Posted on 3rd Sep 2011 @ 6:39 PM

It seems like every year, when the latest and greatest portable computing device comes out, techie types begin writing the obituary for the traditional desktop computer. So why do you still see numerous desktop computing options at your local electronics store? It's simple: people still prefer their PCs (or Macs) over laptop or tablet computers.

Here are six reasons why the personal computer is here to stay.

1. It has a better keyboard. Have you ever tried typing more than a dozen words at a time using a touchscreen keypad on a tablet? It gets really uncomfortable really quickly. And typing a document on a laptop becomes cumbersome if you're using that teeny little touchpad to move the cursor. So until voice-activated typing becomes commonplace, there will still be applications which require efficient, speedy typing - and the desktop PC has a distinct advantage in that department.
   
   
2. It has a bigger screen. Tablets and laptops are made to be nice and compact so they can fit in a bag or briefcase. The trouble is, the screen has to be made small in order for the computer to remain compact. That means a screen size of no bigger than 17 inches. But most desktop computers have monitors which range from 21 to 30 inches in size. And people like big, clear screens that they never have to squint to read.
   
   
3. It probably won't get mishandled. You might move your desktop PC once or twice a year to clean around it or mess with the cables. But you're likely to carry around a tablet or laptop computer daily (or at least a few times a week). So which type of computer is less likely to be damaged by dropping, bumping, or mangling - and will therefore last longer? Yep - the desktop.
   
   
4. It has oodles of storage. You won't see a tablet with more than 64GB of storage space, and you probably won't find a laptop with a spinning drive of over 1TB. With a desktop, you can get a computer with space for two hard drives of 1TB to 4TB each without spending a boatload of money. And let's face it - if you're using your computer to download music, movies, and/or photos, your 64GB of space will get used up before you know it. (Cyberspace "cloud" storage can run up a subscription fee tab very quickly, and it'll take longer to access that data as well).
   
   
5. It's faster than a speeding bullet tablet or laptop. Ever try watching a lengthy or intricate Flash video on a laptop or tablet with a single processor? The experience ranges from annoying to cringeworthy. If you don't want jumps, delays, or skips, you're better off viewing it on a desktop with its quad-core processor. And if your livelihood depends on working with colossal spreadsheets, complex videos, and memory-intensive graphic images, it's a no-brainer: you'll go with the desktop.
   
   
6. It's ergonomically superior. Try an experiment: work for three hours nonstop on a desktop PC, then do the same thing with a laptop or tablet. Which is more painful? Chances are, the slouching, bending over, and constricting of your shoulders and arms while working on the tablet or laptop will have you wincing and smarting. Yes, folks, laptops and tablets are far from ergonomic. (Reclining and using your knee to prop it up just displaces the pain to other parts of the body.) People want to be comfortable while they compute, and the desktop is still much easier on the body than its trendier counterparts.
   
   

To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports about the death of the personal computer have been greatly exaggerated. And they won't be following their mainframe brethren into extinction anytime soon.