How many is simply overkill?- Computers

I know friends who have two computers, a desktop and laptop. Then, there are friends who have five desktops and even ten. Personally, I mainly use my laptop for all of my needs after I neglected my desktop for some time. I can see owning separate computers (one for gaming, one for travel, one for a home business etc.) Wouldn't it be nice if you could have a powerful and secure enough computer to put all of those features together? I'm sure a computer could easily be customized and already exists to fit all of those needs with the proper expertise. Yet consumers still go out and buy multiple computers. Let me know what you think, how many computers is overkill?

gaming multiple features travel computers desktop computer customization new home friends laptop

asked Jun 25 '11 at 14:13

Simmonskw
46●6●6●11

edited Jun 25 '11 at 14:13

17 Answers:

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one man can never have too many computers :D

answered Jun 25 '11 at 14:26

Gary
1.2k●25●35●51

edited Jun 25 '11 at 14:27

So very true

(Jun 25 '11 at 23:26) snack pack88

that's overkill!!!

(Jul 24 '11 at 16:39) Andrei_Iurea

I'm sorry, but that looks cluttered, untidy and really unnecessary from what I can see.

I mean 8 mice? Has this person never heard of Synergy? At least get a better looking one.

6 laptops doing nothing, just a waste.

(Jul 24 '11 at 16:40) DazOwen

That does, indeed, look like overkill. Not sure if that's your setup or just a photo you found online, but you should invest in a good KVM. I run all these (4 towers and 6 monitors) on just one keyboard and mouse. http://i51.tinypic.com/zn4hep.jpg

(Jul 25 '11 at 00:29) WinfieldTodd

Some people just have them to gloat and have no real reason to have them except to collect dust in the corner of the room. I can't say how many computers would be overkill since everyone has a computer for different needs, however if you have a few PC's and some of them aren't getting used then its pointless having them.

I have a Quad-Core desktop PC with dual 24" monitors which I use when I'm at home, then I also have a laptop from when I'm not home. These two do me just fine for my needs; sure I could afford to get another desktop or laptop but it would just be sitting there doing nothing which in my opinion would be overkill.

answered Jun 25 '11 at 16:11

DazOwen
5.9k●77●104●159

Some people (I think many can be) fine with just a single laptop and no desktop. The typical use for a computer is email, internet (Facebook, YouTube, etc.), music, gaming, and picture storage. None of those require an especially large screen (except possibly gaming). Most laptops are powerful enough to do all of those (gaming laptops are a bit more expensive) so it's not an issue of power.

Custom builders and people who do major upgrades don't really have an option to do laptops; so there are some people who will have a desktop computer. If they need to do anything away from that computer they will need another device--laptop, netbook, or tablet. Some people will grab a laptop and a tablet because they have different uses. Personally I think a laptop and tablet is overkill.

Another reason people need a desktop computer is video editing, audio editing, 3D modeling, software development, etc. Some of those just need large high resolution screens. It's hard to find a laptop with a full HD screen. I know somebody who does embedded software development and he can't live on anything less than 2 full HD monitors. When doing something like that, it doesn't make sense to carry around valuable data on a "portable" laptop with a full HD screen. I have done audio editing and I do video editing and there's no way I'd be able to get a non-linear editor on anything less than HD dual screens and use it for a big project. Laptops can be connected to external displays, but there's too many disadvantages for professionals.

I don't understand the need for more than one working desktop computer (a parts computer is nice though). Usually will only be able to do one thing that maxes out a computer at a time. If you need to check email while rendering or compiling then a laptop is perfect. Dual boot if you need to, but more computers is not logical.

In short one laptop is enough for "normal people" and some gamers. People who really do need a desktop know that they need it and probably have a laptop for portability. Some people have a desktop, laptop, and tablet; so it kind of makes sense for some people to have 3, but I say it's overkill. Any more than 3 is always overkill in my opinion unless the person has some very special situation that requires a separate computer.

(I have a desktop for everything, a laptop for portability, and a laptop for a server.)

answered Jun 25 '11 at 23:21

Joel
536●3●5●15

the only problem I have with laptops is the screen size, but then you loose portability with a bigger screen...

(Jun 26 '11 at 18:55) SignOff

A laptop can be plugged into an external monitor (or TV) to get the extra screen size but still have the portability when needed. Personally I would do that if I didn't need the power of my desktop for rendering, compiling and heavy multitasking. I realize some people solve the problem by getting a big laptop and a netbook or tablet.

(Jun 26 '11 at 19:19) Joel

2	If you don't have special needs, then one regular laptop should be enough. I personally have a desktop and a laptop. I addition I havemy tablet and cell phone. answered Jun 25 '11 at 14:51 henrikanilsen 146●2●3●8

1	It depends on peoples needs, I have a desktop for home and a Laptop for on the go. Of course my Laptop is a Macbook, and my desktop is a gaming PC, I use the desktop for gaming, and the Mac for Mac stuff...lol answered Jun 25 '11 at 17:57 pcknowsbest (suspended)

I get computers from my dad's office after they retire them. Because of this, many of my computers have slow hardware. I have quite a few computers, along with a home network of all of them. I wish I could do everything I wanted on one powerful desktop, but things like recording video game videos require 2-3 computers to make sure that there is minimal lag.

answered Jun 25 '11 at 15:10

KylePolansky
2.0k●4●8●39

I get why people want multiple computers, but 5 for one person is maybe a bit much. I have myself one desktop, one laptop and one spare pc. The spare one was getting a bit old and I know have a pc with a bit more horsepower.

In my home are more pc, though (I live at my parents). In total we have 6 pc's, laptops included. 6 pc's for 4 people is not overkill, in my opinion. 6 for one person is maybe to much..

answered Jun 25 '11 at 16:44

Mitte
511●19●21●31

I have five computers, including one dual monitor setup, in my office that are mine only. Then my parents have two more plus other devices like phones/game systems. I actually just got rid of two old computer because they were never being used. I don't feel that it is overkill however there are friends that call me "spoiled". So really it is just a matter of perspective.

answered Jun 25 '11 at 17:22

TheTechDude
16.8k●40●94●298

edited Jun 27 '11 at 01:40

What use do you get out of these five computers?

(Jun 25 '11 at 17:33) DazOwen

The dual monitor is for gaming and for video/picture editing. One of them is my laptop which is used to Minecraft and Web browsing and mobile when I am working for people. One of them runs a Minecraft server. Not really a reason for the last two except one runs a media server sometimes otherwise they are idle.

(Jun 25 '11 at 17:57) TheTechDude

Ahem...can I see a picture of this? This sounds too good to be true :P

(Jun 26 '11 at 15:26) Kyle

Here is a link to all the computers in my office. There are more though out the house and in my parents office.

http://matttech.webs.com/mycomputers.html

(Jun 26 '11 at 16:07) TheTechDude

I would only have a maximum of 2 to 3 that I would use regularly. 1 for video, photo editing, and gaming (light gaming... Most likely an iMac), one for everything else, and one for backup. The only reason I ever have more than that is when I get an old one for nostalgia. :D

answered Jun 25 '11 at 17:35

HerpDerp
2.1k●15●21●48

0	I have 2 servers and a desktop and a laptop good enough for me. answered Jun 25 '11 at 18:48 technologyinffo 31●5●6●9

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