I don't understand why people choose laptops

[JackHatchet]

I'll never understand why someone would choose to game on a laptop over a desktop.

I've had friends, and even dated a girl for several years who gamed almost exclusively on a laptop. I don't get how people can have an office space capable of accommodating a desktop, and still choose to go with a laptop. I can understand people who are always mobile, but most aren't.

Laptops offer less quality for more cost in almost every situation. They're rarely upgradable, and they're more fragile. I just cannot fathom why someone would choose a laptop over a desktop if they're just going to sit at a desk in their house to game.

(This rant was trigged by the FFXIV graphics are too hard on my PC forum post where someone recommended the user who can't afford a new computer to buy a laptop. They don't have money for a better PC, why would you recommend a laptop? Terrible performance/price ratio compared to a desktop).

[aesteval]

(This rant was trigged by the FFXIV graphics are too hard on my PC forum post where someone recommended the user who can't afford a new computer to buy a laptop. They don't have money for a better PC, why would you recommend a laptop? Terrible performance/price ratio compared to a desktop).

Why start a new thread?

[Anine]

Most aren't always mobile, but some like the concept that if they gotta go somewhere they can bring their laptop. I do agree with you that desktop is much better overall, and as much as I'd never trade my desktop for anything, I have to admit that if I only had to pick one I might've just gone for a laptop myself. Not that I travel a lot, but when I do, it's just too handy to have.

That said, would never have recommended someone getting a laptop for gaming, especially not when on a budget. You can build a PC that runs this game fair enough without absurd amounts of money. Can't really say the same for laptops. If you really wanna play FFXIV, but can't afford to build a PC I'd honestly just recommend getting a PS4 at that point.

[Vidu]

And you dont have to understand or "like" the choices other people make for themself as long as they're not affecting you in any negative way?

What is the point of this thread and your rant about people making a choice for themself for whatever reason that might be?
Are you looking to hear from people playing on laptops why they do that?
Do you want to issue a "warning" to anyone whos looking to get a new PC to pick a desktop one over a laptop if they can?

...I mean, I get your point - when I was 14 my parents got me my first PC and since they didnt knew better (and neither did I at that point) they bought a laptop. When I had to replace it, I knew enough to get myself a custom made desktop PC and I'd never go back to a laptop.
I dont get the point of this thread though - what do you want? Inform? Rant? If you want to rant... WHY? It has no effect on you wether someone else is playing this on a laptop, a desktop or a Ps4, as long as they dont get horrible, horrible lag.

(And quite frankly I'm not even sure if this belongs in this forum at all - technically its not really about the game but you not understanding that/why people might have other prefrences than you do)

[SendohJin]

I can understand people who are always mobile, but most aren't.

you don't have to be always mobile, you just want the option to be if you had to be.

some people value that option more than everything else you value.

[Gadesbi]

While I was in the Army, the laptop just made more sense. I was always gone, had very little room to myself for months at a time and was required to move about frequently. It made sense then...

When my wife was fighting cancer and we spent over 110 nights in a hotel, in one year, while getting treatment, it made sense then too. Now, my laptop is outdated and I will be building a desktop because I am home now. But that is not the case for everyone. Sometimes a laptop is what is called for in a person's life.

[Claviusnex]

Did it ever dawn on you that someone with limited space might not want to waste the real-estate on a desktop or tower? A laptop for the most part only takes up space when it use and even then it is less than that required by the other styles.

[NessaWyvern]

I'll never understand why someone would choose to game on a laptop over a desktop.

I've had friends, and even dated a girl for several years who gamed almost exclusively on a laptop.

I would love to have a desktop myself, but I game on a laptop.
Desktops are rarer and far more expensive in my country, and the stores here hardly advertise any desktops. I would have to order parts from the states and build it myself, but I am not tech savvy at all. My laptop was pretty convenient when I visited my husbands family in the states though.

It plays well, but I am getting sick of how hot it gets, and the framerate drop that results when I play it for a few hours

[TouchandFeel]

From my experience, as someone who has actually talked to people that have made this exact decision, I was often given the answer that they like the idea of a smaller "all-in-one" solution.

With a laptop everything is there; a screen, keyboard, all packaged up in a sleeker package that is easier to think of as a single "thing".
They often see a desktop as being much more daunting because then talk of specific components starts to come in; what case, what MoBo, what CPU, what Power Supply, etc., and to people that aren't familiar with the innards of a computer that is intimidating.
Sure you can go to certain sellers and purchase prebuilt gaming desktops, but for some reason laptops just seem more "accessible" to a good number of people.

Does it necessarily make sense, not at all, but *shrug* that's people for you.

You are absolutely correct though, you can almost always get more performance bang for your buck with a desktop over a laptop especially if you are doing your own build.

Of course, a laptop could be the best, or only choice, for some people for a great number of reasons. I actually had to game on a laptop for a number of years because I only had room for a very compact "desk" barely bigger than a bedside table that had no room to fit even a micro-desktop.

People should just do their research and find what works best for them.

It plays well, but I am getting sick of how hot it gets, and the framerate drop that results when I play it for a few hours

I would recommend getting a laptop cooling stand, something like one of THESE
I found them to help a bit to keep a laptop under heavy load cooler.

[Vidu]

you don't have to be always mobile, you just want the option to be if you had to be.

some people value that option more than everything else you value.

I could also imagine people liking the idea of being mobile within their own home.
My cousin owns a laptop and while she isnt really playing any games on it, shes carrying it around in her apartment quite a bit - listening to music when in the kitchen or watching that netflix show in bed instead of at your desk (something that I would love to do once in a while!)
Or someone doesnt want to deal with needing a monitor and setting everything up - a laptop is very nice and easy to use, all parts are included, no need to worry about additional cables and such. And yes, all those cables are pretty easy stuff too, for someone who cares and knows about them. But I'm fairly certain there are enough people out there who just want to play their game and not deal with anything else.
...and if you do know a bit about PCs and if your country is any like mine, you'll know that buying a complete package PC from a store is always kinda a rip off. Unless you either get it custom made or assemble it yourself, you wont get a good deal on a desaktop PC here - and both of that involves you really digging into this stuff to pick the parts you want. And then you need to get a screen. A keyboard. Speakers.
Buy a laptop and be done with it!
I could see some "lifestyles" just catering more to a laptop, even without much traveling around.