The Desktop Strikes Back: Tablets Fall as PCs Make a Comeback

The post-PC era, that’s what we’re living in, a mobile-first world where everything is done on smartphones and tablets while desktops and laptops gather dust in the corner. Pretty much every tech pundit (including ourselves) had read the eulogy for PCs with the full expectation that they would continue to die out. But like the old guy in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, desktops aren’t dead yet. In fact, they’re looking better than they have in years.

At the recent Consumer Electronics Show, we saw a number of cool and innovative new desktops and laptops. These new entrants, unlike the updates of yore which mainly touted faster processors, showcased great displays, powerful use of touch and improved interfaces. And people and businesses are buying in, with PC sales growing (albeit by just 1%) for the first time in years. At the same time, the sales and popularity of tablets has been pretty static

How were so many of us wrong about the death of desktops? Well, given the rise in both the power and popularity of mobile devices, it was easy to get caught up in the hype that they could do anything. And it seemed to make sense that tablets would eat away at the PC market.

However, we all forgot one really important thing about computing. When we talk about these devices, often we say things like “they’re extensions of the person”, “it’s a lifestyle manager”, “your portal to all your social connections”.

But in the end, PCs, tablets and smartphones are really just one thing, tools. And any craftsman will tell you that it’s vital to have the right tool for the right job.

For example, a Swiss army knife is a wonderful thing, making it possible to do all kinds of repairs and work while out on the go. But no one expects them to replace dedicated screwdrivers and saws.

Computing devices are the same way. Smartphones are great for staying connected while out and about in your daily life, tablets are ideal for tasks as varied as inventory on shop floors and looking stuff up on IMDB while watching movies on your couch. But there are a number of tasks that they just aren’t the right tool for.

A student writing a long paper, a graphic artist building a complex piece, a marketer checking out their latest glossy piece of content. All of these things are easier, faster and more pleasant to do on a PC.

Will desktops and laptops bounce back to regain primacy from mobile devices? Probably not, but not being tops is very different from being dead. Many of us will regularly turn to the computing device that works best in the situation we are in at the time and for the job we need to do at that moment. And right now, there is no one device that is ideal for all tasks.

It looks like we’ll need to postpone the post-PC era. It will probably come some day, along with the post-smartphone era as well. But to paraphrase Mark Twain, claims of the PC’s death have been greatly exaggerated.

For more on this topic, read the Aberdeen report Apple Impacts Future of Mobile with iPhone 6 and Apple Watch

The Desktop Strikes Back: Tablets Fall as PCs Make a Comeback