One Tablet to Cure IT in Business? Will Tablets Take Over From Desktop Computers?

With all the coverage of new smartphones and tablets in the technology press you'd be forgiven for thinking that desktop PCs, laptops and servers are a thing of the past. Society's obsession with what's cool and trendy drives this kind of coverage. But this hides the truth that without the "so last year darling" servers and desktops, these shiny new devices would have limited use.
The introduction of Windows 8 seemed to point to Microsoft's wholesale shift to mobile. Seeing sales shifting more towards tablet devices and their non-Microsoft software, the company responded with the usual fanfare. Uptake has been disappointing... until now, as we see Windows 8.1 on the horizon with lots of older features returning so we can use it as a "proper" desktop OS.
Desktop PC sales down
There's lots of evidence to demonstrate the slow-down in desktop PC sales, while the rise in the uptake and use of mobile devices is impressive. In August, overall online sales hit £6.8bn, with mobile commerce growing 133 percent (see this article on V3 for details).
So does all this news foretell the demise of the desktop PC? No. Could you work with spreadsheets all day on a tablet? How about designing some artwork for a new product? And are call centre staff going to be operating at peak comfort and capacity on mobile devices?
Even on Star Trek, arguably the inventor of the tablet or "PADD", they have both desktop and mobile devices! And back on Earth, the latest tablet device only lasts a year, making this an expensive option for business.
What's really happening
Isn't it just the case that we have two major factors going on? On one hand we have lots of shiny new toys which expand the choice of hardware available. While on the other there's been a lot of restraint in overall spending for a few years. The hardware market will settle down, with some adjustments admittedly.
And what of the humble server?
Without servers all this growth in online sales and many other apps simply wouldn't happen. Organisations need to invest more and more in their data centres so that they can provide the 24 hour access to services now demanded.
Companies in general look to increase overall efficiency, improve service and reduce costs. With the ability to provide many services online it is increasingly possible to achieve all of these things simultaneously. And with new generations of server and storage products available, data centre costs can be reduced while increasing compute and storage capacity. It is certainly possible to save money by spending money.

Tim Cripps is a veteran of the IT business. He's helped many companies find the right technologies to suit their requirements. Providing independent advice means that clients can trust that they're getting the right solution to their business needs. Please visit http://www.trustco.co.uk to find out more about how you can benefit from Tim's (and his team's) experience.