For the nth time, they keep saying the PC is dead.

[jimbo45]

..... which will in effect become the PC of the future. ...............................

Hi there

When is a PC not a PC ??

A tablet with a proper OS and a Keyboard -- or why not even an Iphone with usb or another type of port so you can plug in a LARGE monotor and proper keyboard.

That's just as good as a PC as a "Normal PC".

What about "Blade servers" -- these are thin rack mounted PC's but don't look anything like a conventional PC -- but they run Windows or other OS'es and are 100% PC's.


The statement "The PC is dead" is really meaningless -- I DO like the idea of a smart phone being able to run as a PC however -- so come on Nokia -- your shares and market have totally tanked recently --here's a way to get back into the game -- maybe MS is already thinking along these lines.


Cheers
jimbo

 

[lehnerus2000]

The Government and Corporations

Don't forget, if the Cloud doesn't instantly generate mega-profits, the companies involved will start lobbying Congress to change the rules.

The "cover story" will probably be something like:

• Only evil hacker enemies of the US need desktops.
• Only pirates need personal offline data storage.
• Only terrorists need personal offline data storage.

(sarcasm)
"If you've got nothing to hide, you don't have to worry about the Government and Corporations scrutinising your data." :sarc:
(/sarcasm)

Clarification in red

 

[xarden]

"If you've got nothing to hide, you don't have to worry about the Government and Corporations scrutinising your data."

Remind me why they have a problem with Julian Asange?
Oh yes. Because they too have stuff to hide that's now been scrutinised (publicly)

 

[lehnerus2000]

Indeed

"If you've got nothing to hide, you don't have to worry about the Government and Corporations scrutinising your data."

Remind me why they have a problem with Julian Asange?
Oh yes. Because they too have stuff to hide that's now been scrutinised (publicly)

Indeed.

Of course we're probably both on the "Terrorist Watch" list now.

 

[jimbo45]

For gamers and techies like us, the desktop PC may never die but remember that we are the minority. The average user just wants to browse the web and access frivolous sites like Facebook and Twitter so they have no use for a desktop PC. Desktop sales have been sinking for quite some time, most new computer purchases are laptops.

To get an idea of what cloud computing really is (not just storing data on-line) take a look at Google Docs. You can create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, etc... without installing any software except a browser. When "the cloud" is fully implemented you will only need a dumb terminal device running a browser, essentially your OS, everything else will be in the cloud. We've got a ways to go before that comes to be but it is what we are moving to and for the average user it will do the job.

Hi there
the main reasons that most PC purchases are laptops are

1) an increasing number of people who use Computers at work are people like I.T consultants who often travel to remote sites and therefore NEED to have a computer -- often needing different applications at different sites -- not possible to provide via standard "Fixed desktops".

2) Even Non I.T people take stuff home to work or work from home -- usually they will connect to an office VPN or server via a Laptop.

3) Lots of companies now find it increasingly better to just provide central I.T security services and allow people to use their own computers - as people usually these days have far superior computers to the often Dinosaur models lurking around in old office cupboards.

I've seen some places where a few old WINDOWS 2000 Machines were STILL IN SERVICE - but fortunately being phased out. By allowing the use of people's own laptops the company can cut down HUGELY on the PC purchase, upgrade and maintenance costs -- but of course the network has to be managed securely so you will still need albeit a SMALLER but a GOOD I.T dept.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[strollin]

At my company, we are now given a choice, we can have a desktop or a laptop but not both. Just about everyone chooses a laptop since it is more versatile. I have a laptop since I work primarily from home. I agree that one of the reasons for the drop in desktop sales is due to IT choosing that platform.

However, even home users are now opting for laptops over desktops. Many gamers build their own machines to get max performance with lowest cost but many would just as soon buy a gaming laptop rather than put in the effort to build. Other home users simply prefer a laptop and since prices of laptops have dropped significantly in the last few years they are more attractive.

 

[zEric7x]

A laptop for me personally does everything I would want. I like that I can carry my laptop around with me when I travel. If I had a desktop it would be fixed in my room and not go anywhere. Yes my laptop probably is not powerful compared to a desktop but its plays all the games I like so far. Plus when I start going to college it will be nice to bring my own laptop with me everywhere. I dont have anything against desktops. If I had my way I have a nice laptop and a desktop. As for tablets and stuff like that I find them pointless to me so far. I would accept one as a gift of course but I wouldn't buy one myself.

 

[LiquidSnak]

Long live my windows 95 box! Which I have to use to do certain tasks because W7 can't handle things that old.

 

[Mellon Head]

As for tablets and stuff like that I find them pointless to me so far. I would accept one as a gift of course but I wouldn't buy one myself.

Agreed. If I were a doctor or something, and I needed to see charts and things, then yes, give me a tablet. Otherwise, I'll stick to my old "dead" PC, which blow the keys off of most laptops, with sheer brutish computing power.

Seriously, my company provides both a laptop and a desktop, and I have my own desktops at home for development and gaming. I like my G15 keyboard, and my 23" monitor far too much to use a lappy all the time. Desktops have their place, and so do laptops, but tablets, smartphones, and the like just aren't powerful enough to do it for me. Maybe I'm too old, but I don't get the big allure.

 

[strollin]

... I like my G15 keyboard, and my 23" monitor far too much to use a lappy all the time. ...

I use my company provided laptop for all my company work but I have a 22" monitor, external full-size keyboard and BT mouse attached to it so it seems very much like I'm working on a desktop.

 

[Darician]

I just built a new PC with a Core i3 2100, 8 GB of RAM and a Radeon HD 6670, guess I didn't receive the memo telling me the PC is dead. I'll take my PC over any tablet, netbook, or whatever trend "analysts" like to pick. I remember a few years ago they predicted the netbook would kill of laptop sales and we all know that didn't work out. I've also been hearing since about 2000 or 2001 that this "x" year will be the year of Desktop Linux and we all know where that has gone. I remember when Vista was launched, they marked it the death knell of Windows and that Mac OS and Linux would swoop in and gain a huge marketshare and give Microsoft a real run for its money except, oh that's right, it didn't happen.

Fact is PCs will be around until these devices are not seen a simple novelties, which is how most people see them today. I don't see many (if any) tossing out their desktops or laptops in favor of these tablets and using that for all their work because these devices are not really suitable for much work. And that's what these devices are, complemenary because the PC is far from being dead, if anything it's now more alive than ever as I can't think of too many businesses that don't have at least one PC whereas about 10 years ago, some businesses could get along without one, now it's becoming more and more of a necessity.

 

[Stratos]

People make dumb comments all the time, trying to stir up drama and trying to convince the less-knowledgeable where it all spreads like a bad disease.

A desktop, notebook, netbook, smartphone, tablet, they're all tools. To think 1 is enough to all tasks depends on the user's needs (leaving out the issue of "wants" to keep things simple). One who knows which is best to use in each situation and how to maximize benefits is a smart user. Then you have those who buy stuff just because, lol.

A tablet does have certain advantages however as you said a normal PC does have many others that tabs can't match. Using a tab for lectures/speeches and quick references (as a replacement for traditional books), it does show its usefulness there.

Media conversion, movie authoring, competitive action gaming (or MMO or RTS-based), server-roles, business applications (like typing larger documents, preparing Powerpoint slides, creating and working on spreadsheets, etc.) can be very tough and clumsy on a tablet not to mention slow. It's much easier to type on a real keyboard than it is on an iPad or anything like it. Sure you can attach a kb to any tablet but that defeats the purpose of having a tab, now you've created an overpriced netbook without the processing power.

 

[UberlegenKlient]

It's ad-click revenue, it always is. I see right through this, all about page hits.

 

[xarden]

I just built a new PC with a Core i3 2100, 8 GB of RAM and a Radeon HD 6670, guess I didn't receive the memo telling me the PC is dead. I'll take my PC over any tablet, netbook, or whatever trend "analysts" like to pick. I remember a few years ago they predicted the netbook would kill of laptop sales and we all know that didn't work out. I've also been hearing since about 2000 or 2001 that this "x" year will be the year of Desktop Linux and we all know where that has gone. I remember when Vista was launched, they marked it the death knell of Windows and that Mac OS and Linux would swoop in and gain a huge marketshare and give Microsoft a real run for its money except, oh that's right, it didn't happen.

You forgot to mention the Y2K bug

 

[prospero]

Call me old-fashioned (OK I am old-fashioned) but I will need a lot of convincing that the cloud is or will be secure for the foreseeable future.
I'll stick with my trusty PC, at least I have some control over what comes in and goes out.

 

[PwnFrnzy]

Call me old-fashioned (OK I am old-fashioned) but I will need a lot of convincing that the cloud is or will be secure for the foreseeable future.
I'll stick with my trusty PC, at least I have some control over what comes in and goes out.

Thi is my train of thought.
I would rather keep my documents on my computer instead of putting everything on public display. If the servers go down or internet connections are lost, you loose your data and/or cannot access your data like you would on a computer with a good ol' had drive.
I will never go to the cloud unless they stop making hard drives. At that time I'll start salvaging parts to make my own computer. . .

 

[Lomai]

In fact, some now say, the desktop PC is essentially dead – an immobile zombie

That must make me a necrophiliac for I'm fingering a corpse on a daily basis...

:roflmao:

 

[Sublimelbc]

I mean I can see for people who just like to go on Facebook or check E-mail it's fine, but PC is for doing all business.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Agree

Have to agree with the general consensus have seen colleagues at work with these new "gadgets" cos to me thats what they are nothing more or less.

As for the cloud well I'm afraid my storage is staying right where it is - in my computer. I mean would you leave your important printed documents in a briefcase in someone else's office or the foyer for safe keeping errrrr - don't think so!!

Plus I think the recent events in the UK re phone hacking with that media person and the police now being involved, just goes to reinforce my stance on the issue of "gadgets"

 

[Coke Robot]

I definitely can see desktops going out of the equation in the future. But when I read that the PC is going out of style, my first thought is,"Windows and linux machines are over?" I think the term PC itself is only being applied strictly to desktops and not laptops. Laptops when they came out weren't a long term solution, nowadays though, there are and can be. A desktop to-go perhaps? Sure.

Plus, PC means Personal Computer, meaning it's yours. It's not called an iPC, meaning that apple owns every aspect of it...