When it comes to computers, horse power is highly valued, but does the same principle apply in the world of smartphones and tablets? You can make a good case for either argument, and that's what we'll do here. Naturally, we'll always appreciate efficiency whether or not it includes more power. Now, we must ask ourselves: do quad-core smartphones and tablets matter? Who requires 4 cores to tweet, take footage and play Angry Birds? Most folks would never need a quad-core processor. Actually , nobody may ever need one in a pocket slab, but these processors may be more vital than you realize.

The benefits of more powerful computers are clear. Developers, programmers and designers can build stronger software and hardware that enable us to do more and do it better. Power unleashes the creativeness of the artist. It permits a filmmaker to form a film like Avatar in 3D, and it enables a touring musician to record a professional album in his tour bus. But powerful hardware requires more power, or more electricity and the burning of oil and coal that comes with it. And we know that humanity is incapable of sustaining its current level of power consumption, which is only growing.

What does that mean for computers? In simple terms we need to build more efficient computers, and that's the reason why smartphones and tablets are laying the groundwork with the type of low-power technologies that will give life to the computers of tomorrow. Well, it will likely be rather a few tomorrows till then.

For the most part, only heavy power-users, not the typical Joe, will pick up a quad-core smartphone. Dual-core processors are also enlarging in potency and power, and they get the task finished really well. Plus, they cost loss, so we think consumers (and the companies that serve them) will continue to favour dual-core CPUs in the vast majority of smartphones sold.

Though we doubt buyers will care about it, it is important that we prove that such forceful hardware is possible with mobile computers. At the very least it means the desktops of tomorrow won't be like the gas guzzlers of today.

Fausto Mendez is the editor of ReleaseDates.co, a website and free subscription service that investigates the release details of smartphones and other devices.