I'm upgrading my desktop computer and have been suggested to get a good notebook computer with a docking station.

90% of my work is at the desk but a notebook is attractive since I can take it on the road and have a fast and easy internet connection at hotels instead of looking for an internet cafe. Also, I don't prefer to buy both a seperate desktop and notebook computer, too pricey.

Anyone have any opinion on this set-up or brands to recommend ? Is a seperate desktop monitor advisable or just use the notebook's monitor off the docking station ?

I have a laptop and a docking station. I have a full-size keyboard at home with the docking station a large (17") monitor and a full-size mouse.

If you're going to go down the laptop/docking station route, I suggest you consider the monitor, mouse and keyboard.

When I bought my machine, it was 'top of the range' and I paid a premium price for it.

I also have a number of desktops (I need them, because the laptop - a real 'Cow' <img src="../images/emoticons/ywink.gif"> - has been extremely unreliable.

My wife has a Toshiba laptop which has (so far) been extremely reliable. - I can recommend that one.

If you are prepared to buy only one computer, then a good laptop c/w docking station, monitor, keyboard and mouse (you've probably already got the monitor keyboard and mouse) is the way to go.

Alternatively, if you were prepared to buy both, a 'low spec' laptop and a higher spec desktop may cost about the same. - You can expect to pay more for a high-spec laptop than for the same specification desktop.

My wife's Toshiba has a smallish screen (13"? - I can't remember), whereas my Gateway has a large screen. If you have to lug it around all day, the Gateway becomes rather heavy ... not that I've had to lug it around much; it's spent more time broken than it has serviceable <img src="../images/emoticons/bbutbut.gif">

If you dont need a portable computer then dont bother paying the extra for a laptop, get a much higher spec (more expandable) desktop. Size isnt everything you know ;-) entry-level laptops are quite high-spec now but even so you will get more computing power for your money with a desktop.

If you "need" a portable or if you cant resist and use the PC primarily for business type applications (not games/multimedia etc) then a reliable laptop with docking station is the deal. Go for a Dell/Hp(Compaq)/Toshiba or one of the named brands and you should be ok. I have a Compaq laptop with docking station and it is very reliable/robust etc. takes lots of knocks and as Peewee says, with a std keyboard+screen you dont notice the difference.

But if I was you I'd get a Commodore 64 laptop, they are really fast....

pwinder, dizzy, thanks for the feedback. I believe I need to rethink what I want to do with this computer set-up.

Back in the late 90's, I used to drag around an IBM Thinkpad notebook and it was a real pain-in-the-ass. You got your weight training free of charge.

The way I work today I rarely find a need to use a portable computer when I'm with clients. The only occassion I can think where this will be handy is when I am on a trip and want to use it to connect to the internet.

It might be worthwhile sinking my money into a real nice desktop and purchase some 2nd hand or low-end notebook for my portable internet connection need.

I'll check with Dell again and ask them to quote a desktop with the similar specs as they did with the notebook and see how it matches up.

"The way I work today I rarely find a need to use a portable computer when I'm with clients. The only occassion I can think where this will be handy is when I am on a trip and want to use it to connect to the internet."

If you're only going to use it to connect to the internet to send & receive e-mails etc, then - assuming you'd like to skip the weight training exercises and save money, you could always consider a hand-held PDA, which can connect to the internet, send & recieve e-mails, synchronise (upload/download files - including your desk diary) with your home PC, browse web pages and has a {very, IMO} limited capability to handle MS Word & MS Excel (already installed.) It will cost you about $300 (for a good Dell Axim) weighs about 100g and it will fit in your jacket pocket.

It will also take a feed from a GPS receiver, and give you directions to the door so you won't get lost on the way to your clients. <img src="../images/emoticons/ywink.gif">