Why the desktop PC is far from dead

Pundits love making bold proclamations that things are dead, and if the commentators are to be believed, the desktop PC needs to get ready for the biggest die-off since the dinosaurs. The idea is that the more agile notebooks are leaving the lumbering desktop PCs in their dust.

Do the people who make these boldly overconfident claims even use PCs?

Don't worry, the desktop PC isn't going anywhere. Yes, I know that the bottom has fallen out of PC sales in general - with desktops being harder hit than notebooks - and people nowadays find tablets and smartphones to be far more exciting, the desktop PC isn't going anywhere.

Here are just a few reasons why:

Read more: Why the desktop PC is far from dead | ZDNet

 

[David Bailey]

Laptops, tablets & phones can all be attached to a large monitor (not sure about a watch) so that shouldn't stop anyone from giving up their desktop.

I work all day on a laptop that has full-size keyboard, mouse and 24" monitor attached. For the most part, it's no different than if I was working on a desktop.

True.
But if you need to go out with it you are still mostly stuck with a smaller monitor.
Not that one would take their desktop out.

From reading the posts here, it seems the people using laptops have more problems than people using desktops in general.
Just my observation. I could be wrong.

 

[CountMike]

Laptops, tablets & phones can all be attached to a large monitor (not sure about a watch) so that shouldn't stop anyone from giving up their desktop.

I work all day on a laptop that has full-size keyboard, mouse and 24" monitor attached. For the most part, it's no different than if I was working on a desktop.

True.
But if you need to go out with it you are still mostly stuck with a smaller monitor.
Not that one would take their desktop out.

From reading the posts here, it seems the people using laptops have more problems than people using desktops in general.
Just my observation. I could be wrong.

The smaller they are more compact they get and with that comes a lot of problems. Components are mostly smaller and have to work harder to achieve any kind of performance, with that comes more heat which because of smaller size is more difficult to dissipate. In addition, laptops and below are all made by brand manufacturers while desktops can be put together from parts from many sources. With poorer BIOS features and small number of interchangeable parts, they are more prone to problems and more difficult to troubleshoot and repair so it's no wander that they are more prone to problems.

 

[LafnSu]

I still wouldn't have wanted to drag a even a mid tower with me.

LOL....nor would I....and the reason I'm responding on a laptop....there's place and space for everything it seems;O)

 

[Clintlgm]

Laptops, tablets & phones can all be attached to a large monitor (not sure about a watch) so that shouldn't stop anyone from giving up their desktop.

I work all day on a laptop that has full-size keyboard, mouse and 24" monitor attached. For the most part, it's no different than if I was working on a desktop.

True.
But if you need to go out with it you are still mostly stuck with a smaller monitor.
Not that one would take their desktop out.

From reading the posts here, it seems the people using laptops have more problems than people using desktops in general.
Just my observation. I could be wrong.

That would be true to some extent. What we have to remember is we are in help forums so we see mostly problems and hardly ever see all the great units of either desktop or Notebook that never have an issues. As far as OS which we deal with here I don't find any differences between desktops and notebooks. the biggest problem with win 8 has been all us and everyone else learning UEFI I still don't understand it but have learned to work with it.

 

[altae]

The smaller they are more compact they get and with that comes a lot of problems. Components are mostly smaller and have to work harder to achieve any kind of performance, with that comes more heat which because of smaller size is more difficult to dissipate. In addition, laptops and below are all made by brand manufacturers while desktops can be put together from parts from many sources. With poorer BIOS features and small number of interchangeable parts, they are more prone to problems and more difficult to troubleshoot and repair so it's no wander that they are more prone to problems.

That depends on what kind of desktop we are talking about. If it is a quality machine bought from a qualified pc assembler or even self built I bet there are less problems than with most laptops. But if we are talking about crap desktops from dell, Mediamarkt, Saturn, Wallmart, Aldi... those are PC's from hell. They run as long as you don't touch anything. But if one feels like changing even the smallest thing, e.g. add another ram module, all hell can break loose. If I had the choice between such a desktop and a laptop from a renown manufacturer I'd gladly take the laptop

 

[Atomic77]

The Desktop Computer will be around 4 ever as there people still using them. I don't see how there is ever going to be a laptop or a mobile device that out does what a normal PC does anytime soon.

 

[stringjunky]

The Desktop Computer will be around 4 ever as there people still using them. I don't see how there is ever going to be a laptop or a mobile device that out does what a normal PC does anytime soon.

Portability. The specification of most laptops these days is more than adequate for Joe Average so there's no need to outdo a desktop.

 

[Clintlgm]

The Desktop Computer will be around 4 ever as there people still using them. I don't see how there is ever going to be a laptop or a mobile device that out does what a normal PC does anytime soon.

Portability. The specification of most laptops these days is more than adequate for Joe Average so there's no need to outdo a desktop.

Well I wouldn't call my 17" Gaming/desktop replacement notebook real portable I wouldn't want to pack it to school or even a office every day. How ever the way I work I go to a location set for a few days or weeks and then move on the next location. So My Gaming/Desktop Replacement works for me and many other people that work like I do. I'm sure I could get by on a much smaller 15" or even 12" notebook I chose not to because I do want the extra power and larger screen. Beside that I can do on my phone most of what a 12" notebook can do. No way am I carrying around a Desktop computer with related accessories. However when I'm home I use both Desktops and Notebooks I have no intention of not having desktops computer for a long time. Two of mine runs 24 -7 I don't think my notebook would last long under those conditions

 

[stringjunky]

. Two of mine runs 24 -7 I don't think my notebook would last long under those conditions

My last laptop lasted nearly 6 years leaving it on 95+% of the time until I spilt Coke on it and that killed it. I have read it argued that such devices last longer in always-on mode because the components experience much fewer thermal contraction and expansion cycles which eventually cause something to break.

 

[MilesAhead]

Someone has to produce the content for all these content consumers. For the consumers a Laptop or Tablet may be fine. But I'm sure the producers prefer a real desktop. The market share for desktops will shrink. But I doubt it will disappear.

 

[altae]

A desktop is just much more economical than a laptop. Or to use the renown saying: with a desktop you get more bang for a buck. If portability is important or at least an advantage the laptop wins. But in those cases where portability does not matter (fixed office work places, fixed home offices...) or where you need as much computing power as possible for the lowest possible price (engineering, architecture, graphics, compiling complex programs, scientific calculations...) the desktop is clearly the better choice.

 

[eatup]

A desktop is just much more economical than a laptop. Or to use the renown saying: with a desktop you get more bang for a buck. If portability is important or at least an advantage the laptop wins. But in those cases where portability does not matter (fixed office work places, fixed home offices...) or where you need as much computing power as possible for the lowest possible price (engineering, architecture, graphics, compiling complex programs, scientific calculations...) the desktop is clearly the better choice.

Not really. They tend to use more electricity. Over the lifespan of the PC, I would say laptops and desktops cost the same. It's a matter of whether you value portability over increased computing power.

 

[emerald08]

I find that it is all about subjectivity as we each have different needs. For my current sitch I have a desktop, a chromebook, and a W7 laptop. Each has their own role in my day-to-day activities and they work out well in their respective tasks. I could never envision myself lugging around a gaming laptop to my classes and errands which is where the chromebook (with its decent battery life and small footprint) comes in handy. My laptop is a Thinkpad X220T tablet convertible which functions as my virtual scratchpad for quantitative and conceptual scribbles that eventually get stored in MS OneNote. My desktop is one that I built last summer and works well enough for some light gaming that I do. I think I did okay in respect to being cost-effective. I love my desktop!

 

[JHough]

A desktop is just much more economical than a laptop. Or to use the renown saying: with a desktop you get more bang for a buck. If portability is important or at least an advantage the laptop wins. But in those cases where portability does not matter (fixed office work places, fixed home offices...) or where you need as much computing power as possible for the lowest possible price (engineering, architecture, graphics, compiling complex programs, scientific calculations...) the desktop is clearly the better choice.

The laptop I bought for $380 Is hard for a desktop to beat at the same price. It runs Condor a soaring (sailplane) simulator, which is my most intensive must have application.

Last year, when I looked, the $600+ desktops were much better performers than the laptops. This performance gap increases with price increases.

 

[Atomic77]

I have always had a Desktop and each one I have ever used has done everything I ever wanted it to do. With my current lifestyle I don't see a need to be mobile as far as computers go. and as long as there is a purpose for a desktop in todays world no matter how popular laptops and other devices come the Desktop will always be there.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

Just try running a decent Professional Stock trading system with a minimum of 4 Monitors from a laptop (if it's even possible). Try running applications from TWO or more different Networks (two NIC cards) etc.

The people who write about the demise of the desktop probably are only thinking about people who do a bit of email on their phones or spend 90% of everyday "Twatting" on Twitter or on "Farcebook" or some other system.

The desktop was never intended to be a mobile device - but some (a lot) of serious applications are still done on desktops.

I suppose it's the same sort of journalists who say nobody uses a pen and paper any more -- also obviously untrue.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[elbmek]

My desktop pc is custom made, online, where the 'builder' checks components in a virtual world for compatibility. When I was building mine it came up a couple of times and said no don't put this in, and eventually I built an Intel7i quad core pc for £804 with (see my specs) and it will never be replaced by a miniature version of whatever comes out tomorrow. When and if I do ever need a new one, I wiull go back to the same company and build a new one.

However what does annoy me is the lack of pc software in supermarkets and such.

 

[CountMike]

My desktop pc is custom made, online, where the 'builder' checks components in a virtual world for compatibility. When I was building mine it came up a couple of times and said no don't put this in, and eventually I built an Intel7i quad core pc for £804 with (see my specs) and it will never be replaced by a miniature version of whatever comes out tomorrow. When and if I do ever need a new one, I wiull go back to the same company and build a new one.

However what does annoy me is the lack of pc software in supermarkets and such.

I just keep on changing components, I believe I still have at least few screws from first 386 computer I built.