Some people were quick to declare the demise of desktop, device that reigned supreme for decades. Well, it is true that desktop searches are lagging behind mobile ones, and that the dawn of the new age is upon us. Yet, this is not to say that desktops are rendered obsolete and on their way to the gloomy graveyard of tech marvels. In fact, desktops are still superior when you need to handle certain tasks. Here is why they are not going anywhere in the foreseeable future.

Is Mobile the new black?

In this day and age, smartphones and other mobile devices cast a big shadow on the world of PCs, as they are far superior when it comes to mobility and convenience. Bulky and stationary devices cannot even compete.  A laptop is a popular lightweight option, but the beauty of it is that it can also pack a considerable processing power. Its capabilities do seem impressive, at least as long as you do not take the top-notch desktops into account.

So, let us use a reality check and start with the advantages of stationary tech. One of the main reasons why PCs persist is that upgrading them is a breeze. Unlike with laptops, one can purchase affordable parts and replace the outdated ones nice and easy. There is no need to spend a truckload of money on a brand new hardware: You can simply butcher older desktops for some parts. Of course, there are some exceptions in the form of all-in-one desktops such as iMac.

Performance arena

Desktops and laptops tend to have similar specs and comparable prices. However, they do differ in the areas of graphics and processors. Laptops inevitably mount smaller versions of these units and this comes at a cost of performance. You may not notice the variations until you start doing power-intensive activities such as photo editing or high-end gaming. Even the dedicated gaming laptops, which can get quite heavy and large, struggle to keep up with desktop PC.

Battery life and portability are often prioritized, which is fine and meets the needs of an average user. Alas, when taking on heavy multitasking and running graphics-heavy programs and apps, laptops cannot rival the great might of a roaring desktop machine. Just take a look at the latest, 12-core CPUs and workstation-class configurations. It is borderline impossible to find a laptop equivalent of it.

Cost and functionalities

Next, we have to address a matter of price. To put it simply, robust desktops are cheaper that their mobile counterparts. Assembling a fully-sized desktop can be a few hundreds of dollars less expensive than putting together a laptop with the same specs.  Compare a quality Lenovo desktop PC with the laptop from the same brand as see it for yourself.  A cheap laptop is an option, but you cannot expect to handle much more than surfing or streaming videos.

Finally, there are some specific instances in which desktops blow laptops out of the water. For example, it is possible to set up multi-monitor desktop configurations and high-density deployments without extra costs and limitations. Likewise, users who need to store and sync their files can do it via a local internet, on a self-hosted solution. Basically, your machine acts as a storage server and keeps all your files accessible through other devices.

Top of the line

Despite being past their prime, desktops still serve loyally as main workhorses. They might have fallen out of fashion, but they do the heavy lifting more effectively than ever.  It also makes financial sense to invest in them as you can get more bang for your buck. Then again, laptops are a nice portable complement and in some cases, a more suitable solution. Just do not forget that the good old PC still has some fight in it, so you may want to keep it around.