Re: Density play only
"I think the workstations argument is wrong. Even with the pitifully slow Internet that US Telcos provide, it's a wash to use a cloud-based compute cluster for a job and just have a display on a tablet...there are many articles on that issue - just google Adobe!.
With faster Internet, the balance swings in favor of using cloud clusters instead of workstations, especially as that solves collaboration and parallel working on a job."
For many tasks, security and/or confidentiality is important, so off-site computing is out of the question. If there is an on-site cloud or server cluster for the purpose, then thin clients may be useful for the purpose. But sometimes the workload is highly specialized and restricted to a narrow segment of the business, meaning it makes less sense to generalize. Especially if custom or specialist hardware is being employed for the job. Video editing, for example, may require a workstation with specialized bus connections or device readers to transfer footage from cameras. A modeling station may need to make use of a 3D Mouse and high-performance graphics (professional graphics cards tend to be distinct from server GPGPU chips meant mainly for HPC). The more specialized the tools needed for the job, the more likely a dedicated workstation built for these particular needs will be needed, and as long as these needs exist, then PCs will always have a niche.
"Even the gamers are going to the cloud for that reason!"
If gamers are going to the cloud, what happened to OnLive? Lag is a killer in gaming, especially twitch gaming like FPS's. No, when it comes to serious gaming, local power is essential, so gaming PCs will continue to exist.