This article presents information on upcoming development for technology, when the biggest breakthroughs will appear, how they might change the way people work and play and why the future will not be trouble-free. With breakthroughs such as faster multicore processors on the way, raw computer muscle is about to return with a vengeance. And it will come in more shapes and sizes than ever. Computers are shaping up to become ever more specialized, and although they will appear in innovative new forms, even the traditional desktop system will be with us for years to come, say the senior executives and industry experts we spoke to. INSETS: ONE DEVICE TO RULE THEM ALL?;FUTURE TECH.