Don’t Look Now, But Mobile Devices Have Replaced PCs
It wasn’t so long ago that desktop computers and laptops ruled the world. They were the only game in town, the primary way to get online and the device of choice for any number of diverse tasks ranging from creating art and design to running sophisticated business analysis. Today, however, mobile devices have largely taken over and render PCs nearly obsolete, at least in terms of overall usage and influence.
Let’s consider the evidence. Since 2014, desktop and laptop sales have been in steady decline due to a number of factors, including the overall diminishing cost of production, a wider range of available mobile device options and the shifting preference for smaller, easily transportable devices. Additionally, online searches, online streaming and online purchases have increasingly moved over to mobile platforms, and so have many aspects of our social lives – text messaging, social media and video chats, to name a few. All told, 25% of all internet usage and as much as 80% of all social media activity today happens via a mobile device.
Where does this leave desktop PCs and laptops? They’re still invaluable resources in a variety of ways, especially for people who are strongly reliant on them for mission critical tasks and require robust hardware and software capabilities. But for those who are simply looking for an easy, efficient way to stay connected and productive online, mobile devices offer the greatest convenience and flexibility. Moreover, new, cheaper models that provide similar performance are constantly entering the market and making them even more accessible and easy to use.
The truth is, mobile devices have largely taken over from desktop PCs and laptops due to a combination of factors such as convenience, cost and capacity, and their supplanting of PCs doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. Many of us, in fact, rely on mobile devices as our only computer, with no plans to ever invest in a PC or laptop. And the further iterations of mobile devices now – tablets, phablets, and wearables – are only further secluding PC and laptops from our daily lives.
So, while it’s important not to take anything away from the power and capabilities of desktop PCs and laptops, it looks like we’re living in a world that’s already left traditional computers in the dust. Mobiles have become increasingly easy to use, more feature-packed and economically priced, thereby appealing to an ever growing pool of users. As a result, PCs and laptops no longer dominate the computing world, making it evident that the future belongs to mobile devices.
