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QOTW: How would you improve the PC?

by Tarinder Sandhu on 4 April 2014, 15:30

Tags: HEXUS

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PCs have improved dramatically over the last 30 years. Graphics cards are more powerful than ever, SSDs have been a great boon, and monitor technology is improving all the time, to name but three things. Operating systems, too, have moved with the times, now offering a slick user interface and smooth computing.

Yet the fundamentals remain the same. If you were in charge of worldwide PC development and were given a blank cheque, what would you like to see changed? It could be hardware, software, or a combination of both. So, have your say, let us know, in the comments facility below, how you would improve the humble PC.

HEXUS Forums :: 56 Comments

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Posted by Noxvayl - Fri 04 Apr 2014 15:36
I'd like to see a case that has a monitor mount built in, either to embed a monitor into the case or an arm that holds the monitor above the case, to give system builders an upgradeable option for an all in one machine. I like all in one machines for their space saving options while providing a better screen than is available on laptops. I'd like to expand that to allow system builders to get the same benefits of space saving but without giving up the upgrade-ability of custom cases. I would be an awesome LAN case if it gets done at some point.
Posted by cheesemp - Fri 04 Apr 2014 15:45
Better cooling! Can't believe how difficult it seems to be to get a case where the fans work in concert with internal CPU and GPU fans. I'm sure water cooling does a better job but I don't see why no one has thought of a better way of ducting air flow through a case so keep the GPU and CPU well fed with fresh air and then quickly ducted out the back. It just seems to be a case of throwing more fans at the job until its cool enough at the moment. I'd also like to see a cheap gaming laptop that doesn't run at 80C at the output - My cheapy A8 lenovo is hot enough to give burns and thats with a cooling mat!
Posted by peterb - Fri 04 Apr 2014 16:04
Noxvayl
I'd like to see a case that has a monitor mount built in, either to embed a monitor into the case or an arm that holds the monitor above the case, to give system builders an upgradeable option for an all in one machine. I like all in one machines for their space saving options while providing a better screen than is available on laptops. I'd like to expand that to allow system builders to get the same benefits of space saving but without giving up the upgrade-ability of custom cases. I would be an awesome LAN case if it gets done at some point.

Like this?

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3109#kf

or this?

http://www.nextcomputing.com/products/portable-workstations/radius

Think this is ready built though, not sure if the case is bespoke
Posted by Thorburn - Fri 04 Apr 2014 17:04
Reduce licensing costs for Windows - infact sort Windows out in general. When you're looking at PC's costing sub-£300 the cost of a Windows license starts to become a VERY significant part of the BoM price.

Microsoft have finally recognised the threat in terms making it free for sub-9" tablets, but frankly Windows 8.1 is the third best tablet OS out there and I say that as a Windows 8.1 tablet user - and the rare occasions I use it I've given up on ModernUI with it and just tap around on the desktop version of Firefox for most things as IE11 and the ModernUI apps are mostly dreadful.

When looking at traditional PCs and laptops the high OS pricing and a product that went out of its way to alienate existing users to push in to a market that they've utterly failed in just goes to demonstrate that Microsoft's incompetence is really the biggest threat to the continuation of the PC as a platform.
Posted by kingpotnoodle - Fri 04 Apr 2014 17:49
Thorburn
Reduce licensing costs for Windows - infact sort Windows out in general. When you're looking at PC's costing sub-£300 the cost of a Windows license starts to become a VERY significant part of the BoM price.

It wasn't free to develop… how do you propose Microsoft make revenue without becoming Google or Apple and just trying to drive people to an app store? Windows is rather more complex than Android or iOS…

Thorburn
Microsoft have finally recognised the threat in terms making it free for sub-9" tablets, but frankly Windows 8.1 is the third best tablet OS out there and I say that as a Windows 8.1 tablet user - and the rare occasions I use it I've given up on ModernUI with it and just tap around on the desktop version of Firefox for most things as IE11 and the ModernUI apps are mostly dreadful.

It needs work but it is far more customisable the Android or iOS, IMHO Windows is the OS closest to being the “one OS for all devices” where a tablet could can dock with different setups and the same storage/CPU can move between roles… I wouldn't buy an iOS or Android tablet (not functional enough for me) but I'd love a good Windows 8.1 tablet, 8-9" with a keyboard and desktop dock…

Thorburn
When looking at traditional PCs and laptops the high OS pricing and a product that went out of its way to alienate existing users to push in to a market that they've utterly failed in just goes to demonstrate that Microsoft's incompetence is really the biggest threat to the continuation of the PC as a platform.

Also goes to underline just how much PC == Windows, Linux has utterly failed to capitalise in the low cost market and only Google ChromeOS is making any headway and that's basically a limited tablet type device like Android or iOS… OSX has always been too expensive for the average consumer as well, and rather marmite.

Traditional PCs/Laptops are reducing in sales volume for 2 main reasons - firstly the hardware lasts longer because even 5 year old stuff is very capable still for internet browsing and secondly because simple usage patterns are well catered for by smartphones and tablets which are far more portable and user friendly for the average tech-eejit. The quality of Windows is only a minor factor, if people actually needed/wanted new PCs they'd be buying them and since Windows is the only OS that makes any sense to most people on a PC then it would just be there by default in whatever version.

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