Editing Desktop computer (section)

==== Thin client / Internet appliance ====
{{Main|Thin client|Internet appliance}}
Over time some traditional desktop computers have been replaced with thin clients utilizing off-site computing solutions like the cloud.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bleicher |first1=Paul |title=The Evolution of the Desktop Computer |journal=Applied Clinical Trials |location=Monmouth Junction |volume=17 |issue=6 |date=June 2008 |pages=44, 46, 48 |url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/95c886d489223ac95e1014b588abe231/1 }}</ref> As more services and applications are served over the internet from off-site servers, local computing needs decrease, this drives desktop computers to be smaller, cheaper, and need less powerful hardware. More applications and in some cases entire virtual desktops are moved off-site and the desktop computer runs only an operating system or a shell application while the actual content is served from a server. Thin client computers may do almost all of their computing on a virtual machine in another site. Internal, hosted virtual desktops can offer users a completely consistent experience from anywhere.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fata |first1=Matt |title=Corp to Cloud: Google's Virtual Desktops |publisher=Communications of the ACM |doi=10.1145/3233233 |s2cid=53112965 }}</ref>