For the nth time, they keep saying the PC is dead.

[jimbo45]

Actually, look up desktop replacement laptops, there are quite a few that are rocking full HD displays. There are others that have i7 processors that can beat down an entire segment of desktops.

You'll always be able to cram more graphic cards, HDDs, RAM, SSDs and even CPUs into a desktop.

One of my friends wants to buy a $4K gaming laptop, because he wants to edit videos (occasionally).
He says it has to be a laptop because he writes emails and surfs the Internet, when he is on the bus to (and from) work.
He is only likely to edit videos when he is sitting at home.

I said that he would be better off buying a new laptop for his mobile activities and getting a monster desktop and an extra monitor for editing pictures and video.
Even if he spent $1K on a laptop, I'm sure my other friend could build him a monstrous desktop for $3K.

I'm willing to bet that it would massacre a $4K laptop in every category (except portability).

Hi there
I doubt if a 4,000 USD laptop would even be "Luggable" never mind portable.

Actually Netbooks are just fine for on the move stuff -- they are powered enough for Office type stuff etc -- and can easily power an external LCD screen often with HDMI.

For serious work your user could easily get an absolute wow of a desktop system for well under 3K -- even including an expensive 1000 USD or more 42 inch backlit plasma / LCD monitor !!!.

Don't waste your money on a large screen laptop -- and what Bus / subway train could you sit on (in ?) with enough space for a laptop with a 17 inch screen (any smaller would be a waste of time for serious video editing or even still Quality grade photography - Photoshop ) to do video editing -- even if you are used to doing texts in these places with two thumbs on a tiny phone screen.


My main hassle with laptops is not the CPU power actually - it's usually the limited amount of RAM you can stick in them -- I use Virtual Machines a lot -- usually these don't cause a huge amount of CPU consumption but theu do need RAM -- it would be nice to be able to fit at least 8GB RAM into a typical lap top / notebook. Even the small acer netbooks have enough CPU power to run a VM concurrently with your desktop OS.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Windows Sniper]

I was thinking today about this and I came to a conclusion: desktops are obviously losing their flair. I think why is partly since gaming was one of the reasons why people bought desktops. Well, you can buy an XBOX 360 for probably more than half than what you spent on this desktop and play the latest and best games without issue.

Consoles have nipped sales of desktops some.

Also when I saw looking at my custom built case, I realized the reason why I decided to rebuild my old case. If you look at any stock, generic case from 2003 and compare it with a stock, generic case from recently you'll see it's almost the exact same. The same, mid-size metal box with a side access panel and a hard drive bay that screws out. The only difference is the stock, generic plastic face front that snaps on them. Hell, you could probably snap one off from a newer case and pop it onto an old one!

But when you look at a laptop from 2003 and compare it with one from now, the changes are huge! No longer are they 11 inch, 4:3 aspect ratio screens with resolutions less than a CRT monitor, they are 17 inch wide screens with 16:9 aspect rations with HD resolutions. No more do they have floppy drive or maybe a CD-R drive, they come with Blu-ray burners as either stock or a nice option. No more do they come with underclocked, modified pentium processors, they come now with core duo as a low end processor or maybe with a Sandy Bridge i7 with turbo boost.

Simply put, desktop manufacturers haven't made desktops something to be proud of. They come designed like it's a yearly update to put a new color on the same generic face front as last year's. They all look the same, but have different names affixed to them. There hasn't been a desktop from what I've seen has been designed not over the top like Alienware, nor under-designed like gateways.

Gee, I rebuilt my dell case simply because the case hinges open and not some a-hole access panel that is a bee sting to work in...

You Obviously Haven't Heard that the new Windows 8 Software is set to be able to Use and Read Xbox Discs.

What do you think that is going to do to Gaming.

Also what about this Cloud Service (Gaming On Demand) Where they Stream the Games to Your PC? If there is no Network YOu Cant Play At All...

 

[lehnerus2000]

I wouldn't risk using a $4K laptop on Public transport

Don't waste your money on a large screen laptop -- and what Bus / subway train could you sit on (in ?) with enough space for a laptop with a 17 inch screen (any smaller would be a waste of time for serious video editing or even still Quality grade photography - Photoshop ) to do video editing -- even if you are used to doing texts in these places with two thumbs on a tiny phone screen.

Only buses and normal trains in Adelaide.

Actually some women broke the screen on his current laptop recently.
The bus stopped suddenly, she fell forward and forced it up against the corner of the seat in front of him.

He replaced it himself.
I think he said it cost $140 for a replacement screen.

My main hassle with laptops is not the CPU power actually - it's usually the limited amount of RAM you can stick in them -- I use Virtual Machines a lot -- usually these don't cause a huge amount of CPU consumption but theu do need RAM -- it would be nice to be able to fit at least 8GB RAM into a typical lap top / notebook.

The more expensive laptops seem to come with 8 GB here in Australia.

I couldn't afford to get 8 GB when I replaced my motherboard; so I had to settle for 4 GB.
I can only really run one VM at a time now.
I have quite a few setup for my personal use and my Networking course (W2K8, Windows 7 32 bit, XP, Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint).

How would I do that in the "Cloud"?
How much would it cost me?

 

[jp07764]

I was in best buy a few weeks ago.
I noticed that all the PCs are moved
out of view and they only have 5 on display.
The rest is laptops and tablets.
The PC will be dead if stores do not want to sell them any more.
Even online there are not many to choose from.

Just my 2 cents.
Jimmy

 

[HammerHead]

Not to Worry

I would compare the statement "The desktop is dead" to electric cars, ethanol fuel amd three D movies. It ain't gonna' happen. Further more cloud computing wil be limited to those who are computer illiterate.

I can always claim I was taken out of context.

 

[Boastree]

As someone that knows something of computers I would not be caught dead in a Best Buy store.

 

[digitalrurouni]

There are many people that no diddly squat about computers. And Best Buy caters to them and their level of knowledge. I don't remember the last time I bought a desktop because I always build them on my own. To me a desktop is never going to die because I don't trust the cloud and I love having all the horsepower in the world. I do my development work on my pc, and I do my gaming on my pc as well. It is interesting though because in the gaming industry all of a sudden it looks like PC gaming is picking back up. Case in point is John Carmack being quoted as saying it was a mistake to develop Rage for the consoles first and then on the PC. And look at Battlefield 3 and also take a look at Witcher 2. PC versions came out first and then whatever they cannot make work on a console they will take out. I am sure that is going to make the next generation consoles quite interesting because of the HUGE gap between a PC and a console. Anyway where was I...PCs are not dead.

 

[jimbo45]

There are many people that no diddly squat about computers. And Best Buy caters to them and their level of knowledge. I don't remember the last time I bought a desktop because I always build them on my own. To me a desktop is never going to die because I don't trust the cloud and I love having all the horsepower in the world. I do my development work on my pc, and I do my gaming on my pc as well. It is interesting though because in the gaming industry all of a sudden it looks like PC gaming is picking back up. Case in point is John Carmack being quoted as saying it was a mistake to develop Rage for the consoles first and then on the PC. And look at Battlefield 3 and also take a look at Witcher 2. PC versions came out first and then whatever they cannot make work on a console they will take out. I am sure that is going to make the next generation consoles quite interesting because of the HUGE gap between a PC and a console. Anyway where was I...PCs are not dead.

Hi there
perhaps we should change the name of the thread to CONSOLES are dead.

Newer PC's not only need decent horse power to run the games but more importantly for realistic effects they need LARGE HIGH QUALITY SCREENS which means higher power high quality graphics / GPU's as well.

Anybody who'se messed about with these know how hot they can become --fitting them into a console is not even a close possibility.

Even an XBOX is almost morphing into a PC.

Don't forget also the next (but one) generation will want Virtual Reality or even better holographic systems for the ultimate experience -- this will need even by todays standards an exponential increase in compute power -- no console will ever do this unless you can store huge amounts of power into a small device for holographic projection.

I think 3-D itself is only a transient phase to VR / Holographic systems.

The actual 3-D experience is really disappointing anyway --especially with those stupid glasses -- it's an orphan technology that won't go anywhere sensible.

You can end up feeling let down and a little bit seasick -- and what they are showing in 3-d is totally junk anyway. Some sport works a bit but you tend to miss the overall perspective of the game as the view is too narrow at times.

(Slightly OT but sooner or later the question of 3-D on computers / games will rear its head).

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Bertison]

Is it not a case of "Horses for courses", as we say in the UK?

There are as many different applications and uses for computing, as there are individuals using them. Personally, my own needs are as uncomplicated as the way I have learned computing. I am not a gamer (but I understand and appreciate that millions are). As a Senior who came late to computing, I often struggle with the latest technology, but I have a PC genius of a grandson who tries hard to reach my few working brain cells. As a result, I have recently set up my own laptop - PC network in Windows 7. Many of you will not understand, some may scoff, at my pride in doing this. Think for a while, those of you who grew up with a PC at your elbow. I grew up a poor in a house which was the last in my village to have a TV. I am now 66 and I did not use a PC until well into my 50's. My point? -

- There are many uses for computing. Don't denigrate every advance in technology. Just because you have no use for it, does not mean that it will find a niche, somewhere. If it doesn't, it joins the Apple Newton and other "White Elephants" left behind.

 

[Coke Robot]

Yep, 3D is nothing more than the bridging technology to true 3D, holographic imagery.

 

[Stratos]

My main hassle with laptops is not the CPU power actually - it's usually the limited amount of RAM you can stick in them -- I use Virtual Machines a lot -- usually these don't cause a huge amount of CPU consumption but theu do need RAM -- it would be nice to be able to fit at least 8GB RAM into a typical lap top / notebook. Even the small acer netbooks have enough CPU power to run a VM concurrently with your desktop OS.

Cheers
jimbo

HP's Elitebook line of notebooks can take up to 4 times that amount if you really want to. You could load up 5 copies of Win7 x64 in sep VM's just so you can show people that you can, lol.

 

[jr26]

As someone that knows something of computers I would not be caught dead in a Best Buy store.

Best Buy is an absolute rip off and I almost feel bad for people who purchase anything from there (especially computer hardware). The marked up prices can get pretty bad as i've seen graphic cards before almost $100 more than newegg. You also need to watch their online prices vs the store. The last time I bought a HD I had to have it that day and couldn't wait for shipping. So I went to the store and low and behold the HD I picked from their online selection was $30 more at the store(no advertised sales). I was able to get it @ online advertised price after they looked it up themselves but that's really not acceptable. Who knows how many people got ripped off on that deal. I strongly advise to do your research and shop around before stepping foot in that store. Its not a place for impulse buyers as you may get burned.

 

[Coke Robot]

As someone that knows something of computers I would not be caught dead in a Best Buy store.

Best Buy is an absolute rip off and I almost feel bad for people who purchase anything from there (especially computer hardware). The marked up prices can get pretty bad as i've seen graphic cards before almost $100 more than newegg. You also need to watch their online prices vs the store. The last time I bought a HD I had to have it that day and couldn't wait for shipping. So I went to the store and low and behold the HD I picked from their online selection was $30 more at the store(no advertised sales). I was able to get it @ online advertised price after they looked it up themselves but that's really not acceptable. Who knows how many people got ripped off on that deal. I strongly advise to do your research and shop around before stepping foot in that store. Its not a place for impulse buyers as you may get burned.

OH! Don't even get me started with best buy! That's one of very few things on this earth that can get me into a rage!! Not mad, but full on fury that churns inside you!!

 

[marsmimar]

For those who thumb their noses at the big box stores like Best Buy, they serve a useful purpose. Some folks may not want to wait 3-4 days (or longer) for delivery from one of the established on-line stores. Or the added shipping/handling fees negates any savings. Others may like the idea of seeing/touching something before buying and think the extra cost is worth it. The next time you find yourself with a project that needs to be finished by tomorrow (homework, business, etc.) and your computer borks, you'll be glad there was a Best Buy in your neighborhood.

:focus:

:ar:As far as the PC being dead, the one thing most people fail to mention is the onerous caps ISPs are imposing on people for bandwidth usage. Even if a smart phone or tablet could (conveniently) make that new spreadsheet or move those 50 stored jpegs to another computer in time for that presentation, how many would be willing to pay Verizon, AT&T, or some other provider huge sums of money each month because they exceeded their caps? And even if people are willing to pay these huge sums, how long before the ISPs raise their fees yet again, reduce your monthly bandwidth again, or both?

 

[legacy7955]

These so called "enlightened experts" are often times nothing more than "paid marketing pundits" that have a stake in communicating a message to help increase the sales of other software or hardware.

I'm sick of hearing CNBC having their interested parties telling me that "the cloud is the future" considering the SERIOUS security issues of having my data on some virtual server out there, and the possible cost of utilizing it to a large degree, I seriously doubt that the cloud will replace the current PC method for a long time....hopefully never.

I always love visiting Tom's Hardware forums because you have a pretty savvy group of users over there, not all including myself are experts or programmers writing code, BUT when you bring up the subject of "The Cloud" it instantly brings out the justified hatred of it.

I remember when CNBC was dropping hints about the next big thing in computing "TC" about four years ago, interestingly they didn't tell you exactly what it was just that it was "The Future" of the internet and personal computing.

Now I know why, if they had let the cat out of the bad at the very beginning the negative aspects would have been out there for savvy buyers and users to think about in depth, instead they strung people along with the term and only gradually went into detail.

I personally will NEVER let any of my most private info loose on a cloud platform, ever!

Death to the Cloud!

 

[mickey megabyte]

...

I personally will NEVER let any of my most private info loose on a cloud platform, ever!

Death to the Cloud!

do you use email?

if so, your 'private' messages and attachments are 'loose on a cloud'...

 

[Teerex]

It's not the PC that's in trouble, but the PC industry - it is eyeing Apple's revenue streams with green envy and lots o' sadness and despair, and can do nothing about it.

The PC is here to stay, and we should include the Macs in this category too - as we all like (or would like) to have a home we can call our own, we all like to have a computing home base that is totally ours and under our control & our watchful eyes.

 

[DalekOverSeer]

I was in best buy a few weeks ago.
I noticed that all the PCs are moved
out of view and they only have 5 on display.
The rest is laptops and tablets.
The PC will be dead if stores do not want to sell them any more.
Even online there are not many to choose from.

Just my 2 cents.
Jimmy

actually the article is referring to laptops as pc as well. the fools want all of us on the so far worthless pads. the main reason for repair you have to send it to the manufacture, whereas with even a laptop you can find a local shop that can fix it.

 

[legacy7955]

y[/QUOTE]

actually the article is referring to laptops as pc as well. the fools want all of us on the so far worthless pads. the main reason for repair you have to send it to the manufacture, whereas with even a laptop you can find a local shop that can fix it.[/QUOTE]



Excellent reasoning!

I totally agree.


How are you going to upgrade that stupid "pad" or tablet ? Oh, that's right you really can't, you have to go BUY a completely NEW ONE!

 

[draftsman]

It's the same old story. Keep saying it long enough and loud enough, soon a lot of people are going to believe it. Maybe even you'll convince yourself. The PC is not dead yet and not likely to be for some time to come.