I see the end of the Desktop Computer

[Willl]

I'll have to disagree, the desktop isn't going anywhere.

 

[MossRoad]

It seems to me that there is not any advantage to a desktop, only limitations. There will always be specific tasks where a computer will never leave its location where it does a job 24 hours a day so there will always be a call for them. I think in a world where technology changes so quickly and the cost of a laptop over a desktop is so much cheaper that the desk top will just go the way of special order.

1. Security.
--A. Theft of hardware. Laptops walk off and desktops do not.
--B. Theft of data. Laptops walk off and desktops do not.

2. Cost.
--A. Desktops are significantly cheaper to purchase than laptops.
--B. Laptops get broken easier.
--C. Laptops wear out faster than desktops.
--D. Desktops are cheaper to repair than laptops.
--E. Purchase of extra keyboard, monitor, mouse and docking station.

3. Ergonomics.
--A. In an office/production/customer service setting, you have to have a standard keyboard and mouse.
--B. The monitors are not at the proper height, so you need to purchase a laptop stand unless you buy a second monitor (see cost).

I have worked in the I.T. field for a couple decades. I love my laptop and take it home every night for all the reasons you mentioned... taking the office with me. But I service 300 PCs on a daily basis. The people sit in cubicles in a call center for customers, in accounting, in text based editing, in graphic design and in telephone advertising taking. None of them need a laptop.

 

[RobS]

Laptops are great for "office" work, email, web-surfing (we do that at the office?), word processing, spreadsheets and such. Those are all pretty simple tasks for a computer. When you get into more intensive work, the desktop will always excell.

 

[Timber]

Very interesting, There is much I never considered

 

[Bedlam]

And with my eyes going bad.lol and the big fingers, I cant imagine just the laptop, altho its sure easier to take to the bathroom when nature calls.

 

[hayden]

We're talking about trends, not absolutes. In that sense, I think Timber is correct. Maybe 10-15 years ago there was an 80/20 split between desktop and laptop. I'd say the split is not 20/80 in favor of laptop. Just look at the PC Connection catalog or talk a walk down the isles at Best Buy. It's dominated by laptops, and you can be sure what they present in the catalog and shelves is driven by what actually sells.

Will desktops go away? Not in any future I can see. There will always be a place for them.

Will desktop sales continue to give way to laptop sales? Yes, I think so. A new equalibrium will establish, but I think sales are still flowing over towards laptops and will continue to do so for a while longer.

 

[MikePA]

Most major corporations don't purchase PCs from PCConnection or BestBuy. The trend for home users/small businesses are different than major corporations where the 80/20 (desktops/laptops) is still the norm.

 

[Timber]

My thoughts area based not only on my own experience with my own company but also on what I see with the newest generation getting ready to enter the corporate world. These kids have done there entire education with a portable PC. Every year Portable PCs become more and more powerful. Company's networks are more widespread than ever. Programs are loaded onto the network server and not to the hard drive. More people work from home and visit the physical office once a week. The government is encouraging people to work from home to cut back on fuel consumption and traffic congestion. Company's themselves are also trying to do business as cheaply as possible. Less office space, smaller overhead. In order to do this you have to use portable computers. The licenses for VPNs are costly so your going to use the same PC for your employee that works from home that they use when they come into the office.

 

[MossRoad]

Most major corporations don't purchase PCs from PCConnection or BestBuy. The trend for home users/small businesses are different than major corporations where the 80/20 (desktops/laptops) is still the norm.

That is so true. The only time we would purchase something from a big box store is if we needed an emergency cable or something and couldn't wait for overnight shipping. Even then, we have some local stores that have better prices and stock most stuff.

Also, the price of a desktop is a lot cheaper than a laptop. The laptop that I have now was $2500.00. Comparable desktops PCs can be had for under $1000.00.

 

[MossRoad]

...what I see with the newest generation getting ready to enter the corporate world. These kids have done there entire education with a portable PC. ...

We tell those kids to "Stop whining about using an old desktop PC, get off of your my space page and turn out some work."