ANTenna Blog -- Hardware & Software

According to Intel, small businesses are one of the few remaining markets for the venerable desktop computer.

These days, it's easy to think that the days of the desktop PC are numbered. It seems like just about everyone seems to have laptop or Netbook, or is trying to get by with just a smartphone. Laptop shipments continue to rise, while desktop shipments are on the wane.

But Rob Crooke, vice president and general manager of Intel's Business Client Group, told John Ribeiro of the IDG News Service that the company still sees a long-term, ongoing role for standalone desktop computers. That's not too surprising, we are talking about Intel, after all. For example, the company plans to ship its Clarkdale processors, based on the Nehalem server architecture, later this year and early next year.

But Intel did seem to think that the desktop market is shifting into "distinct evolving segments: corporate; nettops; lifestyle and small form factor (SFF); and the enthusiast segment."

Even though laptops increasingly dominate the corporate sector, that's still expected to remain the largest segment for desktop PCs as well -- because there are many applications where mobilility doesn't make sense, from nurses' stations to retail counters. That's especially true in SMBs, where desktops' lower costs are an important factor. Finally, according to Cook: "If you are running a small business, you might not want your employees to take the PCs home."

Not exactly sure why small businesses would be different than other businesses in this situation. Anyone have any thoughts on the matter?

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