CRTs are heavy and cumbersome. As such, they represent computers at a time when the majority of PCs were stationary and couldn't be hauled around. Sure, there were laptops and cellphones, but those were limited in functionality and weren't a real replacement for a desktop PC like they are now.

As for virtual malls, I remember there being lots of noise made, especially surrounding the internet, about virtual worlds where you could hang out with your friends or go shopping. The idea being that it was a virtual replacement for a physical location; you could buy physical and virtual goods at these imaginary virtual malls. They just... never came into being. Instead of 3d environments that let you socialize and shop, you have flat webpages that only serve to sell you goods.