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Desktop + Chromebook RDP vs High spec laptop

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  • 11-08-2014 9:32pm
    #1
    Chance The Rapper
    Closed Accounts Posts: 494 ✭✭


    Hi all,

    I've seen it the following scenario mentioned a few times on boards, and a colleague was recommending it too.

    Basically one would build a powerful desktop which they'd leave on at home, while they'd take a chromebook to work/college and RDP onto the desktop.

    While it's obviously handy for portability, how does it work in reality? If you have 120mb UPC at home and then you're using a strong college connection are you going to have real time use of the desktop or is there going to be lag?

    Would you save any money by doing this? For a budget of around €550 would you get a powerful enough desktop to go with a chromebook (~€200) or would you be better off getting a high spec laptop for around the €750 mark?


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    #2
    advertsfox
    Registered Users Posts: 2,699 ✭✭✭advertsfox


    Chance The Rapper wrote: »
    Hi all,

    I've seen it the following scenario mentioned a few times on boards, and a colleague was recommending it too.

    Basically one would build a powerful desktop which they'd leave on at home, while they'd take a chromebook to work/college and RDP onto the desktop.

    While it's obviously handy for portability, how does it work in reality? If you have 120mb UPC at home and then you're using a strong college connection are you going to have real time use of the desktop or is there going to be lag?

    Would you save any money by doing this? For a budget of around €550 would you get a powerful enough desktop to go with a chromebook (~€200) or would you be better off getting a high spec laptop for around the €750 mark?
    What would you be doing on the PC at home?


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    #3
    Chance The Rapper
    Closed Accounts Posts: 494 ✭✭Chance The Rapper


    advertsfox wrote: »
    What would you be doing on the PC at home?

    Not a whole pile. Mostly just programming. Maybe a few VM's, no gaming or anything like that really.


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    #4
    advertsfox
    Registered Users Posts: 2,699 ✭✭✭advertsfox


    Chance The Rapper wrote: »
    Not a whole pile. Mostly just programming. Maybe a few VM's, no gaming or anything like that really.
    Well gaming wouldn't work anyway, no real media / graphical app would work too well with the refresh rate over RDP.

    Ideally, a decent €500-600 laptop would suit you much better with a small €100-200 PC as home just as a server. This is why I do and my server acts as my torrent downloader, DLNA server, Google Music uploader, Google Drive host, Plex host and my FTP server / fileshare - if needs be, it can be my website too.

    Best keep the PC at home for this reason, I suggest any dual core nettop that can be mounted behind the TV for example. I control mine with 3 apps on my phone (2x for RDP, Unified for a remote and TorrentToise to start / monitor downloads). No need for a monitor / keyboard or mouse since you have your laptop.

    It wouldn't take long for programming over RDP to bug the **** out of you. VMs would be possible too if you get a more modern GPU with hyper threading. I use a VOT132 and its never steered me wrong.


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    #5
    Chance The Rapper
    Closed Accounts Posts: 494 ✭✭Chance The Rapper


    Thanks a million. My old Macbook (2010 model) has kicked the bucket (battery gone, keyboard fcuked), so I might just stick windows on it and use it as the home with a setup similar to what you've described.

    Thanks again for the detailed response


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    #6
    advertsfox
    Registered Users Posts: 2,699 ✭✭✭advertsfox


    Chance The Rapper wrote: »
    Thanks a million. My old Macbook (2010 model) has kicked the bucket (battery gone, keyboard fcuked), so I might just stick windows on it and use it as the home with a setup similar to what you've described.

    Thanks again for the detailed response
    No problem, that will be a nice powerful little server and easy to tuck away ;)


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