rant - Desktop is dead? baah humbug

there is an article posted over at slashdot, link:
hardware.slashdot.org...

I have seen these sorts of articles for years the "the desktop is dead" sort of article. and they drive me nuts
because of how false they are. ok, basically the gist is this:

is our computing paradigm changing? - yes, it is "the desktop" is becoming mature the hardware is, even at the low end; is pretty powerful and the software is getting better at using it. and with some stuff being offloaded to the cloud well...

but; smaller mobile devices eg tablets and phones are small, and are great for consumption of content it is also fast moving lots of new stuff happening so its interesting.

nether the smaller devices or the "desktop" is going anywhere. whats happening is the desktop is becoming a
very mature device and people are expecting it to last longer and be more stable. phones and tablets are not expected to last very long and are expected to be replaced often.....

reply to post by Ghostinshell

I predict the desktop as we know it will disappear soon. What we can expect is that the phone or device you carry in your pocket will be powerful enough to run full desktop applications so when we need to sit at a desk and work we just plug in our device to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse platform.

reply to post by Ghostinshell

I have two laptops, one desktop, and do not plan on upgrading any of them any time soon. Yes desktops are still around, however most of us are not upgrading quite as much as we used to. I use my tablet, much more than my PC or laptop now. I still use them, but not nearly as much.

As far as Gaming, I have Wii U, and PS4. PS4 is pretty powerful and will be around for a long time. I just have no desire to constantly upgrade all of the time to play games. I would rather have a console. I see a game for it and download or buy it in a store. I know it is going to work, no need to worry about minimum specs. With the new Consoles, they are going to look good enough for me for years to come.

reply to post by usertwelve


the desktop will not disapear, its just that our computing "habbits" are changing. and full desktops are now becoming mature devices.

reply to post by kurthall


precisely, desktops are now mature and people expect them to last longer.

reply to post by Ghostinshell


People have been forecasting the demise of the desktop for years and no doubt will do for years to come .
There's a reason to upgrade coming soon and that's DDR 4 ...The desktop lives

The incentive to upgrade is definitely there. Crucial lists a base memory speed of 2133MHz running at only 1.2V. The DDR4 memory will also have a smaller die which means that DDR4 can hold up to 16GB per stick over the 8GB limitation of DDR3. That translates to a 20 percent decrease in voltage, 100 percent increase in speed, and a 300 percent increase in density.
Crucial’s DDR4 Memory Out By December

reply to post by Ghostinshell


Is the desktop dead? I don't believe so.

Is the way we use computers changing. Absolutely.

The desktop market will probably shrink as things like iPads get more powerful.

On my new iPhone 5S you can get the iMovie app and edit video.

It's a brave new world.

reply to post by Ghostinshell

What is the benefit of a large bulky tower if the device in your pocket can do the same thing? Many "desktops" are even being built into the monitor now.

So, if the desktop is dead, how/where are all those nifty consumption based apps going to come from then? What everyone fails to realize is that the VAST majority of software is GENERATED by people using desktop computing platforms. This software is used in every type of platform from embedded systems, desktop, tablet, mobile, etc... But, as I said, the VAST MAJORITY is actually written, tested, and delivered on a desktop platform.

How often has anyone here done any serious enterprise-level application development purely on a mobile device? And if so, were you as productive as if you were on a desktop platform? I've heard this desktop is dead crap for over 20 years now....and guess what, desktops are STILL used to develop your mobile apps you love to use to CONSUME your fix of data.

reply to post by grey580


i am not saying that phones/tablets are not getting powerful; because they are, its really amazing what you can do on them if you put your mind to it. what i *am* saying, it that the desktop will not die as a paradigm.

the desktop will be the mature paradigm. in the old days we had like 5 desktops + a couple laptops. now its like one desktop, 2 laptops and a bunch of phones and tablets. thats what i am saying. most people will gravitate to have maybe 1 or 2 "desktops/laptops" and the rest may be phones tablets. but they will still
have a desktop when they need the larger screen more power etc.

this, this does not include the "enterprise" market at all

usertwelve
reply to post by Ghostinshell

 

I predict the desktop as we know it will disappear soon. What we can expect is that the phone or device you carry in your pocket will be powerful enough to run full desktop applications so when we need to sit at a desk and work we just plug in our device to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse platform.

I think that's the plan. Why sell to the consumer something that they can upgrade and repair and run for years on end when they can sell something that is limited, in both power and tech and dies in a year or two and HAS to be replaced.

But as long as they sell desktops or at least the parts, I'll always have one.

I believe the desktop pc (as we currently know it) will shrink but not disappear.
In the work place, desktops are king for productivity.

However I am starting to see a new trend appearing, the HP Slate 21 looks like the android operating system is branching out into the desktop arena as well as branching out into watches.
i.e. Android seems to scale well
I did do a test once and used my Galaxy SII connected to my TV via mhl cable and a bluetooth keyboard.
It worked surprisingly well.

It does make me think that in a few years time after the tablet interest has died down, people will just use their phones as a replacement to their home computers !
maybe some sort of dock at home that the phone would slot into and charge up as well as have a larger screen and all of the other bits connected.
I guess the advantage would be massive computing power on the move and at home, always turned on and accessible whenever

reply to post by TDawgRex

That would make sense if you don't own a mobile device. If you can use the device you're going to acquire anyway why pay more to upgrade a large box?

packard bell [ uk ] has just laid off 1400 workers due to lack off demand in the home pc market they made a pigs ear of trying the tablet market but look at hp/compaq with the tc range dropped and the palm pre they dropped the ball big time .

my home pc has not been off in 6 months but i rarely use it i prefer the laptop but that is getting the boot soon for a tablet but a 11 year old tc1000 with duel booting well it is good enough for sheldon

usertwelve
reply to post by TDawgRex

 

That would make sense if you don't own a mobile device. If you can use the device you're going to acquire anyway why pay more to upgrade a large box?

I think that you can have both and be perfectly happy. One of the advantages of a desktop/laptop is that you can use it as a stand alone device if need be. They're more secure that way.

I've watched people try to conduct business through their Tablets/Android/IPhones and it is pretty funny to watch. They get frustrated quickly trying to squint and see everything.

I have a desktop, laptop and phone and they all have their purposes. But if the desktop were to go extinct, I would be peeved.

geobro
packard bell [ uk ] has just laid off 1400 workers due to lack off demand in the home pc market they made a pigs ear of trying the tablet market but look at hp/compaq with the tc range dropped and the palm pre they dropped the ball big time .

my home pc has not been off in 6 months but i rarely use it i prefer the laptop but that is getting the boot soon for a tablet but a 11 year old tc1000 with duel booting well it is good enough for sheldon

Wow! I didn't even know Packard Bell still existed.

That was the brand I cut my teeth on in the computing world. But as I could afford better I moved up and on. They were a pretty crappy product.

reply to post by TDawgRex

Yes of course. That's why I mention that the device will be able to plug into a monitor/keyboard/mouse platform. Just like a base station for a laptop.

It seems most posters are referring to a large monitor as a desktop. A desktop computer is the large box that's sitting under your desk (or where ever you may have it). Large form factors (monitors) and convenient input devices (keyboards and mice) aren't going anywhere.

TDawgRex

geobro
packard bell [ uk ] has just laid off 1400 workers due to lack off demand in the home pc market they made a pigs ear of trying the tablet market but look at hp/compaq with the tc range dropped and the palm pre they dropped the ball big time .

my home pc has not been off in 6 months but i rarely use it i prefer the laptop but that is getting the boot soon for a tablet but a 11 year old tc1000 with duel booting well it is good enough for sheldon

Wow! I didn't even know Packard Bell still existed.

That was the brand I cut my teeth on in the computing world. But as I could afford better I moved up and on. They were a pretty crappy product.

my packard bell desktop cost me £40 all in upgraded ram for $15 now it runs sweet as anything and quiet love the thing and it has been on since feb runs at 10c one of my best buys

usertwelve
reply to post by TDawgRex

 

Yes of course. That's why I mention that the device will be able to plug into a monitor/keyboard/mouse platform.

But won't the device still be connected to a online provder? Will most of the apps still work if you allow the contract to expire so that it is no longer transmitting nor receiving?

And how would you transfer data from one secure (disconnected) computer/device to another? (I know that some devices do have USB ports, but not all)

I like the idea that I can disconnect and still use my desktop and no one can hack it when it's like that, I've also disabled the Bluetooth and WiFi on it as well. I only ask because I'm new to the Tablet/Smartphone era, can they do that as well? I still even have a clamshell phone that I only use as a phone.