant way towards power users.

 

[paulxcook]

I chose Wired because the other computer magazines listed all have articles with content similar to free articles on the internet.

 

[3chordcharlie]

I'd call 15.4 both 'average' and 'large'.

It seems to be what most people buy, and what most people push, but it's too big to be really convenient and portable.

When I was shopping for my laptop, 14.1" or smaller was really the only absolute requirement.