IBM Declares the End of the PC Era

[RST101]

So why do they keep making new parts for them if they are dead? I mean, the cpu, ram and gpu businesses seem to be doing quite well don't they.

 

[zEric7x]

I dont think so. I still look forward to having a powerful desktop someday. When I can afford one that is....Its more like the end of some people giving a crap about PCs. Not the end of them themselves.

 

[pparks1]

If all I wanted to do with a computer was do e-mail, read and respond to forums and read books over there in my easy chair then an iPad would do me fine.

Reading a forum on a tablet for me is fine, responding is a serious pain in the butt. Having a full physical keyboard is a must for me to get anything done in a reasonable amount of time. Trying to type what I have just put here on a touchscreen keyboard would have taken me at least 5 to 6 times longer than I have been typing thus far on my laptop.

As for reading books, I would prefer doing that on my Kindle as it costs less than 1/5 what an iPad does and it runs easily for 4-6 weeks for me on a single charge. And it's got free 3G included with it.

 

[rraod]

All these new tablets, iPads, Galaxy's are fancy items and highly portable. They have their own niche.

I have an iPod and an iPhone. It is very inconvenient to type an email on the virtual keyboard with one hand while holding the device in other hand, forget typing a long article.

For comfort, ease of use and some serious computing, nothing beats a desktop and a notebook with real keyboards and pointing devices.

The tablets are not going to replace the PCs in the near future but only augment them. They are only an evolution but not a revolution.

 

[Max Peck]

Reading a forum on a tablet for me is fine, responding is a serious pain in the butt. Having a full physical keyboard is a must for me to get anything done in a reasonable amount of time. Trying to type what I have just put here on a touchscreen keyboard would have taken me at least 5 to 6 times longer than I have been typing thus far on my laptop.

Agreed, though for short responses and e-mails the tablet would be fine.

As for reading books, I would prefer doing that on my Kindle as it costs less than 1/5 what an iPad does and it runs easily for 4-6 weeks for me on a single charge. And it's got free 3G included with it.

For that and practically everything else portable I use my iPhone4. The "retina" display on it makes book reading extremely easy on my eyes and having all that capability in my pocket is beautiful. I've been a PDA user for years and the PDA finally "arrived" with this one. I use it only secondarily as a phone but even there it's the best phone I've ever used.

Having said all that, though, the iPhone is no replacement for my desktop and laptop machines. It augments them, not replaces them.

-Max

 

[Baja Maniac 913]

View attachment 169887 :d

We sure have come a long way.

 

[smarteyeball]

Having said all that, though, the iPhone is no replacement for my desktop and laptop machines. It augments them, not replaces them.

And so it shall remain in the immediate and forseable future.


One day they will surpass being an augment - but today is not that day.

 

[Max Peck]

Having said all that, though, the iPhone is no replacement for my desktop and laptop machines. It augments them, not replaces them.

And so it shall remain in the immediate and forseable future.


One day they will surpass being an augment - but today is not that day.

Perhaps. However, the tablet and/or smart phone will have to grow a full sized keyboard and 15.6" screen before it'll replace my laptop. Wait ... that's a laptop!

-Max

 

[Coke Robot]

Wait, isn't the average laptop a PC? PCs will be around for quite some time.

As was so eloquently presented by Max Peck (thanks, Max):

One other thing. Anybody else notice this constant back-and-forth thing between centralized and localized computing? I've seen it cycle back-and-forth at least a couple of times in my 35-year career as a developer. Now they're calling the central computing model the "cloud". Before that it was called the "web". Before that it was called "time sharing". Nothing new here!

A laptop is basically a PC. You can install software and games that are built for PCs on either laptops or desktops, the only difference is one is portable and consumes less power. Which really annoys me because every time I see something saying the PC is over, that's like saying every single laptop is becoming extinct when they're becoming more popular than desktops.

 

[QuackPot]

"Steve Jobs thinks so"

That's an indication to stop reading the article. PCs will be here for a long time to come. Screw apple and their overpriced mp3 players.

 

[TVeblen]

Wait, isn't the average laptop a PC? PCs will be around for quite some time.

A laptop is basically a PC. You can install software and games that are built for PCs on either laptops or desktops, the only difference is one is portable and consumes less power. Which really annoys me because every time I see something saying the PC is over, that's like saying every single laptop is becoming extinct when they're becoming more popular than desktops.

An interesting history lesson here: IBM PC compatible - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for those who are interested.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

I could see this in the wind a long time ago. It's not that PC's will over night be taking off the shelves it's that there will be less attention given to Desktop and quite possible Laptops to a degree, I foresee the Desktop to to phased out quicker then laptops, there is more life in laptops. Intel will continue to produce CPU's but at a slower rate, and intels cycle will be slower because they're focus will be on mobile and tablet PC, lower cost and you sell more bulk.

 

[djl47]

The PC isn't dead, it has morphed into a different shape. Pad computing might be a viable platform for users whose deliverables are limited to email and meeting minutes. The people who do real work will require a full sized user interface. This can be provided by a laptop with a docking bay or port replicator. I have used a laptop in the work environment since the mid nineties and recently moved to a laptop for personal use. The classic desktop system will become a specialized platform for gamers, users who require lots of storage and do a lot of burning, and possibly education in the K-5 arena where it isn't necessary to give the kids more fragile laptops.

 

[legacy7955]

The very same article is up on Tom's Hardware in the news section. Exactly the same article!
This tripe seems to be a move by the marketing hacks and manufacturers to TELL the customer what they want. This seems nothing more to me than a greedfest because it is no doubt that they can make even more profit on these gadgets like the tablet and idiotPads. You can't "upgrade" one of these things so you have to buy new every time. What an idea!

 

[TVeblen]

The very same article is up on Tom's Hardware in the news section. Exactly the same article!
This tripe seems to be a move by the marketing hacks and manufacturers to TELL the customer what they want. This seems nothing more to me than a greedfest because it is no doubt that they can make even more profit on these gadgets like the tablet and idiotPads. You can't "upgrade" one of these things so you have to buy new every time. What an idea!

Great point! You've summed up the Apple marketing strategy perfectly.
And let's not forget our cell phones - I mean "Smart" phones - too!

 

[mikedl]

The very same article is up on Tom's Hardware in the news section. Exactly the same article!
This tripe seems to be a move by the marketing hacks and manufacturers to TELL the customer what they want. This seems nothing more to me than a greedfest because it is no doubt that they can make even more profit on these gadgets like the tablet and idiotPads. You can't "upgrade" one of these things so you have to buy new every time. What an idea!

Great point! You've summed up the Apple marketing strategy perfectly.
And let's not forget our cell phones - I mean "Smart" phones - too!

Exactly, TVeblen ...

As is with most things, if you build it, and build it well enough to create an interest and a perceived need, they will come.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
I think this is a re-hash of is the PC dead thread.

1) What is a PC -- I don't care if it's half the size of a modern smartphone provided you can plug a keyboard and a LARGE monitor to it --- and it will run apps like EXCEL / Powerpoint etc. It should also have the option to get data from external devices and write back to these devices again

If it's got a decent monitor and a USEABLE keyboard with some sort of decent GUI - whether windows or linux like then to all intents and purposes it IS a PC.


2) You really can't do any thing like complex Stock exchange trading using two thumbs on a tiny keyboard and screen for data entry - or try creating a powerpoint presentation on even a decent(?) iPad.

Unless you are an inveterate gamer the realm of the DESKTOP PC can be questioned --even large corporations tend to supply laptops to their employees / consultants - but the actual idea of a PC will not go away --just the manner in which we use it has changed --and I for one would love to be able to plug a smartphone into a docking station and use it just like a PC. - A lot less weight to carry around.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[mikedl]

Great post, Jimbo.
I believe we'll be there sooner than we think.
Heck, I use my laptop in the same manner you describe as your vision for Smart Phones. Having it your way would be the best of both worlds
Though I do, occasionally, plug my Smart phone in and link to a keyboard, even now. However, currently, no Smart Phone or Tablet can run my AutoCad (at all) and Photoshop (locally), not to mention running MS Office 2010 (among others) locally, as well.

 

[arkhi]

Yeah... Says the guy (IBM) that submits 4,000 patents every year -_-

 

[mr pc]

Maybe it will end up that those who can build them will have them -

It could re-generate some business for the enthusiasts who used to build/upgrade/fix and make a little $$ on the side