Desktop PCs and the Windows desktop: Endangered species?

Layback Bear said:

If one ever did get a portable device to work as hard as one can work a desktop you would cook the portable device.
Some portable devices are better than others but none dissipate the heat anywhere close to the ability of a desktop can.

Tablets are the Bic Pen of the computing world.
When they break just throw them away and get another one.
Just because one can plug things into a portable device does not make it a Desktop. It makes it a portable device that in that condition is no longer portable.

Just about any computing device has a market. When the market is big enough their will be devices made for that market. Today fast growing market is portables. That doesn't mean when one buys a portable they run to work or home and throw away their desktop. It means that that person has chosen to use more than one type of computing device.

We get into these threads where it seem people are posting about either/or.
One can have and use what ever combination of portable and non portable devices as one cares to buy and use. Their is no either/or.

I have only desktops. Not because I have anything against portables. Portables at this time in my life are not needed or wanted. That's it.
When I want or need a portable device I will just do my homework and buy one that suites my needs and desires. If at all possible the portable device will be up gradable and repairable. It must weigh less than a 12 pack of beer.

Hi there

I've probably worked my Surface Pro 3 as hard as any device I've ever had - it's been tested as a SERVER !!, a Multi-media system, running a load of VM's for DAYS at a time, and doing a whole slew of other things too - and when I'm travelling the poor thing doesn't even get a rest as I'm watching Movies on it in "Tablet Mode". At least the other devices get switched off when I'm away.

In no way has my SP3 even looked like being "Cooked". There's a HUGE amount of mis-understanding about the "Convertible" form factor.

Most people DO NOT build their own machines -- I only have a couple of old desktops because I bought them years ago when laptops didn't have much processing ability - today I certainly wouldn't bother with one except in special circumstances -- my SP3 can drive a HUGE monitor at 4K resolution - far higher than typical laptops dishing out the ubiquitious 768 X 1366 resolution and with the docking station I can connect up several USB3 HDD's if I want. (OK I need a USB3 multi-port adaptor but no big deal).

Now where I DO need a desktop is if I need to connect say a multi monitor High res graphic card / GPU for doing my Stock trading or if I were developing games / other software requiring a Multi Monitor (more than 2) setup or wanting to connect a lot of HDD's or run commercial grade servers.

For 95% of Joe public that's way over the top. But a lot really can't manage with just a "non convertible" tablet.

Cheers
jimbo

jimjoe said:

my laptop just doesn't work well for that.

For anything that is not Facebook, you mean.
But folks are morons: new phone comes out: I NEED THAT!
It's half a computer, most use only 2% of the thing, not knowing what it can, but that's not important.
A fella here came to me, brand new top of the line phones: what he could do with incredible.
"Now, if only I could make a call with it..."
It had a micro SIM card which was not yet available where I am.
I mean, that is... ah well.

Folks do not use their brain, ANY true hardcore PC nerd well get a desktop, no system ever beats it, thusfar.
Not even close.
Want a tiny example?
64GB RAM and 16TB drives (4x4tb).
Not even close, whatever mobile system you come with.

Xogroroth said:

For anything that is not Facebook, you mean.
But folks are morons: new phone comes out: I NEED THAT!
It's half a computer, most use only 2% of the thing, not knowing what it can, but that's not important.
A fella here came to me, brand new top of the line phones: what he could do with incredible.
"Now, if only I could make a call with it..."
It had a micro SIM card which was not yet available where I am.
I mean, that is... ah well.

Folks do not use their brain, ANY true hardcore PC nerd well get a desktop, no system ever beats it, thusfar.
Not even close.
Want a tiny example?
64GB RAM and 16TB drives (4x4tb).
Not even close, whatever mobile system you come with.

. . .a little harsh. Folks are not morons just because they buy something that you do not agree with. I have three desktop computers, do I need three. . .no, albeit I have them just because they are fun to tinker with. I have a Microsoft SP3, do I need it, no, but again it is fun to tinker with, I could go on with the high end tech toys I have, however, it comes down to the only reason I have them is because I enjoy tinkering with them, hence I buy them for my enjoyment not because I am a "Moran". . .:)

You took it out of context, ma'am.
Point that I tried to make: people buy 747's where a bicycle would be just as fine.
Why a 747?
Prolly because someone has it as well, or "I have something even better (read: more expensive) than you."
See, I do not care about all that, but it screws up with the rest of us that actually think logical/practical.
I do not need a 747 for something that I can do with my bicycle.
I still have this Ericson, which performs marvelous.

But here the opposite starts to happen: I run this Rolls Royce, and the mechanic wants to turn it into a frikkin mini cooper.
I have absolutely no interest in Metro'ish garbage?
I do not want a taskbar with limitations?
Hell, I want no clutter on my desktop.

I have this 3000 euro machine, and they turn it into a "device".... (as in IPad).
No, thank you.

PS: I do not call anyone moron, but things happen that ain't normal.
A friend bought this Ferrari KNOWING he can't use it for what it's meant to be used: sportslike.
THAT is just a WASTE of good money right there.
Yes, HE is a moron (and yes he knows I call him this, I do that in his face as well.)

If you know that hardcore gamers don't really use a floptop, not to mention an IPhone for gaming, then we're still safe.
Gamers can't use but a decent platform, this being restricted to a desktop, still.
Thank God for that.

gator said:

Honestly, I don't see myself ever converting fully to laptop/tablets. I'll be that 80 year old still clinging to his desktop 50 years down the road. I don't feel like I can get anything done with a laptop or tablet.

I'll be still clinging to my Original IBM PC 5150 still running with IBM PC DOS 1.0, with Donkey coded by Bill Gates.

Desktops won't go away. There will always be a range of devices with a mix of speed and portability, and we will pick the one(s) that fit our needs. Whatever device you pick, it can run Windows 10!

But why do they turn my PC!!!! into a frikken "device"?
Why do they turn my system into a bloody cell phone?
They removed power out of the poweruser.
God.

That's another thing: for the price of a good floptop, one can buy one heck of a desktop.
Well, buy the parts, and assemble it yourself, is what I did to save out even more and turn that into even better gear. :)