Comments on: The Power Spot

By: jad@netpro

jad@netpro — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 21:27:15 +0000

My main computer is a laptop. But I still have a desk with a docking station with a 24″ monitor, real keyboard and mouse hooked up to it. For just browsing the web and messing around I take my laptop on he couch or even in bed. But for any kind of serious work it goes into its docking station on my desk.

I honestly cannot imagine having to do serious work with a bunch of SSH terms and RDC windows opened up on a tiny laptop screen. Plus when I am having to do hours of research or coding late into the night, it is just easier to do it at a dedicated desk with a real keyboard/mouse.

By: l.m.orchard

l.m.orchard — Thu, 29 May 2008 19:19:04 +0000

That final scene there has been the deal for me for about 8 years so far, which I think was the last time I bought a desktop. It’s been Mac laptops since then, used mostly in the living room with some console (or other laptop) hooked up to the TV doing interesting things.

I’d bought an Ikea Jerker desk [1] and tricked it out with as many swinging shelves and bolt-ons as I could carry home in one trip. But, I’ve never really called it home like I thought I would.

I use the desk to write, but mainly for the better ergonomics and because it’s in a quiet room I’ve trained myself to think of as the place where Serious Work is done. In that room, I tend to *turn off* all the Power Spot stuff I usually have going when I’m on the couch.

[1]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/deusx/847997/

By: Koos van den Hout

Koos van den Hout — Sat, 24 May 2008 00:45:41 +0000

At home I still have the ‘power spot’ but I only use it for stuff that likes a large monitor (photo work) or for lots of typing (a real IBM model M keyboard there). For some web browsing, irc, usenet and mail I use a laptop in the living room. At work I use a ‘power spot’ all day. This has the result that people are usually careful about interrupting me.

By: Paladin27

Paladin27 — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:49:34 +0000

As the owner of the living room pictured above, I have to agree with the author’s assertions about our future computing habits. While I still have a nice home office desk with a high-end computer, I spend at least 50% of my computer time in the living room now. My wife has both a desktop and a laptop and she hasn’t even turned the desktop on in about six months. So I’d say that the transformation is happening for us already.

By: Jim Leonard

Jim Leonard — Thu, 22 May 2008 02:35:00 +0000

I need my own power spot; it is enabling and required for the long stints of programming or research that I do. I want multiple monitors, the freedom to turn right and compute on a vintage machine, or turn left and edit some video. I want the ability to purchase large storage devices and work with them at crazy transfer rates. I need very large screens. I need a full-size keyboard with keys that have tactile and audible feedback. I need power and flexibility.

Laptops will never do that for me, so my main machine will never be a laptop.