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Will desktops eventually become obsolete?

By March 1, 2013December 5th, 2017No Comments

UPDATE: The verdict is in and The PC is definitely not dead.

Technology changes quickly – today’s popular devices may be obsolete in only two years. Manufacturers debut new hardware every year that threatens to replace the previous generations. Recently, it’s become apparent that the desktop PCs may eventually be replaced by mobile computing options like laptops and tablets.

According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, desktops are most popular with older users. Younger users are more likely to own laptops and are the first generation to prefer mobile options to their stationary counterparts. Some industry experts aren’t prepared to say that desktop PCs are obsolete, but that time may be coming.

Desktop PCs used to be viewed as the most functional devices, but recent technological advances have given laptops equal footing. Manufacturers can now build mobile computers with strong performance power without adding extra weight to the hardware.

Additionally, cloud services have contributed to the growing popularity of laptops. Users can store all of their content to digital lockers, which eliminates the need for sizable desktops that are capable of saving large libraries of files.

What about the business world?
Desktops are viewed as necessities by most businesses. Desktop computers usually last longer than most laptops, and companies don’t have to frequently replace vital hardware. However, the need for desktops could soon decrease as working on-the-go becomes more popular.

According to a recent report from the United States Census Bureau, 9.5 percent of the American workforce telecommutes at least once a week. Additionally, 4.3 percent of employees work remotely for the majority of the week. As communication and information technologies advance, more workers are encouraged to leave their offices behind and perform their work at home.

Laptops aren’t the only tools that allow workers to stay at home. Tablets have grown increasingly functional over the last few years, and new productivity apps have improved the mobile devices’ performance. Employees can video conference and send faxes via tablets and eliminate the need for traditional office hardware.

The customizable desktop PC
On the other hand, desktops are extremely customizable, giving users the ability to build and create exactly what they want. This is particularly popular among PC gamers who need systems that require a lot of processing and GPU power to play those graphics-intense PC games. While there are great gaming laptops out there, with desktops, gamers can select exactly what components they want and continually upgrade them to the latest and greatest on the market.

What do you think the future holds for desktop PCs? Do you think desktops will eventually become obsolete?

 

Author Newegg Staff

Newegg Insider writers and contributors from throughout the Newegg.com team.

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