Will The Desktop Survive Mobilegeddon?

Is the desktop still relevant in the mobile age? We think so…
In some respects the desktop PC seems as anachronistic as dial-up internet access. Those big plastic boxes take up a lot of space, with gaping port slots and flickering lights providing aesthetic throwbacks to the 1990s. The unmistakable hum of a hard drive and the whirr of a cooling fan seem equally archaic compared to the current generation of wafer-thin always-on tablet devices, and nobody would miss the spaghetti of cabling that lurks behind millions of desks across the UK.
Yet despite its old-fashioned appearance, the desktop PC remains a stalwart of our lives. Even in the age of cloud computing and 4G, sales of desktop computers have only dropped slightly in recent years, as have sales in the saturated tablet market. Back in the late ‘90s, industry observers predicted that a new generation of powerful laptops would kill off their desktop brethren, yet you don’t have to spend long in your local electrical retailer to spot rows of those ubiquitous plastic towers.
So does the humble desktop PC still have a place in the modern world? In a word, yes. And here are some of the reasons why:
Professionalism
You wouldn’t produce a PowerPoint presentation on your phone, and you wouldn’t send your children off to university armed only with an iPad.  Desktop computers are still the leading resource when it comes to producing professional content – after all, touch-screen tablets and diminutive netbooks are impractical for lengthy typing sessions. Even laptop users struggle with over-sensitive track pads and the ergonomic difficulties of finding a comfortable sitting position. Plus, despite numerous imitators, nothing has ever matched Microsoft’s iconic Office suite of PC-based programs.
Processing power
Only desktop computers have the processing power to handle the next generation of virtual reality platforms like the Oculus Rift. Only a desktop contains the graphics capabilities required to support visual effects packages like Adobe’s After Effects or Autodesk’s 3ds Max modelling software. Desktops are unique in being designed for the large screens and full-sized keyboards/mice required to undertake everything from programming to financial auditing. Even the mighty PS4 and Xbox One consoles lack enough RAM to run Skyrim or Dragon Age: Inquisition in their full glory, and neither console can output in 4K.
Expansion
Because desktop computers can be upgraded with new components and hardware, they can be updated to match changing software requirements. Sealed-unit games consoles and tablets will never be able to keep up with the ever-increasing demands of tomorrow’s software and games. However, inserting additional graphics cards or a second hard drive into your tower is no more complicated than wiring a plug. Those unattractive ports are also extremely useful for data backups and peripheral devices. Conversely, iPads don’t even have replaceable batteries or Ethernet sockets.
Docking stations
Representing something of a halfway-house between a desktop and laptop computer, a docking station resolves the manoeuvrability issues that are often levelled against desktops. The fixed-position docking stations power large monitors and the full-sized peripherals beloved of office workers and gamers around the world. Meanwhile, the processors and hardware are compacted into a laptop-sized device that can be operated independently when required. It’s debatable whether this could still be called a desktop computer, but then similar ambiguity already surrounds phablets and laptops with detachable tablet screens. Technological convergence is nothing new, and it could simply represent the desktop PC’s latest evolution.
It’s also worth noting that dwindling sales of desktop computers may be attributed to a combination of factors, such as improved reliability enabling existing machines to last for many years. It’s likely that anyone who wants a desktop already has one, and there’s been a marked slowdown in the rate of software advancement – unless you’re a hardcore gamer, your five-year old Dell should still run most modern programs. While tablets and smartphones are great for consuming content, creating anything more significant than a status update still requires a conventional computer – and preferably a desktop one.
Does the desktop still have a place in the modern world? Join the conversation @VPSNET.