Comments on: Why on Earth Would You Still Buy a Desktop?

By: Avram Piltch

Avram Piltch — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 22:22:53 +0000

I agree that desktops will never go away completely, but they will go niche to the point where they won’t be as easy to purchase and they may actually end up costing more than laptops.

As I said in the post, there are at least three primary types of user who will continue to need desktops for a while: power users, hobbyists, and gamers. Perhaps we can add certain institutions to that list, but even there, desktops will become more laptop-like.

The problem is that most home users – Bob and Betty Best Buy if you will – don’t repair or upgrade their own computers (perhaps a RAM upgrade for the more intrepid or a hard drive swap for the bravest). They also don’t do the kind of computing that requires or benefits from high-end processors or graphics.

Please don’t get me wrong. I’m one of the hobbyists who builds his own desktops and wouldn’t have it any other way. But I also know where I see the marketplace going and that people like me are a niche market.

By: RR

RR — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:39:24 +0000

Maybe y’all don’t realize, but the largest component of PC’s is the screen… whereas the rest of the “desktop” is simply going to disappear, miniaturized into the back of the screen… which leaves just keyboard/mouse. Put a hinge in there and it’s a laptop. So… desktops are already shrinking into the screen… into just big touchscreen pedestal ‘laptops’. They -are- disappearing. Laptops just have a hinge to fold them smaller.

By: mb67

mb67 — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:08:33 +0000

As a user of both desktops and laptops, I have to say that desktops will never go away. There will always be a need for desktops- Schools, hospitals, Gov’t/Dept of Defense all use desktops as they are less likely to be stolen, etc.

By: Taliosfalcon

Taliosfalcon — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:35:17 +0000

A few of the points seem deeply flawed..My desktop has 3+ terabytes of internal storage space, its tough to fit that in a laptop..and on the power front good GPU’s still take up too much space, and generate way too much heat to fit in a sub 15 pound laptop..let alone one you’d actually be comfortable carrying around.It’s not “a little more power” as the article stated, mobile GPUs still aren’t anywhere close to desktops.

By: Reggjoo

Reggjoo — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 05:37:01 +0000

Desktops will never go away, but people who aren’t “into” the real computing scene, will pick a laptop
over a desktop, because it’s portable, and easy to setup(push the power button). What will happen in the future, is laptops and desktops will be diminished by the onslaught of the lowly cellphone. Both formfactors will be around for many years to come, but cells will replace both.

By: Elaine Williamson

Elaine Williamson — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 22:37:11 +0000

I’ve been into digital photography since the first days, starting with the old Corel Photo Paint and now on Adobe PS4. I went “laptop only” 4 years ago and haven’t looked back. I purchased a big laptop because I felt it would be easier to set up (oh yeah! – plug and play, baby) and frankly, if it needed to have some work done, it would be easier to take to the shop.
I’ve done lots of photo editing on it, and been quite happy with performance. The only addition I would make (some day) is a large viewing screen so that I can calibrate said screen for my “fine art images”. Otherwise, it’s a terrific platform.
When I advise my friends on what computer to buy, I say “Laptop! It’s plug and play, baby.” Sometimes they listen to me. Other times, they call me whining because they can’t connect all the pieces and they’re having problems. I tell them – TOO BAD! SHOULDA LISTENED TO ME!
Tough love.

By: Les Moss

Les Moss — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:20:33 +0000

I need to drive a 30 inch display (2560×1600). I’ll buy a laptop when it has dual link DVI output.

What will die are the big desktops. I don’t know why so many still buy them. Things like the Mac Mini will stay around a long time. I don’t understand why Dell/HP don’t make a macine in that class.

By: ikkefc3

ikkefc3 — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:58:07 +0000

Reasons why you shloudn’ t buy a laptop:
- Laptops break down all the time and you’re screwed if a) you have an Acer laptop b) it’s outsite the warranty period
- Peformance is worse
- Replacement parts are expensive
- Screens are small (Laptop VGA chipsets are too slow for an external monitor –> Intel or Via/S3)
- Graphics chipsets (ATi Radeon HD 3200 easily beats a Via/S3 Unichrome or Intel X3100)
- Noise
- Keyboards (if you don’t like the keyboard on your laptop, you’re screwed)
- Only room for one harddrive
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