I'm also a fan of desktop cases over towers. My first PC that was my own -- a Compaq Deskpro 4/33i, was a tower. Only problem: I was seven or eight; so I couldn't put the monitor on top of the case without having to bend my neck way back to see it. I did find it just as convenient, though, to put it right next to the monitor and have everything eyelevel. Plus, it helped to keep my desk un-cluttered, because I had a computer on top of it. I couldn't put anything on top of it, because I usually left the case open (this thing ran pretty hot with the 4GB drive I put in it in later years, since over 2GB was nearly unheard of).

Now, since I do a whole lot of traveling (i.e. home -> school -> work -> back home), I prefer the laptop's form factor. OK, sure, you can't upgrade them like a desktop, but it's really nice to have all your data synchronized like that by just having it all on one machine. Plus, since I do a ton of repair work, I'm not lugging around a desktop everywhere to fix one. My current machine's an HP laptop, and it's been just as rugged as a desktop too. By rugged, I mean this has been dropped, thrown, and otherwise mishandled by myself and relatives. (OK, I'm not going to count my father sitting on it, because that would crush a desktop too). Besides, they're less expensive than two desktops when comparably equipped.
Don Luchini | Homepage | 04.10.05 - 4:26 pm | #

[quote]
First of all, desktop cases allow the monitor to be raised to a comfortable eye level. They are more practical in that they place the disk drives and power switch right in front of you, where they belong.
[/quote]
No, the display sits better at desk level, no need to raise it up. It's particularly true for LCDs, such as Apple Cinema Display.

Power Switch? You switch your computer on, off, wake it up, put it to sleep.... all with a single button on your Display. You put your desktop computer (towel) somewhere far away to reduce the noise.

As for the disc? Well, it's a good exercise that you move your body to insert the CD/DVD.

If you have USB memory key, iPod, or external HDD, simply plug those to your keyboard of your display.

And by not putting desktop (desktop) on top of your desk, you save real "desktop" space, if you have LCD.
Antony Shen | Homepage | 04.11.05 - 12:51 am | #

Wrong. The display needs to be elevated if you have a low desk and/or are 6'4", like I am.

I do not own an LCD monitor.

The power switch of the computer is on the system unit, not the display, of 99% of the non-portable computers I have ever used, Macs included.

I do not have, nor aspire to have, an iPod, an external hard drive, or anything whatsoever that has to do with USB. So those arguments, in my case, are null.

I simply prefer desktop cases.
Andrew T. | Homepage | 04.11.05 - 1:31 pm | #

Well, with the beauty of Apple Cinema Display (LCD version), the inclusive of power switch is one of the best thing in the computer design. It allows you to hide your desktop computer (towel shape). You would then be able to position or decorate your room in a much better way.

What if I have a low desk? lower down the computer chair. Simple.
Antony Shen | Homepage | 04.12.05 - 1:14 am | #