| Since 2005, the sales of laptops have displaced | | | | advanced desktop. For the average user using |
| those of desktop PCs in the United States. | | | | office and going online the desktop have no |
| Due a constant drop in price rapid technical | | | | specific advantages |
| improvements and the swift evolution and | | | | WiFi/Portability: The explosion of wifi spots is a |
| extension of the WAN technology, notebooks are | | | | decisive factor that explains the migration to |
| destined to replace desktops in most areas both | | | | laptops. Years ago, laptops where generally used |
| professionally and at home. | | | | because you could take them with you when |
| Laptops will account for more than half of the | | | | traveling, nowadays in many areas you can work |
| worldwide PC shipments by 2011, according to a | | | | while traveling (airports, trains, restaurants, coffee |
| new report by IDC. | | | | shops...) are among the location where you can |
| According to the Gartner Group, worldwide some | | | | actually go online at a very comfortable speed. |
| 257.1 million PCs will ship this year, and 60 percent | | | | You can even use such tool as Skype with a |
| of them will be desktops. PC growth for 2007 | | | | wireless laptop and have video conference |
| should be around 7% while laptops will grow by | | | | anywhere you have WiFi access. |
| 18.6% and will continue to maintain a double digit | | | | In addition, laptops are continually getting lighter |
| growth at least until 2010. Desktop sales are still | | | | and screen sizes bigger. Most new laptops come |
| strong in the EMEA and Latin America with about | | | | with 17 inch screens and weigh under 7 pounds. |
| 60% of all shipments. | | | | Those with 15 inch monitors generally weigh under |
| In more mature markets notebooks have taken | | | | 5 pounds. You can buy them new starting below |
| over and continue to grow at a much faster | | | | $400... |
| pace. This would hardly shocking news. | | | | The desktop will not go away anytime soon, they |
| Notebooks take up much less space than | | | | will slowly evolve in a different market demand |
| desktops, they're portable, and given their | | | | such as Media PC environment (TV tuner, DVR, |
| relatively low cost compared to a few years ago, | | | | radio, music) for the home or used as back up |
| you can just buy a new one when you decide | | | | device for your laptop. Chances are that when it |
| you want to upgrade. | | | | is time to replace your DVD player you will may |
| Specific reasons of the evolution from desktop to | | | | buy a PC and you will also get use to download |
| laptop: | | | | TV shows on your computer and watch them on |
| Price: While laptops are still more expensive than | | | | your TV. |
| desktops for the same power/capacity, the gap | | | | What's next for laptops? |
| is constantly narrowing. In 2000 you could expect | | | | - On one hand they will continue to improve in the |
| to pay almost double for a laptop comparable to | | | | traditional "way" catching up with the desktops in |
| average desktop priced around $1,000. In 2007, | | | | term of power and capacity and slowly replacing |
| you can expect a $300 to $500 difference | | | | desktop for most needs. |
| depending on brands. | | | | - Another aspect is the extra portability evolution |
| Power: The same applies here. Even in the early | | | | already underway with mini laptops, palmtops, |
| 2000s, any heavy database user or serious | | | | tablet PCs and touch screen laptops. Combining |
| gamer would not hesitate one second in between | | | | extreme portability and WiFi, these mini laptops |
| a desktop or a laptop. While there is still an | | | | will replace gradually paper and pads, order sheets, |
| advantage for desktop, this barrier has come | | | | notebooks and others... As you write or type any |
| down drastically; in fact many IT departments | | | | information on your mini laptop (orders, notes, |
| have migrated to laptops and only the most | | | | drawings, questionnaires....) you have the ability to |
| serious queries are run on servers. The same | | | | immediately save, sync or communicate the |
| applies to gamers where only the most | | | | results. |
| demanding games need to be run on the most | | | | |