Alienware posed a most basic query on Twitter that cast the gnawing generational angst through the gaming community: Would you rather game on a laptop or a desktop? The replies, however, were worth the listen. Some of the respondents have no form of compromise and are desktop purists while others give their life proof of the porting capability of gaming laptops. So let’s try to make sense of that chaos.
First of all, desktops followed HOT. Out of the box, @pallyrand stated, “Desktop, no one games on a laptop lol.” Ouch. Then, @FtwKent stated: “What kind of monster would prefer gaming on a laptop over a desktop?” Damn, tell us how you really think. Whereas @andrew_langdon admitted that he mostly prefers desktops as his time gaming is “few and far.”
The laptop faction now defies the desktop faction. @hallucinodream says it’s better for traveling. @sperethriel01 loves chilling on the couch with his laptop; the best setup ever. @FM5964 kept it simple: “Laptop because I can take it anywhere.” Pretty good argue for mobility.
And then there are some weirdos. @MarsSteamer went into incompatibility issues, suggesting an FPS for desktop and crafting for a laptop. Meanwhile, @ZacharyIndy challenged Alienware by asking about RAM capacity, claiming that some of us max out performance like it was life itself. And @12BNSeattle negativishly dismissed their 6-year-old Alienware laptop because it runs “way too hot.” Oh, I feel you.
Alienware came up with one of the most diplomatic responses ever: “Both is always the best option!” Oh, smooth indeed. But real talk, not all of us can justify (or make space for) the two. So, what now?
On power, upgradeability, and cooling, it cannot be argued that desktops win. But for the rest of things, laptops have come quite a long way. A high-end gaming laptop will very well play most of the modern titles that you can sit down with. What they cannot offer, however, is the convenience of streaming an episode through Netflix from your couch or gaming from your comfy bed or a coffee shop around the corner. And with cloud gaming and streaming services growing by the day, the gap in performance is getting smaller by the second.
At the end of the day, it is a simple matter of choice. Competitive hard-core gamers want every frame and the lowest possible latency. Gaming laptops are your best friend if you give up a little in that department and value the trade of flexibility.
Even @BlaineThePainTV probably takes the two: one for serious gaming sessions, the other while chilling or just passing time on casual gaming. Why choose when you can flaunt both? (If your wallet allows, that is.)
But what about you out there? Are you Team Starting Desktop or Team Gaming Laptop? Or just gaming your best life while having both? With this, the discussion won’t end anytime soon. Either way, let’s all agree that gaming- whether a struggle, farm, or both- really matters.
Now, get out there and frag a few noobs (or build them a farm in return; no judgments here)!
