Is The Desktop PC Dead?

http://lifehacker.com/5303894/is-the-desktop-pc-dead
Desktop sales fell by 23 percent last year across the computer industry. In the U.S., 80 percent of sales went to notebooks. Gizmodo declares the desktop dead, but we're wondering if you see a future for non-mobile systems.
Our gadget-focused sibling argues that a laptop can now do everything a desktop can do, only more simply, wirelessly, and with a negligible price difference. While they concede that graphics and hard drive performance, for the most part, are generally less costly across desktops, these differences are becoming less pronounced, so much so that "in virtually any scenario, a laptop is the sensible buy." We're going out on a limb and assuming that they're factoring laptop-to-bigger-monitor hook-ups in their world view.

Given how rewarding a built-from-scratch PC can be, we're curious to hear how our own—perhaps less shiny/new-obsessed—readers feel about the desktop computer. Can any application keep it a viable market force? What would it take for you to consider one over a laptop?

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Permalink Reply by BurlyLumberjack on June 29, 2009 at 11:48pm: I believe that the desktop PC is far from dead. As long as there are still PC gamers and businesses the desktop will still be around, in my opinion that is. I'm a PC gamer and prefer my desktop over my laptop. Believing that desktops would ever out sell laptops in today's culture is a joke. Laptop batteries are its weakest point, which is a very BIG weak point, they go so fast as to a desktop no need to worry about that. I know of people who always have their laptops hooked up to the charger virtually making it a desktop, still portable but not able to go without the charger. Replacing them are very expensive as well. I believe there are desktops being factory built with wi-fi, or at least in the works so that could bring new life to the desktop. After searching just now I was unable to find one with such feature, but I swear I have seen one in best buy. The only reasons I own a laptop is for school, which is probably it's biggest selling point. That is my take on this.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Matz Rios on June 30, 2009 at 1:20am: I agree with you dude,.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jorge on June 30, 2009 at 12:16am: Interesting. Yeah I still prefer my desktop too, it's more powerful, and upgradable. My laptop on the other hand, I bought in 2006, it does things pretty well, but it's only getting out dated. I bought it originally for college, but since there are labs with quality Macs and PCs at our disposal, it's unnecessary to carry something so valuable around.
IMO marketing laptops as a huge necessity for school is absurd. I was a CS major, and never even really needed it, especially since I can carry all the information I need in a flash drive, which is much cheaper, and I usually end up doing work at home anyway.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Travicemo on June 30, 2009 at 1:33am: I wouldn't say its dead but it is for sure fading. Most casual computer users prefer a notebook, I know I do. I sold my desktop and dual monitor setup a while back because it took up to much room and I like using a notebook better. But there still is a large need for desktops out there like gaming and such, so I don't think they will ever go anywhere, at least for a long time.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nathanael on June 30, 2009 at 2:18am: its not dead it will never be, but i think evetually it will be educed to a niche product. I think desktops are best suited to professionals and people with families personally. Especially people with families; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brian Buckley on June 30, 2009 at 4:38am: laptop, mac, custom; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ben Page on June 30, 2009 at 5:09am: Desktops will die eventually, but not in the near future, 20 - 30 years. And if they die in todays form, it will be because new concept will appear for the home PC (the idea of the home PC will newer die).
The other question is, where are those numbers gathered and what amount of manufactures, from where, witch dealers, OEM's were examined by this survey. Most people already bought desktop PCs or are buying desktop PC from unofficial dealers or dealers that are simply not in this research, while laptop market is more restrictive than desktop market. So it's easier to track laptop sales than >actual< desktop sale. And if I already have desktop PC, I will now buy laptop PC, and in a few years I will again buy a desktop PC and wont buy a laptop, because I already have one, so...maybe next years research will show that laptop sales are down and desktop sale is up...so will we then ask ourselves: "Are laptops dieing?"

Just a thought...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by TyphoidKitten on June 30, 2009 at 6:44am: I sure don't want to be alive if this ever happens. The day that desktop PC's die is the the day I give up on humanity as a whole.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ron Knights on June 30, 2009 at 7:08am: Notebook computers will never replace desktops in my household.

In fact, I sold my one notebook computer awhile ago because I didn't use it very often.

I have an iMac (Macintosh) desktop which is like a notebook in many ways.

You can't open the case, upgrade the hard drive, video card, etc.

It's extremely frustrating because I have all those external drives.

I have 3 PC desktops. I love them because I can open the case, install new hard drives. I can build them from scratch.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andrew Schmitt on June 30, 2009 at 8:19am: The ability to have more than one internal hard drive on a desktop is a good advantage the desktop has over the laptop. I have not seen a laptop yet with two 500GB internal hard drives, let me know if there is one, okay? because I've been looking for a new laptop.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by CK13 on June 30, 2009 at 9:44am: i doubt it will be dead, companies will still use them as far as keeping employees from taking them home and exposing confidental data. me personally while i have a laptop, any games i play are done on desktop, its just more confortable to sit at my desk and have a full keyboard and mouse (i could get a dock and use my laptop that way, but i tend to leave that on the side and keep websites open; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by LADYTECH on June 30, 2009 at 9:55am: Nope! Not dead!! What would I be able to do with a laptop? except put it on my lap and type.
What? the end of breaking it till it screams, the end to drilling holes in it, cutting it with a jigsaw or painting, buffing and sanding. NO more modding till it bleeds? !!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!; ▶ Reply to This