Desktop PC Remains a Key Productivity Tool for Business Users

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A recent survey carried out by International Data Corporation (IDC) indicates that despite the continuous shift to mobility and the proliferation of portable devices such as ultraslim notebooks, convertibles, and tablets, desktop PCs are still the main PC form factor for businesses. The survey interviewed 600 executives at SMBs and large enterprises in France, the U.K., and Germany, with 84% of respondents indicating that they would consider purchasing desktop PCs for their organization.

The most important factors in the decision to buy a desktop PC are higher performance, better durability, longer lifespan, and lower prices, according to respondents.

"The survey confirmed that the average lifetime of a desktop is one year longer than that of a laptop, reducing total cost of ownership for the company," said Maciek Gornicki, research manager, IDC EMEA Personal Computing. "As a result, lower price and better resilience definitely make desktop the best choice for companies that have limited budgets and that require solutions for non-mobile office employees. On the other hand, desktops' higher security will benefit businesses that operate in industries such as insurance, finance, and banking, as well as government agencies."

Small form factors and mini PCs are key to the future of client computing, with companies increasingly looking at these devices. 43% of respondents said they would consider a small form factor device and 35% said they would be willing to purchase a mini PC. These smaller products have become more popular as companies are increasingly looking to implement solutions that will save desk space and energy. Specific industries are also planning to deploy mini PCs for digital signage technology or Internet kiosks, which continue to gain presence. In addition, for companies that want to upgrade or customize their PCs over time, the increasing availability of customizable mini PCs is likely to boost their adoption in the future.

Businesses are also eagerly looking into deploying Windows 10 as the next step to increasing productivity, with as many as 40% of respondents saying they are looking to upgrade to the new OS in the next 12 months. With the move to Windows 7 now largely complete, and with most businesses having skipped the migration to Windows 8, the need to upgrade becomes increasingly urgent.

"The majority of companies are expected to roll out the new operating system without purchasing new hardware initially, especially as a large proportion of desktops in the commercial PC installed base should fit the requirements of Windows 10," said Gornicki. "Some companies are likely, however, to consider rolling out new hardware at the same time due to the new Intel Skylake platform coming into the market, as it is expected to bring manageability and security benefits, as well as enhance efficiency compared with older platforms. Together with Windows 10, this may be enough to trigger a moderate renewal wave at the beginning of 2016."

In the era of business transformation and digitalization, desktops remain relevant as computing power is key to productivity. In the context of the new Windows device continuum, it is easier to read, work, or share content between different types of devices.

"User satisfaction means working in the office or on the road with various devices while maintaining the highest levels of security. For the IT hardware industry this is great news, with multiple form factors and the increasing need for solutions in terms of security and integration," said Chrystelle Labesque, associate director, IDC EMEA Client Computing.