Are desktop computers on their way out?

[Glyn1]

I was amazed to read in the latest edition of WHICH magazine that they now have a policy of no longer reviewing desktops and recommend that we all switch to the latest laptops. Really? I was seriously thinking of buying a new one as it would stay at home so wouldn't need to be portable.

Am I the last person happily using a desktop? And how many here have seen pieces of tech arrive and become obsolete while they were still an adult? (Cough, fax machines.)

 

[DJack]

I was amazed to read in the latest edition of WHICH magazine that they now have a policy of no longer reviewing desktops and recommend that we all switch to the latest laptops. Really? I was seriously thinking of buying a new one as it would stay at home so wouldn't need to be portable.

Am I the last person happily using a desktop? And how many here have seen pieces of tech arrive and become obsolete while they were still an adult? (Cough, fax machines.)

My current machine (a self build) is over 9 years old. I will do another build later this year... So it could just be you and I.

 

[JackSomething]

No chance desktops are on their way out. For those who know what they're doing, it makes far more sense to have a desktop and swap out components as needed. Needless to say I have a laptop as I don't know what I'm doing.

I'm guessing the amount of people building their own like DJack means there's no point Which reviewing pre built desktops. Or there are so many models on sale that it's not practical to do so.

 

[Niigata Jack]

I was amazed to read in the latest edition of WHICH magazine that they now have a policy of no longer reviewing desktops and recommend that we all switch to the latest laptops. Really? I was seriously thinking of buying a new one as it would stay at home so wouldn't need to be portable.

Am I the last person happily using a desktop? And how many here have seen pieces of tech arrive and become obsolete while they were still an adult? (Cough, fax machines.)

Its all laptops and tablets these days.

 

[jack123]

Its all laptops and tablets these days.

Personally I have gone right off Laptops, and Desktops, currently using a laptop, but I think if/when this stops working, I'd opt for a tablet instead.

Of course all depends what you need it for, but I think if it's just browsing, and general entertainment, laptop is just a bit to bulky?

These days, I prefer to use the phone for browsing, and for streaming upstairs, I would use the 10" tablet, you tube, i player, itv x, works well on it, and certainly for me a lot easier to hold.

 

[Jack2jack]

Yeah, we got rid of our desktop about 7 or 8 years ago, missus has a laptop. I did have a tablet but it died a few years back, never replaced it, I do most stuff on my phone now. Laptop for work obviously.
Are desktops for gamers predominantly?
As said laptops are pretty much throwaway if things go wrong. In fact we have just backed up all our photos about 15000 onto a SSD external HD, just in case. Probably will never go back to a desktop.

 

[Neath_Jack]

I’ve got a laptop for work but hate working on it without my office screens. It’s horses for courses, those that are always based in an office the desk top is absolutely fine. I only work from the lappy when visiting our projects, it’s closed and connected to a separate keyboard and screens when in my office.

It should be noted that you shouldn’t work from a laptop all day everyday mind. Very bad for your body.

 

[Cooperman]

We abolished desktops in work at least ten years ago. It’s laptops for users requiring mobility and thin clients for those who don’t, or in fixed locations such as meeting rooms. With the exception of niche areas such as gaming, I am surprised that desktops are even a thing.

 

[Muteswan]

My son has a gaming pc tower which we built a couple of years ago. He’s upgraded several times over the years and it gets much more expensive each time. Screen size and resolution is important for gaming, apparently. He says it wouldn’t be as enjoyable on a smaller screen, eg laptop. I use iPad and phone for what I need as I’m retired.

 

[Niigata Jack]

Personally I have gone right off Laptops, and Desktops, currently using a laptop, but I think if/when this stops working, I'd opt for a tablet instead.

Of course all depends what you need it for, but I think if it's just browsing, and general entertainment, laptop is just a bit to bulky?

These days, I prefer to use the phone for browsing, and for streaming upstairs, I would use the 10" tablet, you tube, i player, itv x, works well on it, and certainly for me a lot easier to hold.

Got a Panasonic Tablet for work and it's a piece of shit, loses signal intermittently which slows down changing screens, basically it's a pile of crap.

 

[Cooperman]

Got a Panasonic Tablet for work and it's a piece of shit, loses signal intermittently which slows down changing screens, basically it's a pile of crap.

That’s probably more to do with mast signal than the tablet.

 

[JackSomething]

We abolished desktops in work at least ten years ago. It’s laptops for users requiring mobility and thin clients for those who don’t, or in fixed locations such as meeting rooms. With the exception of niche areas such as gaming, I am surprised that desktops are even a thing.

That's a good point, desktops are definitely not a thing in most offices I go in these days and haven't been for quite some time.

Which don't review for businesses though, it's for consumers. With an estimated 1.8 billion PC gamers worldwide, I certainly wouldn't call that a niche area. A large number of those are likely happy gaming on whatever is available, but there'll also be a huge number of people like Mute's son, who'll constantly be upgrading the parts in his tower/desktop.

 

[Neath_Jack]

The DSE regulations have entered the chat.

 

[Cooperman]

That's a good point, desktops are definitely not a thing in most offices I go in these days and haven't been for quite some time.

Which don't review for businesses though, it's for consumers. With an estimated 1.8 billion PC gamers worldwide, I certainly wouldn't call that a niche area. A large number of those are likely happy gaming on whatever is available, but there'll also be a huge number of people like Mute's son, who'll constantly be upgrading the parts in his tower/desktop.

20% of world population are PC gamers? No way.

 

[JackSomething]

20% of world population are PC gamers? No way.

That's what multiple Google results estimated, no idea if that's accurate but it wouldn't surprise me.