Is the computer repair business dead?
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@scottalanmiller said in Is the computer repair business dead?:
@marcinozga said in Is the computer repair business dead?:
I don't know how reliable that report is, but you're talking about 10M vs 270M units. Chromebooks are growing fast, but they are far from top selling. Niche still applies.
It's not 10M vs. 270M. There are two issues. One is that they are calling the 270M the PC shipment market, but are including non-PCs like Chromebooks in that number. So we dont' know what all it includes but we definitely know that all Windows, Mac and Linux desktops and laptops are in that number.
So it is 10M out of 270M, not 10M vs. 270M. And it includes categories of gear, like desktops, for which Chromebooks essentially do not exist. They have the Chromebox but no one is actively making one, just old stock. They are currently only really shipping in the netbook category.
Does the category really matter?
and why don't you think that a new wave of Chromeboxes have hit and taken off? Are non mobile computers a dead thing for consumers? (I do think they are pretty much dead for the average consumer - they'd rather have a laptop that they can use anywhere in the house.)
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@Dashrender said in Is the computer repair business dead?:
and why don't you think that a new wave of Chromeboxes have hit and taken off? Are non mobile computers a dead thing for consumers?
Outside of gaming, yes. When is the last time you knew of home users buying desktops? It still happens, but it is rare. Gamers are the last big hold out. Chomebooks entered the market just as the desktop market was dying. Everyone that I know that moved to Chromebooks ALSO moved away from desktops around the same time. Coincidence, I'm sure, but that is where the market is. Outside of gaming, it is rare that anyone needs much power. The idea of power users at home is quickly waning.
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@Dashrender said in Is the computer repair business dead?:
(I do think they are pretty much dead for the average consumer - they'd rather have a laptop that they can use anywhere in the house.)
My take is a little different - that they don't want a dedicated space to work on a computer. Similar, but slightly different driver as to why it happens. It's less, I feel, a desire towards mobility and more a desire towards not having anything in the house that reminds them of a work environment. I'm different, I have a desktop that I'm on now, and a Chromebook for moving around the house. But that's not why most people do it. I think, anyway.
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When I hear someone wanting a desktop (other than gaming) it's always because they want a full sized screen and keyboard - then I remind them they can use those things on a laptop. Sometimes they change, sometimes they don't.
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@scottalanmiller said in Is the computer repair business dead?:
@Dashrender said in Is the computer repair business dead?:
(I do think they are pretty much dead for the average consumer - they'd rather have a laptop that they can use anywhere in the house.)
My take is a little different - that they don't want a dedicated space to work on a computer. Similar, but slightly different driver as to why it happens. It's less, I feel, a desire towards mobility and more a desire towards not having anything in the house that reminds them of a work environment. I'm different, I have a desktop that I'm on now, and a Chromebook for moving around the house. But that's not why most people do it. I think, anyway.
Interesting.
One of my retired (just last Jan) is remodeling his home, and building a purpose built computer desk into the wall.
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@Dashrender said in Is the computer repair business dead?:
Does the category really matter?
It does. If Chromebooks were 4% of all machines in all categories, we'd easily expect people not to see them. But as being the dominant in its category, anyone seeing netbooks should see them often.
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@Dashrender said in Is the computer repair business dead?:
@scottalanmiller said in Is the computer repair business dead?:
@Dashrender said in Is the computer repair business dead?:
(I do think they are pretty much dead for the average consumer - they'd rather have a laptop that they can use anywhere in the house.)
My take is a little different - that they don't want a dedicated space to work on a computer. Similar, but slightly different driver as to why it happens. It's less, I feel, a desire towards mobility and more a desire towards not having anything in the house that reminds them of a work environment. I'm different, I have a desktop that I'm on now, and a Chromebook for moving around the house. But that's not why most people do it. I think, anyway.
Interesting.
One of my retired (just last Jan) is remodeling his home, and building a purpose built computer desk into the wall.
I did that too. But I'm unusual.
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A person can still build a wicked fast power users PC for way cheaper than a powerful laptop. I've never been comfortable on just a laptop. I want at least 23" screen, and two of them at that. ('ya but you can attach all the things to a laptop!'). Yes, which gives me an overpriced, underpowered, small form factor desktop that I'm tied down to anyway.
It's not just games either. Older people like big screens and fat keyboards. They think a touchpad is science fiction witchcraft. And I don't know anyone who bought a laptop that didn't think setting it on their lap on top of their fluffiest, hottest, most favorite blanket with the space heater on the floor pointed right at the back of the laptop, was a bad idea.
Hinges go bad. Reflective screens are irritating, they always drop, and they always get the power cord yanked out a thousand times by kids and animals, they aren't strong! Batteries die in a couple years. Screen gets cracked for no reason I've ever known. Slamming it down on a pencil? People literally walk on/step on, their laptops. What the?!In any case, "laptop repair" is even more niche than PC repair. After all the parts are a little more specialized and harder to find/install. Maybe there is still business for that?
The people who have needed me to fix PCs typically do some niche stuff, which is why they are willing to pay. One guy had an old school newsletter thing he typed and printed himself on 1970s word processor because that's what he knew how to use.
Another person had special musical equipment with particular driver requirements.
Another needed to maintain and old DOS database.
Another homeschools their kids and can only use these Windows based CDs. Did I mention kids destroy laptops?Anyway, for those who don't know what a Chromebook is, they are basically Google data collection devices that people voluntarily pay for to be included in
I for one can't live on the cloud. I tend to despise "cloud apps" that are either websites running in a Chrome frame and pretend to be native apps, or be stuck doing all my work in browser tabs which is horrific.
I think I'm old school, for sure. Give me a powerful desktop, and native apps, every day.
And that doesn't mean I don't use my iPad and Pixel a lot. But when it's time to work or play, I head to the desktop.How this relates to computer repair business, I don't know. But that's where the conversation went!
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@guyinpv said in Is the computer repair business dead?:
A person can still build a wicked fast power users PC for way cheaper than a powerful laptop. I've never been comfortable on just a laptop. I want at least 23" screen, and two of them at that. ('ya but you can attach all the things to a laptop!'). Yes, which gives me an overpriced, underpowered, small form factor desktop that I'm tied down to anyway.
I'm a big desktop believer.
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@guyinpv said in Is the computer repair business dead?:
It's not just games either. Older people like big screens and fat keyboards. They think a touchpad is science fiction witchcraft.
My dad is like this. 37" monitor. But he's going Chromebook. Just hook up his existing keyboard, mouse and screen. That it's a laptop isn't necessarily an issue.
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@guyinpv said in Is the computer repair business dead?:
In any case, "laptop repair" is even more niche than PC repair. After all the parts are a little more specialized and harder to find/install. Maybe there is still business for that?
moreso, but still very little. It's very much hardware repair compared to software repair.
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@scottalanmiller said in Is the computer repair business dead?:
@guyinpv said in Is the computer repair business dead?:
In any case, "laptop repair" is even more niche than PC repair. After all the parts are a little more specialized and harder to find/install. Maybe there is still business for that?
moreso, but still very little. It's very much hardware repair compared to software repair.
I've been known to do solder repairs on floppy broken power cord connectors.
It's quite nerve racking to have a laptop spread out in a hundred pieces on a table! -
I worked as a pc/laptop repair tech a long time ago. Most work, even 10 years ago was removing virus or failed psu and mobo on pcs. Laptops, 90% of the work was taking it wholly apart just to resolder or replace the power jack to the mobo. The other 10% was replacing screens on them.
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@guyinpv said in Is the computer repair business dead?:
@scottalanmiller said in Is the computer repair business dead?:
@guyinpv said in Is the computer repair business dead?:
In any case, "laptop repair" is even more niche than PC repair. After all the parts are a little more specialized and harder to find/install. Maybe there is still business for that?
moreso, but still very little. It's very much hardware repair compared to software repair.
I've been known to do solder repairs on floppy broken power cord connectors.
It's quite nerve racking to have a laptop spread out in a hundred pieces on a table!I had to do this once and this guy was walking around meeting people and claimed I was just showing off. I had to replace an inverter
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Even three years ago, top three holiday sellers of ALL Amazon computer categories were Chromebooks...
