Is The Desktop Really Dying? - Comments Page 2

I started building my own desktops 15 years ago, I'll never give up my desktop. I think that the sales of factory built PCs will decline, especially the proprietary type like Apple.The less "tech inclined" users will probably gravitate to Tablets / Laptops and smartphones, but for the millions of tinkerers who like to tweak , upgrade and overclock their PCs, the desktop is king. :)

Bob, chalk me up for the full size screen. I'm sure tablet/phone-size devices are permanent and will serve society well going forward, but quite frankly, my iPhone just doesn't cut it for Internet use. Peering into small screens with micro-sized paragraphs becomes tedious and insufferable. I consider it a small victory if I tap a link successfully!

One day, younger smart phone users will realize this. News Flash: But for those who must have Internet in their back pocket, there is a market for "1/2" smart phones, built to accommodate unlimited Text and Talk only. No Internet. Save me the cost. I'll use my desktop or laptop for that.

I am 67 and own a desktop, a laptop, a cellphone, and a tablet. The desktop has required files, an ergonomic keyboard, powerful audio. The rest don't. I enjoy reading on the tablet or laptop in the sofa or in bed, but for real work none replace the desktop, with its huge screen. The laptop (an Asus) is particularly irritating with its annoying pointer device. I could hook up a mouse but then I'd not be lounging on the sofa as I'd need a ... desktop to use the mouse! The tablet is a toy. These products were invented to get non-technical people to buy an electronic device. They are toys, meant for the gullible who don't know how to do 'real work' on a computer. Texting your friends is not real work. Answering the phone used to be done by secretaries. Now they found a way for every dweeb to be his own secretary. I still edit books, do professional level genealogy, maintain a large library of ebooks, etc, so I need a desktop.

Full size PC. On about my 10th one in 30 yrs. Have a laptop for travel. Have a pad for card games. Have a $10 clam shell phone for, what else, talking. Early on I built my on PC or bought "mamasans" out of Computer Magazine when there were hundreds of dirt-cheap sellers . . . but NO support. The last four were from Dell and I can't sing their praise enough for support.

I'm 76 and like the large screen and keyboard of the Desktop, not to mention that the large desktops run cooler and thus last longer and you can easily get into them and change things.

Why would anyone believe desktop computers would be "dying?" They are the workhorses that can be built upon to accommodate all our needs. Laptops "stand in" for desktops when we travel. Cell phones and tablets keep us going until we can get to our desktop. The desktop is irreplaceable. It's like claiming full-sized heavy-duty trucks are being replaced by motor bikes and bicycles. It would be a good thing if the pundits came down from their ivory towers and talked to real computer users. Perhaps then they could pontificate with a bit of common sense.

Desktop is the only way to go, for serious computing!

For those of us, who LOVE to built computers - It is Desktops and nothing else. Desktops are flexible and upgradeable. No, they are not portable, but, that is the beauty of the Desktop. It is true, spill something on your keyboard and you only have to replace the keyboard, if, it isn't spill proof. Plus, keyboards are a LOT cheaper, than Laptops. LOL

I hate the flatness of the keyboard on a Laptop. It just doesn't feel right, after typing for over 60 years, starting with an old manual typewriter. It did take a little while, to get use to the "feel" of a keyboard, but now, I could not use anything else.

Desktops have great flexiblity, when it comes to upgrading. You can replace, just about everything on a Desktop, even when the Motherboard or CPU dies, they can be replaced and upgraded.

I still LOVE building Desktops and always will. :)

Hi Bob I knew this would happen.

I am from the '70s and used to lugging large computing devices around. I take my desktop everywhere I go. I use Skype to communicate over WIFI at StarBucks and McDonalds; they don't seem to mind me plugging in my 27" monitor and desktop, but I do have problems keeping everything on those small tables they have. Smart phones, who needs them when you can have your desktop in the passenger seat hooked up to an DC/AC inverter via car battery, but again the 27" monitor gets in the way of the windshield. When I get home I used the dolly I have stashed in the trunk of the car to haul it into the house and any other place I want to go.... of course I am only kidding and just wanted to point out that every device has its usefulness and place where it belongs.

@CWynnJones CPU clock speeds and why it is less importamt than we think:
http://www.howtogeek.com/177790/why-you-cant-use-cpu-clock-speed-to-compare-computer-performance/

I don't see desktops dying soon. There is still a need for them. I have a desktop, a laptop and a smartphone. I prefer using the desktop the majority of the time.

I have an iPad, iPhone, a laptop (2 actually, don't ask) and a desktop PC. If I want to be productive (video editing)I use the desktop machine. If I want to play games it might be on the iPad, and if I'm reading email a laptop is fine for that. The iPhone is fine for telephone calls or the occasional text from the wife reminding me to bring home a jug of milk. An i7 CPU in a desktop PC beats anything else out there hands down.

I went to a Laptop a few years ago, my current Laptop has a top I7 CPU. PC Pitstop tests gives it a top 1% rating of all that they test.

Connected to it are a wireless Keyboard, Mouse, Epson WF-7529 Printer/Scanner/Fax & a V370 Scanner and also connected by cord to a 27" Monitor & 2-external Hard Drives. Completely loaded with ACAD 2014 & several other Cad programs as well as all the Office, Graphic, Photo, Video stuff.

I can take this on the road, but I prefer to use one of my older Laptops along with an external drive which has all of my files & programs for work & play that I would need.

I prefer Program over Apps & Directory over Folder & MSDOS 6.1 wwith Xtree Gold over Windows and I don't use my PCs for games. Work & Digitizing my photos & documents are my main PC use. Just call me old fashioned.

Hi Bob, I am using a laptop now here but do have several desktops love them will have one as long as can get parts as I have build all of mine also have several laptops and one tablet which I don't really care about, to me desktops will be around forever and I am 67

I use my desk top (custom built Asus) and my Dell lap top, but that lap top has the largest screen possible, far larger than those 10" screens mentioned. For that I find the lap top very useful. Its keyboard includes a numeric keypad, which I use often. I can see where the shrinking screens of other portable computers might lose popularity. The iPad has a camera, so if one did not otherwise have a camera, that makes it useful. I would not give up my desk top computer, for its excellent screen, huge capacity, and where I connect everything else.

I am new the smart phone, still learning for what it is most useful. Texts are the main thing so far, which my siblings like to do, so it puts me in the loop. They can all send e-mails too, but like the texts when we are heading to a family gathering, meaning multiple generations of family and often changing plans. And for the real work I do, like family history, spreadsheets, documents and the like.

This was very interesting to read, satisfaction with the devices compared to other devices, and over time.

Desk top for me too. Been using typewriters 50 yrs too plus through all accounting from manual book keeping - hollerith- Computers. Now semi-retired but wont part with my pc at home. We do have a lap top for Netflex to chrome cast turning 5 yr old TV to smart for movies but its too slow boot- thinking of getting keyboard for it - same I guess works for a tablet. Use old style flip mobile just for emergencies on the road no phone boxes these days.Or landline to it when out. And still telephone bank.Sticking to W 7 too went to W10 on laptop - slowed it even more 2nd hand no disc so keep it as forgot to note licence. Business still on XP or only now going over to W7. I think most of us will stick with PCs for home and gaming. Work can get by with docking etc but our lot at work still want to keep their pcs.

I like my iPad for reading email and browsing the web, I use a desktop for anything that requires much typing. My iPhone (yes, I like Apple products) I use for phone calls and wasting a few minutes time when I'm waiting for someone.
I have no use for a laptop, my desktop is all I need at home and if I'm on the road my iPad with a Bluetooth keyboard is all I need.
I prefer the larger screen of a tablet over my phone for doing most things, including playing games. I'm might not be part of the majority, but I'm fine with that.

Give it about 80+ years and it might. Providing that the bugs in voice activation and voice commands are sorted out it might be sooner. However I doubt that the Desktop will ever Die and think it will be around for another 80 years. One reason is that the User believes to be in control when using a Desktop !!!

And then we get the "Weisenheimers" who are always smart after the event. ☺

At age 85, even after cataract correction my sight is less than perfect, so big clear screens matter. I have a 22" monitor I was using for my desktop until obsolescence made it a pain to use. Now I use my Win7 laptop with 17" screen and find it adequate, though I know I can use it with my monitor too. When technical entropy claims Win7, if I'm still around I will likely go to Linux.
I may yet get a tablet for waiting times in the hospital, to which seniors are susceptible, and where theft is always a problem as in all public places. But a simple cellphone still is all I need for emergency calling and basic utility.

I do a lot of photo editing so a desktop computer is ideal. I have a tablet for travelling that enables access to cloud computing, but is used mainly for journey planning and email. And a desktop with mouse and keyboard is much more efficient. You don't have to hold on to the device to tap one-handed like you do with phones and tablets. Like printed books, I can't imagine living without my desktop computer. Thanks, Bob, for keeping us aware of the environment we live and work in.