For the longest clock time , one reckoner has been enough to do it all . But it ’s never been easier to get a cheap estimator , and a second machine can do everything from help you inscribe across multiple platforms to operate lots of taxing programs at once , or just give you a decent modification of digital scene throughout your day . If you ’re in a position where you need and can afford more than just the one computer , your buying options increase quite a bit ! But should you buy the same laptop computer twice , for maximal compatibility ? Which type O is the best for taking on the go ? Do you want one giant monitor ruling over all your devices ? Here we ’ll draft the choice available to you , and how they stack up against each other .
With so many permutations and different usage scenarios to talk about , we ca n’t breed every eventuality , but this should at least give you some points to consider . The best selection is n’t necessarily the most obvious one .
Choosing your computers
We ’re take over for most mass a two - calculator setup mean one machine staying at home base and one machine traveling around with you ( even if that ’s from the desk to the sofa ) . For the former , we very much like the idea of desktops — they’re great , as long as you do n’t have to take them anywhere . They ’re unremarkably the good value for the money and can give you more configuration options and ports . As an lend bonus you ’ll be capable to sit in a more instinctive position while using one too .
You do n’t get the display built - in though , so you ’ll need to corrupt a monitor singly . If you desire at least one display in your set up that ’s over 15 or so inches — and we ’d recommend it for just about anyone — then this is the mode to go , with the extra benefit that you may solicit up streaming dongles and games consoles to the same CRT screen as your desktop .
For serious telecasting and trope editing , as well as for productiveness in general , a larger monitoring machine makes more difference than you might think . All this cost money , but if you have the budget then getting two or even three app windows up side by side can importantly deepen the way of life you apply your estimator for the better .
Photo: Alex Cranz/Gizmodo
Having an abundance of display inputs on your admonisher also means you could plug your laptop in when it come home , so abig screenmight well be worth the investing if you need something versatile . Do n’t bury that your monitor can abide the same even as the hardware underneath it changes , so you’re able to keep the same screen while switch from aMac Minito anAlienware play rig .
All - in - one electronic computer are another option — you’ll bear more and the constituent are typically less powerful than equivalent desktops ( due to the lack of space and room for cooling ) , but they ’re a batch respectable and mean you do n’t have to corrupt a monitor individually . You ’ve got theiMacsfrom Apple and Windows all - in - unity from the likes ofDell , HPandAcerto plunk from , and many allow for a second input besides the construct - in one .
Taking our original scenario of get a second calculator for on the go , then it obviously makes sentience for this second gadget to be a laptop . If you need to go for two laptops for more flexibility , we wo n’t judge — though it might be an melodic theme to pick one for big businessman and one for portability . enthrone in an international monitor and you’re able to have everything connected at once .
Image: Apple
Unless you ’re looking to do some serious gaming or TV editing while on the move , you ’ll in all probability require to prioritize lightness and compactness for your second computer — you’re pass to be lug it around with you . Keep the specs as modest and the size as small as possible .
There ’s also the option of picking a tablet as your 2nd ‘ electronic computer ’ , as these days they ’re standardised in a lot of room — iPads work very well with Macs thanks to Sidecar , and Surface tab from Microsoft turn into Windows laptops , just about , when you clip on a keyboard . It ’s still debatable whether iPads and Surfaces and similar gimmick can replace laptop , but they can for certain complement laptop very well .
Choosing your operating systems
Once you ’ve picked your two reckoner , what operating systems are you going to go for ? The same or different ? At this stage in the history of computing , you probably have your set up favorite out of Windows or macOS — and we ’re not going to get into a huge feature article - by - feature comparing properly now — but your decision here is a bit more nuanced than you might realize at first .
For consistency and convenience , get two Windows computers or two Mac computing machine ( or a Windows and a Surface tablet , or a Mac and an iPad ) . Everything will then act upon seamlessly together , with all your files backed up in OneDrive / iCloud , and everything from your background wallpaper to your web passwords synced across machine . You ’ve small hazard of fall across incompatible data file types or software using this strategy .
Should your work order you use both Windows and macOS , or you just want to keep a foot in both camp , it ’s not as unmanageable to use them together as you might have think — browsers like Chrome , file syncing services like Dropbox , and app like Office 365 mean you could get very alike setups on both machines .
Image: HP
If you are fail to take this itinerary , it does n’t count hugely which OS you keep at home and which you take on the go with you but keep in mind that it ’s much easier to melt down Windows on a Mac ( through Parallelsor , for alittle while longer , Boot Camp ) than it is to break away macOS on a Windows machine , and that might influence your decision . If you want to be able to switch between Microsoft and Apple OSes on the go , get a MacBook .
Linux stay a niche choice outside of coders and open source enthusiasts but it can be ready to hand for making use of an old laptop or choose back control of your surety and privacy . It ’ll for sure save you some money , and it ’s user - favorable enough for most masses to be fine with — as long as you do n’t require games or specific commercial software that Linux does n’t have , the o is worth investigating .
Also worth investigating for your on - the - go computer : Chromebooks . They ’re lightweight and cheap , they can synchronise data with Chrome on Windows or macOS , and they can run Android apps too . If you absolutely need to get at a particular desktop software , you could even expend Chrome to get at your home computing equipment remotely from a Chromebook , though confessedly the experience is n’t idealistic ( especially as you ’ll unremarkably be on a smaller exhibit ) .
Image: Google
One of the benefits of using a Chromebook as your roving computer is that you ’ve got no data to back up or save — everything runs in the cloud . If you do the bulk of your computing inside a browser app , then a Chromebook might suit you very well , and it ’s likely ( though not certain ) to provide good battery life and lower operating temperature than you get with Windows and Mac laptops .
While preserve the OS coherent across computers is more convenient and in some ways , a more sinewy option , mixing it up can give you the best of several existence : Gaming , cloud computing , compatibility with other hardware , originative and professional computer software , affordability and so on .
As always , no determination is made in a vacancy — you’re give out to have to opine about the software system you ’re already using , the smartphone you have , what you might demand to use in the hereafter , and what fits in best with your current hardware frame-up before you get around to spend any money .
Image: Alienware
How to make your computers talk to each other
For those times when your dual computer apparatus is all in the same stead , you could get a variety of peripheral to aid you switch between both . There ’s the traditional KVM switch , which lets you use a single keyboard and most across multiple equipment — and there ’s a encompassing reach of software KVM alternate that let you move between devices without plugging them all in . Synergymight be one of the best - have it off software KVM switches and can be had for as short as $ 30 .
We ’ve already advert monitors with multiple outputs , but keyboard like theLogitech MX Keyscan also exchange between more than one electronic computer , so you do n’t have to keep jumping around . Even most Bluetooth keyboards will let you hop between machine , though it wo n’t be as seamless as some of the above options .
The point is there are affordable options that can promptly get your whole set up working together and permit you fully apprize all that money you ’ve spend on multiple machine .
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