(04-27-2012, 04:13 AM)ExtremeDude2 Wrote: He didn't say you couldn't, he just said it is better
Agreed. To me, the poll option implies that the voters don't necessarily feel that laptops aren't capable of a certain tasks, rather they're not "good" at them. To them, it's more about the level of that ability, not whether that ability exists.
Laptops are perfectly capable of Photoshop or CryEngine, but those voters feel it's not as optimal as it is on the desktop. Like NV said, it's the same technology, just in a different package, the form factor. They can largely do the same things. If we were talking about tablets and desktops, it'd be different though. I think the differences ultimately come down to how the form factor handles a given problem, in which case some people will validly feel one is better suited than another.
Keyboard ergonomics is important to a lot of users with carpal tunnel (or those who want to avoid it) and those with repetitive strain injuries. For many, wrist pads beneath the keyboard aren't enough, so an new ergonomic keyboard is required. With a desktop, users need only buy a new keyboard to replace the old one. The laptop, however, requires users to plug in a secondary keyboard, which must be accounted for in terms of placement and space.
Users could place the keyboard directly on top of the laptop's keyboard. Or they could place it in front of the laptop, while increasing the distance to the screen and the actual machine. Either method sacrifices some measure of ease-of-use, or at the very least comes off as awkward. Nevertheless getting keyboard ergonomics to work with a desktop and laptop are both equally doable. In this case, however, one could easily feel that a specific form factor is more optimal than others.