By Emily
Well, is it? Tech enthusiast Allie Cooper has shared her insights in to the growing argument…
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Thirty years ago, the very idea of a portable, powerful computer that could be placed into a backpack and would weigh no more than a textbook sounded like science fiction. However, in today’s ultrabook-fuelled reality, Smartphones, tablets and notebooks are rapidly replacing our need for desktops, or at least, offering plenty of superior alternatives to accompany our at home set up. But will these devices completely kill off their more stationary forebears, or will they remain a portable secondary option?
As the world turns mobile and devices become powerful, the question whether owning a desktop would still be necessary. Currently, there are 221.5 million PC users and 120.1 million Smartphone owners. It’s now completely reasonable to see a notebook or Smartphone as your primary means of interfacing with the various services and technologies in the world around you.
There is no longer need to have something more powerful unless you’re in dire need of serious hardware for the latest software such as the powerful Microsoft Office 365. It’s an exciting time to be looking for a computer, as you’re now able to carry desktop-level power in a messenger bag.
Mobile data has been a big boost for this, as many people rely on it in order for their day to go smoothly. This doesn’t just apply to Smartphones, either - services like portable mobile hotspots allow you to take a netbook along with you anywhere and connect to the web stress-free. Given that these devices are LTE-friendly it justifies the purchase of a mobile powerhouse more than ever.
Desktops do have their uses, of course - sometimes, you’re going to need a lot of horsepower to get something done - this especially applies to software engineers and graphic designers. But previously it wasn’t possible to hit the optimum RAM and processing power on a portable device. Now, not only is it possible, it’s also extremely affordable, as the cost of RAM and other upgrades continues to drop as specs continue to soar - far past the requirements of anything most users will be doing with their computers.
Smartphones aren’t doing too badly either, with some boasting a couple gigs of RAM in 2013, which is surprisingly close to the 4GB, you’ll find on a basic laptop. Given their shorter development timeline, it’s going to be interesting to see how powerful they get over the next few years, and as screens get even bigger it’s not difficult to imagine that you may even eschew your computer in favour of a mobile device.
We’re not meant to work in just one place any more - that much is perfectly clear. Mobile data, portable computers, and of course, cloud hosting that allows you to access your files wherever you go. While all this mobile computing power may not kill off some people’s reliance on a desktop, it’s certainly meant that it’s no longer the unavoidable method of getting things done.
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