The Demise of the Desktop Computer

[Tk1917]

Desktop PC sales continue to slump according to research by both Gartner and IDC; this year sales of the once popular format for computing have fallen by over 10% even though, in some areas, the fall is not quite as dramatic as analysts expected. If this trend continues the desktop computer could be on the verge of extinction as mobile computing devices, particularly tablets, continue to free computer users from the limitations of a desk.

http://thebackbencher.co.uk/the-demise-of-the-desktop-computer/

[Nick H. Supervisor]

I don't think I've used a desktop for several years now (well, with the exception of fixing them). For me it's always been about getting a laptop. Perhaps less powerful than a desktop, but I can carry it around with me. That and my smartphone, I'm set.

[Max Norris]

A big reduction in "marketshare", sure, tablets and phones are absurdly convenient.  But extinction?  Nah, there's way too much that they can't do, plus there's some tasks I just wouldn't want to do on a mobile device.  Even Windows 8, I've been using Windows on a tablet since XP.. convenient, but still never a full replacement for a desktop. I prefer to think of my tablets as a mobile extension of my desktop, not a replacement.

[Hum]

Boulderdash -- there will still be home desktop computers in 20 years.

[Order_66]

Windows 8 is further driving the typical desktop into extinction.

I realize that fact is not well received here at neowin however I encourage anyone who doubts the validity of that claim to simply spend an hour in the pc dept of your local best buy or microcenter and witness this in person, it's all too obvious.

[margrave]

The desktop isn't going extinct. I use desktops everyday, and prefer them for certain needs. Computers are just coming in different form factors just like cars do. Because we have trucks and sport cars doesn't mean that no one buys sedans anymore.

 

Since I have a nice large monitor I bought I have no interest in replacing it with a touch screen. I have found personally I'm more productive with a mouse and keyboard than when I have attempted some of the same functions on a touch screen. They're great for portable devices like phones and tablets but fail for some, like me, on certain industry production needs. The desktop is still a primary work horse.

 

I can still just get parts and upgrade a desktop, not so much with tablets or phones. This is what the industry has always wanted. Being able to force new hardware sales instead of part upgrades. I don't know about others but I hate the idea of buying a car that I can't get to the engine on and can't get ANY parts for.

[Ravensky]

lets see you run corporate america for one hour without desktops... epic disaster...  I can't believe this topic has surfaced (no pun intended) yet again... *Sigh* lol

[ahhell]

Not this crap again.

The "desktop" is not going anywhere.

[Dashel]

So desks are going extinct?

 

I guess we can thank the economy that has left millions with crappy jobs and little pay.

[ManMountain]

The verge of extinction? Lol. Desktops purchased in the last few years are more than capable of running most if not all software with ease. There is less incentive to upgrade as the benefits are minimal to the costs involved. 

[articuno1au]

Windows 8 is further driving the typical desktop into extinction.

I realize that fact is not well received here at neowin however I encourage anyone who doubts the validity of that claim to simply spend an hour in the pc dept of your local best buy or microcenter and witness this in person, it's all too obvious.

Bollocks. Complete and utter bollocks.

 

If the sales person is doing their job correctly people are walking out with something that works for them. If the sales person isn't, then the consumer ought be going elsewhere.

[redvamp128]

No I am afraid you are mistaken... just because there are less sales does not mean extinct...

faulty logic.

 

People buy desktops and  keep them for longer than a year... upgrade them... 

unlike the little hand held devices that are replaced because their functionality is limited.

 

One should before announcing extinction ...look at the sale of parts that people buy to upgrade them.

[Arceles]

Those sales always come from manufacturers, i.e. Dell, Hp, Lenovo... etc. I just upgraded myself to desktop, no thanks to any of those manufacturers, the price they ask for their products is ridiculous, I can very well assemble a very powerful machine, that I will end using together with my laptop. The beauty of having a powerhouse that can make use of a portable device.

[neufuse Veteran]

lets see.... a desktop which is way more powerful then what most people use it for and gets upgraded oh say every 3-5yrs? or a smart phone / tablet which people have this strange urge to upgrade every time the newest one comes out every year...... yeah and these "analysts" wonder why desktop sales aren't moving much and tablet/smartphones sales go up and up?.... common...

[+Fahim S. MVC]

I knew I'd only get a few posts down before I saw the obligatory 'Desktops are dying because of Windows 8' comment.

 

Sorry... just not true.  The only people that want to dedicate an area of their home to a computer are people who work at them for several hours a day or geeks- both exist in very limited numbers.

 

For everyone else, a tablet, laptop or mobile phone suffice to meet all their computing needs.

 

* typing this at my desktop, but only because my wife took the laptop out with her otherwise I'd be lounging on the sofa in the living room with that *

[neufuse Veteran]

remember people..... netbooks where killing desktops a few years ago...... NET BOOKS!

[vcfan]

bring back netbooks,and the numbers go back to normal. oops

[+Fahim S. MVC]

Netbooks, tablets whatever.

What's killing the desktop is cheap, accessible and convenient portable computing.

[sc302 Veteran]

Netbooks, tablets whatever.

What's killing the desktop is cheap, accessible and convenient portable computing.

x2  There was a time where a laptop was 2-3x the amount of a desktop...now they are about the same price.  Now introduce powerful tablets for just above the price of a desktop, people will go for the more powerful tablets over a desktop. 

 

Easy of portability and powerful enough to do whatever you need will take over.  ipads and things of that nature will be a fad that will go away once people have full application support in the same device for the same price or a bit more. 

[+Fahim S. MVC]

x2  There was a time where a laptop was 2-3x the amount of a desktop...now they are about the same price.  Now introduce powerful tablets for just above the price of a desktop, people will go for the more powerful tablets over a desktop. 

 

Easy of portability and powerful enough to do whatever you need will take over.  ipads and things of that nature will be a fad that will go away once people have full application support in the same device for the same price or a bit more. 

 

Not just 2-3x more expensive, but had poor and small screens, awful battery lives that you would be lucky to see reach hours, weighed a lot (10kg upwards for some).

[sagum]

The desktop computer might not be going away for the majority of people who use them as a Tool for productivity or PC gamers who'll mostly be building their own anyway, but for every person you see who on facebook, or instagram or any of the other social networks and are using a Smart Phone, the chances are they're no longer using a PC for it. These are the family computers that were selling like hot cakes because back before the iPhone and handsets that followed it, there wasn't real mobile internet to be had and it was the only way they could 'play' on the new internet toy.

 

Now, rather then a family get a PC from Dell for their kids to do the home work on, they'll think twice about it, adults that are older then 30ish and aren't already into computers will opt for a smart phone for their Facebook hits. Younger kids in their early teens don't know why they need a computer anymore. They have fast consoles, and internet on the tablets or phones and a computer to them is now a tool to write out their essay at school... and that's how it is now.

 

The majority of people alive don't need nor want a desktop computer. It's a sad fact and the numbers show it. The desktop computer in 10 years time will still be around, but it's slowly starting to fade away, even if the population has to deal with poor apps and games as a result they don't know or care that its the way its going because they simply don't know the difference now... 

[DeadEndAccount]

Le Sigh, reduced sales doesn't mean that they're becoming extinct; if a family that used to have 3 computers replaced their setup with a single desktop and two tablets is the industry better off or worse off? the size of the market is shrinking but that also means that there is greater opportunities for alternative devices and more importantly there are still people buying desktops. In around 2-5 years you'll probably see the shrinkage stop and maybe a small increase as those in developing nations demand more sophisticated devices than just going on the web using their mobile.

[margrave]

I got a smart phone. I greatly prefer working on a MUCH larger screen.

 

The market became saturated. Nothing more. It's just like the automobile market. Look at how many used cars you see just sitting there!

[WelshBluebird]

I only ever use a Desktop at work or if I am trying to fix my parents 12 year old desktop (which I hope they will get rid of soon!).

For my personal time it is either my laptop, my tablet or my phone.

[+Warwagon MVC]

I don't think I've used a desktop for several years now (well, with the exception of fixing them). For me it's always been about getting a laptop. Perhaps less powerful than a desktop, but I can carry it around with me. That and my smartphone, I'm set.

 

I have a Laptop, but I have it setup like a desktop on my couch. It's setup with the lid closed with 2 monitors a mouse and a keyboard hooked up to it.. It feels far more productive. My other system is a 4 monitor desktop system that I use daily. I have an iPad, Nexus 7, and Acer w500 Windows Tablet.

 

In order of use

 

iPad - Rarely

Nexus - Even More Rarely

Windows Tablet - Hardly Ever.

 

I do have a 2nd laptop, it lives behind my 4 monitors on my desk down stairs with the lid closed. It's accessed by my desktop and my couch computer via Remote Desktop, and servers as my quickbooks computer. I do the monthly updates but other than that, the computer is NEVER on the internet.

 

Once you go dual screens it's almost impossible to use anything else. Using a single screen then feels almost claustrophobic.

 

Out of the house for email and facebook I basically just use my Samsung s3.