Do you remember going to a video store and renting a VCR and a movie or two? Soon VCR's were common and everyone had one. Do you remember going with your friends and their parents to rent movies on a Friday night. It wasn't long after that when everyone just started buying the movies so that they could watch them anytime.
Once everyone started to buy the movies instead of renting them, it started to look like mini movie rental places in every home. By the time that you thought that your collection of movies was getting complete, along came the newest and greatest in home movies, the DVD. VHS tapes became a thing of the past. Everyone was now buying DVD's and DVD players. Trying to find a new VCR is a near impossible achievement today. Now, DVD's are no longer on the cutting edge. The newest thing in home movies is this thing called a Blu-ray disks. They may very well begin replacing all of the DVD's on the shelf.
The question is will desktop computers become obsolete? Will there a come a day when are laptops and phones will be all that we need? Our society likes to have access to all of their files, no matter where they are at. The desktop computer is just that, a desktop computer. It does not travel with us and so the files on that computer are not accessible when we leave our desk.
This question about desktop computers becoming obsolete is an interesting one because more and more our society is becoming obsessed with staying connected to the internet 24/7 365. There are constantly new ways being developed to accommodate that obsession. This does not necessarily guarantee that the desktop will become a thing of the ancient past, but let me pose this question: Do you remember 3x5 floppy disks? Do you have any now that you cannot access because no computer you have access to has a floppy disk reader in it?
So, it seems obvious why the desktop could be in danger of becoming obsolete, but what are some reason why that might not happen? One hint that I would look to is the manufacturers of desktop computers. They continue to improve them and produce them. If they saw desktop computer sales dropping through the basement, they would not continue down that path.
Another, less scientific reason, why desktop computers may not be leaving anytime soon is the instinctive desire we have to have a "home base". We are creatures of habit and do not always let go of thinks easily. Even if we are going to use a desktop for just a couple of minutes a day, we tend to stick to what we know. Also, there are enough people that just despise using a laptop for the bulk of their work and prefer to only use a laptop when it is necessary.
On the other hand, we are society that craves connection. We want to know what is happening instantly. We like that we have the freedom to take our work with us wherever we go. It gives us flexibility and a reward to be able to work from anywhere that we can find a wireless connection to the internet. Employers like idea of a laptop too, because they like to stay connected to their employees while they are gone. It is like the security blanket that just cannot be let go of.
Certainly desktop computers will always be a part of the main hubs of networks, but as a single user interface only, only time will tell if they stick around or if they eventually fade off into the sunset, like the VCR's of old.
Once everyone started to buy the movies instead of renting them, it started to look like mini movie rental places in every home. By the time that you thought that your collection of movies was getting complete, along came the newest and greatest in home movies, the DVD. VHS tapes became a thing of the past. Everyone was now buying DVD's and DVD players. Trying to find a new VCR is a near impossible achievement today. Now, DVD's are no longer on the cutting edge. The newest thing in home movies is this thing called a Blu-ray disks. They may very well begin replacing all of the DVD's on the shelf.
The question is will desktop computers become obsolete? Will there a come a day when are laptops and phones will be all that we need? Our society likes to have access to all of their files, no matter where they are at. The desktop computer is just that, a desktop computer. It does not travel with us and so the files on that computer are not accessible when we leave our desk.
This question about desktop computers becoming obsolete is an interesting one because more and more our society is becoming obsessed with staying connected to the internet 24/7 365. There are constantly new ways being developed to accommodate that obsession. This does not necessarily guarantee that the desktop will become a thing of the ancient past, but let me pose this question: Do you remember 3x5 floppy disks? Do you have any now that you cannot access because no computer you have access to has a floppy disk reader in it?
So, it seems obvious why the desktop could be in danger of becoming obsolete, but what are some reason why that might not happen? One hint that I would look to is the manufacturers of desktop computers. They continue to improve them and produce them. If they saw desktop computer sales dropping through the basement, they would not continue down that path.
Another, less scientific reason, why desktop computers may not be leaving anytime soon is the instinctive desire we have to have a "home base". We are creatures of habit and do not always let go of thinks easily. Even if we are going to use a desktop for just a couple of minutes a day, we tend to stick to what we know. Also, there are enough people that just despise using a laptop for the bulk of their work and prefer to only use a laptop when it is necessary.
On the other hand, we are society that craves connection. We want to know what is happening instantly. We like that we have the freedom to take our work with us wherever we go. It gives us flexibility and a reward to be able to work from anywhere that we can find a wireless connection to the internet. Employers like idea of a laptop too, because they like to stay connected to their employees while they are gone. It is like the security blanket that just cannot be let go of.
Certainly desktop computers will always be a part of the main hubs of networks, but as a single user interface only, only time will tell if they stick around or if they eventually fade off into the sunset, like the VCR's of old.
About the Author:
This question about the future of desktop computers and whether or not they will be completely replaced by the laptop is one that computer makers are asking. It is important that business managers ask themselves this question as well so that they can make wise investments moving into the future.
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