I recently got a 24in external monitor for my laptop and I’ve hardly moved my laptop since. I decided at that point that it was for the best to use the laptop as a desktop. I know its odd to use a macbook pro as a desktop, but thats what I’ve been doing for the last few weeks. It’s been working for me; I spend less (slightly) time on a computer that I have in the past.

If I need to do something while I am out I use my nokia n95 on the edge network. I do not even look for wifi, if I am going to do something it has to be urgent enough to warrant EDGE.

This is a huge problem for me, and it’s something I’m actively working to improve upon. I find it takes a lot of discipline to leave the laptop’s potential for use un-utilized.

Put another way, if I take the laptop with me — like you, it sounds like — I’ll manufacture a reason to use it. Just because it’s there, and without regard for whether it’s a particularly valuable use of my time at a given moment.

One simple solution is to just not tote it around with me (although the iPhone tends to replace it nicely as the fiddly distractor du jour).

An embarrassing alternative is to give yourself roadblocks. For instance, since it’s already a best practice anyhow, consider logging-out everytime you close the lid — knowing that it will take you even an extra few seconds might slow down the urge.

Very interested to hear what other folks have to say about this.

If I take my laptop out and about, I will often actually get some writing done. If I stay in my home office with the desktop (a name that’s pushing the limits of the definition given that my “desktop” is a Mac Mini), I will furze (=waste time) doing all sorts of piddly-ass things and not get much writing done.

I actually got more computers to keep from using my laptop as much. When I had only one computer that traveled with me everywhere I would always wind up working whenever it was turned on. If I wanted to check a football score at home and booted up my laptop I would check e-mail, if there was an action needed from the e-mail, I would do it right then despite it was not “work-time”. I now have a desktop at work, a desktop at home, a laptop for work and a laptop for home. If I want to do work from a non-work computer it takes extra effort so I’m not as likely to work.

My situation probably isn’t too common - I have a 24” iMac and an employer-supplied laptop I use for work. I carry it with me ONLY when I have work to do - it doesn’t have any non-work programs or data on it, and the thing is an embarrassment to carry around (a clumsy HP). Unless I’m doing work on it, I don’t even think to bring it to the coffee shop or when I travel.

I moved to the iMac after three years of sitting at a PowerBook. With the arrival of iPhone, I found that most of the things I want to do when I’m out and about - look up little bits of info online quickly, check my email - were now in my pocket, and if I did bring the PowerBook with me anywhere, I’d end up idly dicking around in Photoshop, renaming files, and changing the desktop background.

I don’t travel much for business and my employer isn’t Mac-friendly, so a “work laptop” to me means a dumb machine with only those apps I need to do my actual work.

Should Apple come out with an ultraportable little “satellite” Mac that functioned as a big iPhone, being synced to my home computer, I might be interested. But right now, I’m spoiled by the performance and size of a desktop computer and don’t need a “serious” laptop for work or play.

Zac, I’m considering doing the same thing with getting an external monitor and parking my MacBook Pro.

I’m also thinking about making “laptop-free” zones in my home. For example, no laptops allowed in bed, or in the bathroom. In a way, the laptop-free zones are become work-free zones. Hopefully this will also help in preventing the entire home into one big workspace.

Here’s the real question: who’s willing to get rid of their laptop and work solely on a desktop? I use a Mini as my primary machine, but I also have a laptop that, like you Chanpory, mostly enables me to waste time, pecking at RSS feeds on the couch when I should be spending time with my family or reading a good book.

I certainly don’t need it, because I mostly work out of the house and don’t travel for business. C’mon people, talk me into putting that thing on eBay.

My two computers are a Macbook Pro for work and an iBook G4 for home. Once I get home the Macbook Pro rarely comes out of the backpack largely because oftentimes it is just too much effort to go get it out. (Hey, I’ve got a three year old and one on the way, right now is the time to conserve as much energy as possible.)

The even better hack is the iBook which has a battery that lasts a grand total of 20 minutes when not plugged in. This turns it into a defacto desktop since you can never be sure when exactly the screen will go black. It is an amazing productivity motivator, knowing you need to get what you need done NOW when your notebook is going to crap out in moments.