How will we know that Desktops are dying? What will be the signs?

[VirtualLarry]

Just curious, because I think that we're starting to see them now.

Edit: Perhaps moreso in the OEM Consumer market, than the DIY Enthusiast market, which still seems pretty healthy to me, as far as available component choices and whatnot.

 

[whm1974]

I will keep building desktops for as long as I can!!! Save Our Desktops(SOD)!!!

 

[VirtualLarry]

That's basically how I feel. I mean, the current state of standardized desktop PC parts, means that the PC(s) I build, are: 1) Customizable, 2) Upgradable (within limits), and 3) Repairable (if necessary).

Things like Tablets and Phones, are generally none of the above, although Google has or had a project where you could build your own phone, much like a Lego kit.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

It seems like desktops have been falling out of popularity for older people and for family computers for several years now. For tech oriented people, gamers, etc. I only see signs of increasing popularity.

Maybe we will see a shift in desktop focus to be more on gaming and performance as the shift in the demographic that uses them continues?

 

[ao_ika_red]

Imo, we're already in it. As notebooks become more powerful than ever (we'll see 4c8t notebook become the norm quite soon). Some DIY parts price also in high price for a while (I'm looking at you SSD and memory mfgs). Lots of old school brands also start to diversify their portofolio for "gaming and rgb" market just to survive.

 

[ao_ika_red]

Google has or had a project where you could build your own phone, much like a Lego kit

Google's simple and honest Project Ara was announced dead, unfortunately.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

Imo, we're already in it. As notebooks become more powerful than ever (we'll see 4c8t notebook become the norm quite soon). Some DIY parts price also in high price for a while (I'm looking at you SSD and memory mfgs). Lots of old school brands also start to diversify their portofolio for "gaming and rgb" market just to survive.

I guess we are already seeing the shift toward performance and gaming, as you point out.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Maybe we will see a shift in desktop focus to be more on gaming and performance as the shift in the demographic that uses them continues?

I think that we're definitely seeing that. In prior years, if Wal-Mart (to my knowledge, never) ever had a desktop PC as a "doorbuster", then it would have been a stripped-down cheap-as-possible one, like most of their laptop doorbusters over the years. But this BF, it was an HP Gaming Power PC, with an i7-7400, 8GB DDR4, 1TB HDD, and a real honest-to-goodness gaming card, a GTX1060 3GB.

So, that tells me two things: 1) That Wal-Mart recognizes that "Gaming PCs" are where the action is at, and sadly, 2) That level of PC was still not enough to garner enough interest to actually sell out on BF. (They had some of these PCs until just a few days ago, Dec. 3 at least. I bought mine Dec. 1, and they had a pallet of eight of them.

(The price was $499.00.)

 

[VirtualLarry]

For tech oriented people, gamers, etc. I only see signs of increasing popularity.

I guess the whole PCMR thing is real. Who knew?

 

[whm1974]

I think that we're definitely seeing that. In prior years, if Wal-Mart (to my knowledge, never) ever had a desktop PC as a "doorbuster", then it would have been a stripped-down cheap-as-possible one, like most of their laptop doorbusters over the years. But this BF, it was an HP Gaming Power PC, with an i7-7400, 8GB DDR4, 1TB HDD, and a real honest-to-goodness gaming card, a GTX1060 3GB.

So, that tells me two things: 1) That Wal-Mart recognizes that "Gaming PCs" are where the action is at, and sadly, 2) That level of PC was still not enough to garner enough interest to actually sell out on BF. (They had some of these PCs until just a few days ago, Dec. 3 at least. I bought mine Dec. 1, and they had a pallet of eight of them.

(The price was $499.00.)

For a prebuilt that is a good price. It's something I would push someone who is not geeky and just wants a basic gaming computer to get.

 

[VirtualLarry]

It seems like desktops have been falling out of popularity for older people and for family computers for several years now.

Either that, or they... just keep on trucking, not needing replacements, and due to stagnating hardware improvements, not needing upgrades, either.

I wonder how much of that is at play? But certainly, should the ancient desktop box kick the bucket (HDD wore out, PSU failed, CPU overheating, because PC hasn't seen any sort of maintenance for years - seen them all), it seems like today's consumers would likely replace it with an iPad of some sort, unless it was a "work from home PC", and they had to get something compatible with "the office".

 

[Burpo]

There's still a need for work stations / desktops.

 

[Torn Mind]

Laptops and phones are the products where people do their "work" . Desktops are best suited for those with stable living arrangements, space, not needing to have that computer "everywhere", and awareness of the better speed for the buck, which the "average buyer" does not have. These buyers are not very knowledgeable or lack time with regards to tinkering with computers. They need a desktop with an SSD, but desktops that come with an SSD pre-installed comes at a premium.

Ipads are no longer just toys. They are fast and powerful devices, and you can take them to a lot of places outside the house easily.

Not to mention that old refurb desktops also cannibalize new ones, since the offer just slightly less features for much less.

 

[brencat]

You know, I've been hearing about the imminent death of the desktop PC ever since I did the last few builds for our family and relatives nearly 7 years ago. And when my wife bought a 2nd gen Ipad, I actually thought then that there might be some truth to that given how convenient and useful they are.

Yet, here I am, about to assemble another high end gaming rig, possibly two, and am most surprised to see not a whole lot has changed. Well, except for the high price of DDR4 and Video Cards due to cryptocurrency mining (that one still kills me... <facepalm>). I think the enthusiast PC for gaming and certainly for coming VR is here to stay.

 

[whm1974]

You know, I've been hearing about the imminent death of the desktop PC ever since I did the last few builds for our family and relatives nearly 7 years ago. And when my wife bought a 2nd gen Ipad, I actually thought then that there might be some truth to that given how convenient and useful they are.

Yet, here I am, about to assemble another high end gaming rig, possibly two, and am most surprised to see not a whole lot has changed. Well, except for the high price of DDR4 and Video Cards due to cryptocurrency mining (that one still kills me... <facepalm>). I think the enthusiast PC for gaming and certainly for coming VR is here to stay.

Well I've been hearing about the death of the desktop since the mid 90's.

 

[Mr Evil]

Desktops won't die until portable devices have displays as good as a big monitor, input devices as good as a full-size keyboard and mouse, and performance that isn't thermal or power limited.

 

[whm1974]

Desktops won't die until portable devices have displays as good as a big monitor, input devices as good as a full-size keyboard and mouse, and performance that isn't thermal or power limited.

Which means never, or that portable devices become desktop PCs.

 

[corkyg]

And, add to that the ability for the user to build, add to, modify, component upgrades. After all, it is also a hobby as well as educational. Handheld devices may be useful to mobility, but, meh!

 

[whm1974]

And, add to that the ability for the user to build, add to, modify, component upgrades. After all, it is also a hobby as well as educational. Handheld devices may be useful to mobility, but, meh!

Long Live the the Desktop!!!

 

[JackMDS]

There are things that Die - Sony Walkman Tape base and the like as an example.

There are other things that their status changes as the World develops but they do have use and do not die.

As an Example this:

Panasonic Toughbook 19 Touchscreen PC version Notebook

Probably No one here use it because we enthusiasts do not do tend to do "rugged work" but many other do need this when they work out in the field, or do industrial work in inhospitable environment..

So Yeah, in the Future Virtual Reality and Sex Robots would be "dominating" but some people who do real work would still use Desktops.

P.S. I wonder how many of you ever see or use real Ink pen. The dominant one was Parker using Waterman ink. At its time it was sold in numbers just like Desktops few years ago.

 

[corkyg]

Good points, Jack. BTW - I still have my venerable Parker 51!

 

[whm1974]

There are things that Die - Sony Walkman Tape base and the like as an example.

P.S. I wonder how many of you ever see or use real Ink pen. The dominant one was Parker using Waterman ink. At its time it was sold in numbers just like Desktops few years ago.

Actually I do know a few people who still uses "Walkman" type players and fountain ink pens. Granted they are my age or older.

 

[TheELF]

Which means never, or that portable devices become desktop PCs.

It's the other way around,look at PCs with their turbo boosts and their speed steps and their what not's,they are getting trimmed for the mobile market that's the final goal for intel to put a full fledged desktop CPU into a "everything" (phones/fridges/tvs etc)
All we need is for the nanotube battery to become reality.

 

[TheELF]

Actually I do know a few people who still uses "Walkman" type players and fountain ink pens. Granted they are my age or older.

I went from walkman straight to smartphone...basically that's the only reason I even carry a phone around with me.

 

[whm1974]

It's the other way around,look at PCs with their turbo boosts and their speed steps and their what not's,they are getting trimmed for the mobile market that's the final goal for intel to put a full fledged desktop CPU into a "everything" (phones/fridges/tvs etc)
All we need is for the nanotube battery to become reality.

I doubt they will be successful at this. Desktop CPUs will just get more powerful at 65w. And besides why in Hell would I want a desktop CPU in my fridge or TV? I have no issues with keeping botnets off my system as it is.