Windows 10: Desktop PCs and the Windows desktop: Endangered species?

Until there are super cooling systems for small factor machines , desktop computers will stay. Also touch screen , motion capture or any other control interface that we might create will hardly beat the precision of a mouse. Not to worry about the desktop mouse + keyboard .. will stay much longer.

my 2 cents

 

Ugh, this comes up EVERY single year. No, desktops aren't going away because of reasons such as mobile hardware simply cannot compete apples to apples to ATX desktop grade hardware.

But it isn't like 10 years ago where a laptop would be drudgery compared to a high end desktop. The gap is somewhat closing.

Having said that, the common PC form factor these days are laptops. They have decent sized screens, a full keyboard, some are touch, have mouse input, and usually a good amount of I/O connectivity. No need for a giant clunky desktop tower anymore, that's morphed nowadays to an AIO. The new trending form factor that the Surface Pro 3 has been trail blazing are tablet PCs. Again, have decent sized touch screens, come with a full keyboard, have mice input and pen input, has a limited but acceptable I/O connectivity with room for expansion and flexibility like a docking station for added output.

Is the Windows Personal Computer endangered? Never. Is the desktop form factor endangered, yes. Not everyone needs three GPUs and the latest core i7 overclocked watercooled CPU. That's more of a niche audience like myself and everyone here.

 

This number is actually much smaller than it used to be... but that's really beside the point.. Unless you can point to actual sales figures showing a strong growing trend, then it's a pointless argument.

Many so-called "touch tablets" are just as powerful as desktops, and fully capable of everything the average desktops can do, but the average desktops don't have touch or pen capabilities, can't be taken along with you when you leave, can't be used on the couch or on the train.

While it's absolutely true that a top end desktop PC can't match a portable device, because a portable device has power savings requirements, among others, only a small percentage of people actually *NEED* a top end desktop PC, or could even benefit from one. While a much larger percentage of people can benefit from mobility. (probably not your standard data entry clerk, or call center agent, but most office workers).

It's a complete cop-out to argue that Desktops can't be replaced by mobile devices because some tiny fraction of users need top end desktop performance. True for that small percentage, but not true for most anyone else.

Intel sells chips, yes PC chips for tablets and laptops... not just desktops. So yeah, their business is booming. Just not for desktops. The sales numbers don't lie... Desktop PC sales are sinking like rock.

Again, a very tiny fraction of people build their own, or even upgrade or service their computers. Most people just buy new ones when their old one stops working or get too slow (even if they could be cheaply upgraded). When you can get a whole new PC for $300, why upgrade your old one for $150? You still have a old computer with some newer parts.

I'm not saying the build it yourself market will disappear, now ill desktops completely go away, but it will certainly be a niche market... Even now its hard to find non-laptops or tablets at any big-box store.. there aren't many desktops on the shelves.

 

With the technology that's available today, what is really a "desktop" and what is really a "portable device" when the latter can be connect to a dock, a keyboard, a mouse, and a large flat panel -- and then offer the same functionality as what used to be considered a "desktop"?

Last major project I worked on, which consisted of several hundred people, had everyone issued a high-end HP laptop. And the first thing that everyone requested upon signing for their new laptop was the following: 1) a dock, 2) a keyboard, 3) a mouse, 4) a high resolution flat panel monitor.

So, while the "portable computing" fans would say -- "See! Laptops replaced Desktops!" -- the "desktop" fans would say, no they did not because, with all those plugged components, the laptops essentially became desktops.

I've retired since then, but keep in touch with folks that NOW, have tablets instead of laptops, and in ALL cases, those folks demand the same four components that we had on that last project.

So basically, what I'm saying is -- you plug enough stuff into a laptop or tablet, it becomes essentially, a desktop -- and then, the argument about which is better (in THAT environment) becomes nonsensical. In such cases, the laptops (or tablets) function as portable desktops.

 

Laptops that are used for desktop replacement are no different from desktops as far as the usage and the OS are concerned. The only difference that one's sitting closer, but only if you use the laptop's own screen, not any additional monitor. Then one might argue for the touch, but I honestly don't see where it might help me.

 

"...scratch pads." *Roflmao2 That's one of the nicer names I'bve heard for those misbegotten abominations! I can live with the keyboard and the smaller monitor but a mouse is a necessity for my. I even keep a spare mouse in my notebook case in case the one I use dies.

 

Prexactly. I only use my notebook when on the road though I can use it for a spare if my desktop ever goes down.

 

Correction. Laptops that are *ONLY* used for desktop replacement are no different from desktops. If the laptop is used as a desktop replacement as well as taken out and used as a mobile device, then it's dual usage and it needs to be able to work in both scenarios.

 

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Not really, I mean that's not what I meant. Whether or not you can carry you computer in your backpack has nothing to do with the way you use it. The "scratchpad" on my laptop is permanently off, I use a mouse even on a plane. The only difference between me using it in the office and elsewhere is that 30 inch monitor that I'm obviously not carrying around. The way I use the OS and the software I need is exactly the same on that laptop, regardless of whether in the office or not, and on my desktop at home.

In other words, I don't really care in which box do my processor, ram, ssd, etc. live. When I say desktop, I mean what I see on the screen.

But if you care about the formfactor, then the difference is that desktop is more powerful. Whether you need this power is up to you. The argument that desktops are not seen in big electronics stores seems irrelevant to me. I've never bought a computer in any such store, let alone a supermarket.

 

It is really difficult for me to understand why some people are so invested in *not* owning a desktop. The economic advantages and hardware customization options for desktop far surpass anything portable. Android and iOS are very nearly "toy" OSes in comparison with Windows--and why shouldn't they be? That's what they're for--the off-label uses of a cell phone paired with ridiculously expensive Internet access packages, courtesy of the carriers who are raking in the dough...*Wink

You are exactly right--if you are going trick out a tablet with all of the stuff that makes it a non-tablet, you might as well be using a desktop. I'm semi-retired, myself, and the way I always did things was I always made sure I had a desktop in the physical locations where I would most need access to a computer--I didn't have just one desktop. When in the course of a particular job I was forced to a laptop I was not a happy camper. And when you start figuring in the pricing, the factory warranties, and the user-serviceability and hardware upgradability--the desktop knocks the tablet (and laptops, too, imo) out cold. It's a first-round K'O...!

So what is the *only* advantage of a tablet? It runs on batteries and is therefore portable. OK, fine--but so does a standard laptop PC. But the hardware design parameters for tablets/laptops versus desktops are entirely different. Every component in a laptop/tablet is designed on the altar of power consumption--everything. Performance is entirely secondary to power conservation for the sake of battery life--internal components in tablets are generally not user-upgradable (I think most tablet warranties are voided the moment the casing is cracked), and as a result cannot be serviced or upgraded by the owner. This remains true regardless of how many external peripherals a person may buy for it. Laptops are only a little better in this regard, imo. A desktop is user-upgradable a component at a time and therefore has a life span far in excess of any portable device--devices which are generally throw-away when a component fails out of warranty or the owner would like a hardware upgrade. Speaking of warranties as an example, check this out...a 1TB SSD with a ten year factory warranty...and at no additional cost, I might add. It's the kind of thing you can put in a desktop easily and quickly if you want--but in a tablet or even most laptops (you might get this in a few laptops, although they'd need to be Sata3 to get the 500MB/s reads from it)--you can fuggedaboudit...!

 

If one ever did get a portable device to work as hard as one can work a desktop you would cook the portable device.
Some portable devices are better than others but none dissipate the heat anywhere close to the ability of a desktop can.

Tablets are the Bic Pen of the computing world.
When they break just throw them away and get another one.
Just because one can plug things into a portable device does not make it a Desktop. It makes it a portable device that in that condition is no longer portable.

Just about any computing device has a market. When the market is big enough their will be devices made for that market. Today fast growing market is portables. That doesn't mean when one buys a portable they run to work or home and throw away their desktop. It means that that person has chosen to use more than one type of computing device.

We get into these threads where it seem people are posting about either/or.
One can have and use what ever combination of portable and non portable devices as one cares to buy and use. Their is no either/or.

I have only desktops. Not because I have anything against portables. Portables at this time in my life are not needed or wanted. That's it.
When I want or need a portable device I will just do my homework and buy one that suites my needs and desires. If at all possible the portable device will be up gradable and repairable. It must weigh less than a 12 pack of beer.

 

Hi there

I've probably worked my Surface Pro 3 as hard as any device I've ever had - it's been tested as a SERVER !!, a Multi-media system, running a load of VM's for DAYS at a time, and doing a whole slew of other things too - and when I'm travelling the poor thing doesn't even get a rest as I'm watching Movies on it in "Tablet Mode". At least the other devices get switched off when I'm away.

In no way has my SP3 even looked like being "Cooked". There's a HUGE amount of mis-understanding about the "Convertible" form factor.

Most people DO NOT build their own machines -- I only have a couple of old desktops because I bought them years ago when laptops didn't have much processing ability - today I certainly wouldn't bother with one except in special circumstances -- my SP3 can drive a HUGE monitor at 4K resolution - far higher than typical laptops dishing out the ubiquitious 768 X 1366 resolution and with the docking station I can connect up several USB3 HDD's if I want. (OK I need a USB3 multi-port adaptor but no big deal).

Now where I DO need a desktop is if I need to connect say a multi monitor High res graphic card / GPU for doing my Stock trading or if I were developing games / other software requiring a Multi Monitor (more than 2) setup or wanting to connect a lot of HDD's or run commercial grade servers.

For 95% of Joe public that's way over the top. But a lot really can't manage with just a "non convertible" tablet.

Cheers
jimbo

 

For anything that is not Facebook, you mean.
But folks are morons: new phone comes out: I NEED THAT!
It's half a computer, most use only 2% of the thing, not knowing what it can, but that's not important.
A fella here came to me, brand new top of the line phones: what he could do with incredible.
"Now, if only I could make a call with it..."
It had a micro SIM card which was not yet available where I am.
I mean, that is... ah well.

Folks do not use their brain, ANY true hardcore PC nerd well get a desktop, no system ever beats it, thusfar.
Not even close.
Want a tiny example?
64GB RAM and 16TB drives (4x4tb).
Not even close, whatever mobile system you come with.

 

. . .a little harsh. Folks are not morons just because they buy something that you do not agree with. I have three desktop computers, do I need three. . .no, albeit I have them just because they are fun to tinker with. I have a Microsoft SP3, do I need it, no, but again it is fun to tinker with, I could go on with the high end tech toys I have, however, it comes down to the only reason I have them is because I enjoy tinkering with them, hence I buy them for my enjoyment not because I am a "Moran". . .*Smile