Features - QOTW: How would you improve the PC?

[Tattysnuc]

A modular motherboard design.

I'd like to be able to buy a CPU module, a memory module, or two, or... you get the idea. then buy a vrm module, or even a power supply module, snap them together and then off you go! Literally buy the modules that you need - none of this buy motherboard X for CPU Y made by manufacturer Z.

I'd like to see a standard interface (thunderbolt?) to join together the components and allow us to chain elements to build the computers that we want/need. Forget the ATX standards which seem to be constraining design. Let's see truly modular systems that are expanded as and when the user desires.

It'd probably never happen for many technical reasons, but that would be what I'd like to see. Imagine being able to upgrade your next gen rig by just buying an additional memory "module" and plugging in another 8 DDR4 modules, or even better doubling up the number of cores by adding another CPU module!

I'm sure there are some benefits for the industry there too - the reduction in large scale motherboard parts, simply having interchangeable expansion slots.

[Otherhand]

Noise and layout. I'm interested in what Apple did with their much-maligned "ashtray" box, since they were brave enough to ditch the standard "everything at right angles to the motherboard plan" and killed two birds with one stone by improving airflow with a winding route that pulls air through the case. The fans seems to run very slowly and still keep everything cool. And the case is tiny. I envy Mac owners for that thing.

I also want that approach because of shape. I don't like the minimum proportions of our PCs, and it seems a bit strange that so many supposedly SFF PC cases are actually barely any smaller than the mid towers. Couldn't we have more designs that incorporate some kind of PCIe extension, so that the graphics card could attach to the case rear and lie parallel with the motherboard, potentially? Maybe do the same for PCIe SSD boards?

Also, appearance. Either make something nice, or make it invisible. Please don't continue making cases that look like a particularly tasteless trainer, or the PC equivalent of a teenager's insane car mod.

[MrJim]

Nuke them from orbit, it is the only way to make sure.

Like the 'Aliens' reference!

"Game over man...game over!!"

[TooNice]

I'd like to see user upgradable GFX cards on laptops.

[bigstu]

I would personally like to see software catch up to the hardware available, instead we see most engines having to be run at 4k to task a high end systems, I also think that tech like the oculus rift will make the 4k displays redundant for the enthusiasts, i know id prefer a rift over a £1k monitor.

[AETAaAS]

I'd be a lot less ambitious and start with a reworking of the internal power systems of a PC. Make the 24 pin more compact, maybe change the layout altogether to incorporate the the 4 pin and increase the maximum power delivery on PCI-E so we can reduce additional power connectors.

Revise the 3 pin fan connectors to be able to carry more power and more data, full support of PWM and allow daisy chaining of fans.

Unified CPU cooler specifications, including spacing for RAM, motherboard heatsinks and bolting. Two consumer specs; a 'performance' spec which accommodates large heatsinks and a 'low profile spec' with a small footprint and focusing on mITX or smaller implementations.

Powered SATA or similar for drives to reduce cables. And for god sake, a single cable for case lights and buttons. You can still keep the old system somewhere on the board for troubleshooting or custom builds but a single cable would make things much easier and neater for the vast majority of users.

On the software side... a push for HSA and web applications. HSA for obvious reasons, every PC has a GPU and from here on out, it is only going to get better under my dictatorship, and with such computing power lying around, it seems irresponsible to not use it.

I can't speak for everyone on the software front but in the hospitals I've been in, there are too many XP computers running old software simply because that is how things have been and changing would be too difficult. These programs are slow, they crash, have many inconsistencies in both UI and they confuse users. With dozens of programs for doctors worklist, discharge letter writing, prescribing, imaging, lab results, clinics, etc. It is an absolute klaüsterf**ken. They don't sync properly at times and did I mention they are slow? Shifting a large proportion of work to a server will allow lighter clients, easier upgrades, increased productivity and ultimately save money in my opinion.

[pp05]

The only problems PCs have these days are software related. It's all a needlessly inconsistent bloated buggy crappile.

I have to agree with this remark.

You buy a laptop and then spend next 3 hours uninstalling all their bloatware. Would it better for all pc makers to just charge more and go without bloatware? It won't be mac expensive.

[pp05]

I'd like to see user upgradable GFX cards on laptops.

I'd like to see better access to all parts for end users that they can swap out. Then you have the issue that construction has to be solid!

[aidanjt]

I have to agree with this remark.

You buy a laptop and then spend next 3 hours uninstalling all their bloatware. Would it better for all pc makers to just charge more and go without bloatware? It won't be mac expensive.

I don't just mean OEM subsidyware, I mean everything, the operating systems, the applications, the APIs, the drivers, the whole lot is a complete mess. That goes for Linux, too. Red Hat & freedesktop.org idiots have made a complete disaster of userland Linux. That works out well for Red Hat, who get to sell support contracts and training for the mess they create and foist upon all the distros, but I don't want it. I don't need it, nobody does.

[OilSheikh]

Tell Intel to release a new processor every 2 years instead of every 6 months!
Have all manufacturers only make silent 16db low rpm fans in PSU's and any cooler or any part!
More PCIE , PCI slots and more DIMM slots as was the norm in the 775 era

[DemonHighwayman]

I'd like to see user upgradable GFX cards on laptops.

That's already happened on 'desktop replacement' laptops... I have an 'Nvidia 7800 GTX Go' knocking around if you want one? the problem is it needs to be supported by the bios and the HSF seems to always be custom things for the particular laptop. But that may have changed with UEFI or whatever the new name is now.

[Heisenberg]

In my opinion the PC doesn't need to improve anymore, you can always upgrade hardware should you need to, new monitor technology seems exciting and an ever expanding choice of peripherals from fancy £150 keyboards to top end headphones.
As for the Operating System, I don't see myself moving away from 7 anytime soon, it's perfect for what I need, the only downside in PC Gaming for me is when companies kill off game support, such as GameSpy and Games for Windows Live, as long as these titles are brought onto steam, with the ability to host servers yourself then I'll be one happy gamer.

[DanceswithUnix]

The modular talk is amusing, people want it but don't ever want to pay for it.

There was an effort in the mid 90's where the 5.25in bays on the front of a machine would be a standard plastic bay with a USB port at the back in a standard location, so you could buy a DVD drive, extra hard drive or whatever and just plug it in. Never even saw a single machine with that feature in real life.

PCMCIA/PC-CARD is probably the closest we came to modular parts.

The front panel buttons is a valid complaint, cars switched to a CAN bus setup ages ago to simplify wiring, but how much would you pay? With all the mass production of the auto industry, I can buy a CAN enabled sidelight bulb from Halfords for about £6.

[Aggemannen117]

On big boost for PC's would be to implement other HID types, such as the ability to control the computer with only using gestures, speech and movements. There are some devices out there which can do that, but it is not on a big scale. Other peripherals such as monitor and speakers should also be more easily positioned, such as wireless connections between them all.

One other thing that could be good, would be to make more durable products which doesn't have to be replaced after only a year or two, because of failure or worse performance compared to new products. If they could last longer, and be more easily upgraded or replaced, we could go towards a more conservative future. And also, more power-efficient products on the market, that still kicks ass i performance!

[devBunny]

30" monitors at the "if there were more pixels or MHz I couldn't tell the difference" level of performance.

An OS with as loss-proof a file system as is possible. Space is cheap so I don't care what level of redundancy it needs, I just want to never lose a file again, not through head crashes nor through bit rot. In fact especially not through bit rot because that will often not be detected until all the backups have been thoroughly corrupted.

Voice recognition that just works. I wouldn't even have to pick up the mouse to speak into the computer ;-) but could call out from the next room, even over the sound of the radio and the washing machine and the guy next door mowing his lawn. It would also be more than just recognition; the OS has to be able to get my commands to any and all programs.

I'll second Tattysnuc's idea of pluggable modularity. Hardware as Lego blocks would be very handy.

Take it further and be able to plug in other things in the house. Every year I wish could write my own program for the Christmas lights but I haven't a clue how to interface them with the PC. It's a trivial project for an Arduinnovator but, for me, it's a black art that I don't really want to have to learn (or I wish I had the whole lot of time needed to get good at it).

[Otherhand]

Oh actually, forget everything else I said.

EATX 12V in the top left. WHY. That's my most hated connection by far, especially in air-cooled machines with a big heatsink over the CPU. I'm amazed at all the years that have passed without this changing. Surely I'm not the only person who hates that socket?