The problem with laptops, is that the usecases they support are always a subset of those supported by desktops. Sure, you can “move” a laptop, but moving a computer is not a use case in itself. You end up giving up a lot of capability, for the ability to take your task elsewhere. But what is the point of being portable, if you can’t get what you need to done?
More specifically, my main problem is Aperture, or any other photo editing program that deals with RAW images, run’s super slowly on my Powerbook. Sure the G4 is slow, but I also tend to think that the disc is part of the problem. At any rate, if I had spent the same amount on a PowerMac instead of a desktop, I’m sure that could have run Aperture fine.
Sure I can move my computer around now, but what’s the point if I can’t do what I need to do with it (even when its plugged in and tied to my desk).
I guess what it also comes down to is that most of the stuff I do on my computer are things that people usually use workstations for. Photo managing/editing, video collecting, coding. I’m definitely not the “all I use is just a browser and word processor” type of user. Which makes using a laptop for everything very unsatisfying. I guess somehow, I could be diligent enough to have two machines, and do a subset of things on the laptop. But I know that I never take my laptop around enough to make it worth while. And keeping the two in sync is just a pain in the ass that’s not worth dealing with.