The future of laptops
What does the future hold for laptop computers? Some would say its now insurmountable as the de facto standard in mobile, home and even business computing, however the future brings changes, and with it new technology that could potentially knock the laptop of its smug perch.
The laptops current power base
Laptops are now the biggest selling version of any type of computer, with desktops now dropping further away with every passing month. Indeed in a few more years laptops will most likely account for over 75% of all computer sales in nearly all geographical markets.
That's quite a base from which to collapse, and it would be easy to assume there is no possible way laptops will ever disappear from our lives as they are now such a big part of it. Who doesn't go home, turn on the laptop and sit on the sofa checking out news or auctions sites?
The laptops popularity, ease of transportation, power equal to desktop equivalents and its space saving properties mean its going to be hard to defeat, but no-one knows what's around the corner...
The pretenders
So what competition does the laptop have that it should be afraid of? Well, right now, not a lot. There are no real alternatives to the laptop that can offer the same benefits without compromising on something.
However, we all know the gradual metamorphosis of mobile phones from simple voice communication devices to all singing, all dancing multi-use devices capable of internet access, email and lots of other funky stuff, and they fit in your pocket too!
The mobile phone is unlikely to signal the end of the laptops reign, but the lines between different types of devices is starting to get blurred and features which were once limited to one type of device are now available on all the others.
PDA's, or personal communication devices further blur the mobile phone / laptop lines. Some of these devices allow you to call people, surf the net, get your email, work on a spreadsheet, compose a letter and lots of other tasks, and its these that are the likely devices that will eventually make the laptop start nervously looking over its shoulder.
Life support machine or spring chicken
Laptops are a long way from being toppled. Indeed there is nothing else currently on the market that can offer a sensible, usable alternative. Indeed its probably fair to say the laptop is still in its infancy as far as its life expectancy goes.
Laptops are still in the assent, and their popularity will probably peek in a few years time and probably stay there for a decade at least. However as the technology improves in other devices the laptops massive lead will be cut. More people will move to much more portable devices in the future and their laptops will see less and less use as time passes.
All that said, its unlikely the laptop will ever disappear. The fact it offers a decent sized screen to work with will ensure it will be around for a long time, if not forever.
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