Does the desktop need a comeback?

There was a time not too long ago -- within the past decade or so -- that the desktop was still the dominant force in the computer market. Then the dawn of mobility happened, and consumers turned their attention to more portable options, such as laptops, tablet computers and now the Ultrabook™.

Despite these challenges, there is still a strong market for the desktop, and innovations like the all-in-one computer are helping the form factor remain in the public consciousness.

While tablets especially have gained in popularity recently, many people see the devices as a complement to the traditional computer, rather than an all-out replacement.

Desktops remain especially popular in both the enterprise space and the home. This may be because they offer the functionality and the computing power that users in these settings require.

In both the home and at work, for example, there is a need for a computer that can handle long-form word processing needs -- whether it's the latest quarterly report or the kids' homework assignments. Also, these areas may require the need to support multiple users on a single computer.