Are Desktop Computers really fading?

storp

storp

Member
Every so often I hear claims that the desktop is dying a slow death.

Is this mainly put out by the laptop/tablet manufacturers?
To me, much of the tablet market appeals to the need for novelty... being heralded as the "next great phase" of the techo-revolution.

Not so sure I really believe in this.

Anyone know if the slackness in sales/desktops being shipped, is definitely trending into a pattern that exhibits some reliability?
 
It has dropped in sales. But in no way will the desktop become extinct. They will be around for years to come.
 
People that don't know computers will always say the days of the desktop are numbered. But until manufacturers can make strong machines in laptop form that don't cost an arm and a leg to buy and then replace, desktops will still be king.
 
I think desktops ceasing to exist is ridiculous for a start no other type of computer has such a versatile ability to mix and match parts to upgrade selected parts without replacing the whole computer.

What about the people that actually use a computer properly, sure most people today just sit on facebook with their little phone, but no serious computer user would try to edit a photo or video on a silly little phone.

Then there are pc gamers who are absolutely dedicated to their platform and willing to pay big money for the best components.

There is far to much money for computer component manufacturers to simply stop producing computer components, just look at the vast array or motherboards, processors, drives and especially graphics cards.

Desktops are not going anywhere soon
 
It depends on the market, in business and education desktop PCs are still very much the majority. I will say that I believe on average, the percentage of computer users at home that have desktops is getting smaller, in favor of cheaper and cheaper laptops and tablets. I do not agree that the desktop PC is dying however.
 
Eh, most articles like that are published by short-sighted buffoons that can't use computers efficiently. "I can check Facebook on my phone LOL WHY WOULD I WAIT FOR A PC TO BOOT UP?!?!" generally highlights their incompetence.
 
beers said:
Eh, most articles like that are published by short-sighted buffoons that can't use computers efficiently. "I can check Facebook on my phone LOL WHY WOULD I WAIT FOR A PC TO BOOT UP?!?!" generally highlights their incompetence.
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Yup, I also find it really annoying when people say they replaced their laptop and desktop with a tablet, and don't see why everyone else can't do the same.
 
beers said:
Eh, most articles like that are published by short-sighted buffoons that can't use computers efficiently. "I can check Facebook on my phone LOL WHY WOULD I WAIT FOR A PC TO BOOT UP?!?!" generally highlights their incompetence.
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I see this attitude in many forums I follow and question who is being short-sighted? Computer forum readers seem to fail to realize that we are a small part of the overall computer arena. For us, a desktop is essential but that isn't true for probably 80% of all computer users who only use their computers to access email, FaceBook, etc... For the vast majority of users, a phone or tablet can do all they need/want to do.

Those articles are written from the point of view of the general public, not us. I don't think the desktop computer will disappear but the market for desktops is definitely shrinking.
 
strollin said:
I see this attitude in many forums I follow and question who is being short-sighted?
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Shrug, computing as an arena is as large as it's ever been. Simply because a certain segment isn't gaining market share year-over-year doesn't indicate it is dying.

Also, just because you can manage to do something (like send emails from a phone, or steering a car with your feet) doesn't make it the better solution for all use cases. I was simply highlighting the lack of investigation per most 'tech articles' that whinge about the platform somehow 'disappearing'.
 
Geoff said:
It depends on the market, in business and education desktop PCs are still very much the majority. I will say that I believe on average, the percentage of computer users at home that have desktops is getting smaller, in favor of cheaper and cheaper laptops and tablets. I do not agree that the desktop PC is dying however.
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strollin said:
I see this attitude in many forums I follow and question who is being short-sighted? Computer forum readers seem to fail to realize that we are a small part of the overall computer arena. For us, a desktop is essential but that isn't true for probably 80% of all computer users who only use their computers to access email, FaceBook, etc... For the vast majority of users, a phone or tablet can do all they need/want to do.

Those articles are written from the point of view of the general public, not us. I don't think the desktop computer will disappear but the market for desktops is definitely shrinking.
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Both of these are right IMO. For consumers, the desktop PC really isn't as necessary as they used to be. Most users can get away with an ultrabook and their phone. People that need more power will get a better laptop, and those of us that want all of the benefits of a desktop will make that choice themselves.

Most IT Admins that deploy PCs understand that if it will not move, get a desktop.
 
I think this turning into an OT thread but oh well..

Personally, the desktop will never die. Yes there's the fact that a tower takes up more room then a laptop but the power to price ratio is just so much better. My $600 laptop (given it is 2 years old) just doesn't even come close to my $460 computer. Even though it has an i7, it's a low model. Meant for running big programs, but quite slowly.

For example: a 10 second clip in Sony Vegas Pro 11 took my laptop 2 minutes and 7 seconds when rendering in 1080p.

My desktop completed that same render in 1 minute and 3 seconds.

Now can your tablet do that? Oh wait, it doesn't run 3rd party apps.... HAHAHAHA
 
Can anyone point to an article that ever claimed the desktop was going to disappear entirely? I've never seen that claim made in print so not sure why so many are disputing. The facts are the facts, the desktop computer market share has dwindled, no way around it.

C4C said:
... Now can your tablet do that? Oh wait, it doesn't run 3rd party apps.... HAHAHAHA
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My tablet (Surface Pro 3) runs 3rd party apps just fine, thank you. It couldn't match your desktop while rendering a 10 second clip but I didn't buy it to render video.

The people who have stopped buying desktops and buy tablets instead, have no need or desire to render video. My sister is a perfect example, the last desktop she bought was over 10 years ago. She now has a laptop and a tablet but uses the tablet the majority of the time because she mostly does FaceBook, Instagram and plays games like Words With Friends. A tablet fits her needs fine and she will probably never consider buying another desktop.
 
I don't quite see the Surface Pro 3 being quite a full tablet... It's just too pricey (and it's literally a 2-1).

But that last saying about the 3rd party apps is a stab at Android.. Can't run photoshop there, but the customization is great..
 
The SP3 is indeed a tablet; one of the best. It's just a very expensive tablet.
 
jamesd1981 said:
What about the people that actually use a computer properly, sure most people today just sit on facebook with their little phone, but no serious computer user would try to edit a photo or video on a silly little phone.

Then there are pc gamers who are absolutely dedicated to their platform and willing to pay big money for the best components.

There is far to much money for computer component manufacturers to simply stop producing computer components, just look at the vast array or motherboards, processors, drives and especially graphics cards.

Desktops are not going anywhere soon
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+1 to this.
 
I also see the motivation of a phase-out by Microsoft - the sliding windows and all. Low grade OS - IMHO.

They seem to be deliberately pointing to the mobile market. Why, I'm not sure. I really have no use for it.
 
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