8 Reasons The PC Is Not Dead

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(Image: Geralt via Pixabay)

The debate about the death of the PC rages on. On one side, you have those who point to dramatic declines of PC and laptop sales over the past few years as proof that the personal computer is on its last legs. On the other side are those who happily list the reasons why PCs -- especially in the enterprise -- are far from extinct.

I happen to believe that the PC is far from dead. In fact, I suspect overall PC and laptop sales to experience a resurgence in the next few years. There are a number of reasons why the PC retains an advantage over alternative devices such as smartphones, tablets, and phablets. While some of these reasons may not be relevant in a consumer world, they are critical for users performing tasks in an enterprise.

Additionally, the personal computer's biggest threat -- the tablet -- is going through a sluggish sales period at the moment. A once-hot tablet market has cooled as users gravitate toward smartphones with large screens that serve a dual purpose. It seems that for many mobile users, a five- or six-inch smartphone screen isn't that much different from an eight- to 10-inch tablet screen when it comes to performing most mobile tasks. That is, unless you're trying to do real work. You know, the kind of work that involves writing for long periods of time or manipulating numbers in spreadsheets and databases.

A vacuum has been created in the world of enterprise productivity devices. A year or two ago, it indeed looked as if the PC would be replaced by the tablet. But now that phablets have essentially cannibalized the tablet market, the personal computer has a chance to make a dramatic comeback.

Here are eight reasons why rumors of the PC's death have been greatly exaggerated. Once you've reviewed them all, let us know what you think. Will the PC live on, or are we flat-out wrong in our predictions? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.

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