They're killing the PC...

[slaapliedje]

I always laugh at these "the PC is dead!" articles.  The simple fact of the matter is that the 'PC' is an open hardware platform where manufacturers can't really force people to use a specific set of software (they are certainly trying recently, with Windows 8 and the big push towards online stores).

Another interesting fact for all these "Sales are way down!" comments.  Most people have a PC that are interested in having one.  Hell, if I counted all the computers I have;

Desktop/Gaming system, Server, Minecraft/Redmine server, Laptop, and I have two more that I need some parts for.  Of course my glorious Amiga as well.  These are all just my own computers.

Computers are so cheap now days that everyone has at least one, and the profits on the hardware are pretty small.  Which really is why all the smartphone/tablet people keep saying the 'PC' is dead, because they would prefer that it would be.

I actually met one guy who said he did everything he needed on his Android phone and got rid of his computer.  Personally the browsing experience and just doing everything on a touch screen is painful, and only useful in a pinch.

General computing won't go away anytime soon, since there are so many people / places that need it.  Tablets and Smartphones are basically just appliances that can only do things in a small scope very well.  Sure they can try to attach and make it do different things, but how many average people want to flash roms or root their phones to make them more useful for general computing?

slaapliedje

[commodorejohn]

Another interesting fact for all these "Sales are way down!" comments.  Most people have a PC that are interested in having one.

Which tablet advocates willfully ignore or insist doesn't count because...because reasons, I guess.

[Amiga_Nut]

Same as the Netbook launch, it's all just marketing BS really.

Now what I would like to see is a watch that will run BlitzBasic games for Windows...now THAT would be more useful than a re-boot of the tablet PC machines from the turn of the century haha

[Kesa]

I see the supposed death of the PC as a pendulum in that for now people are favouring devices with pc's being out of fashion. In a few years from now people will realise that smartphones aren't really that great for everyday computing so the pendulum will shift towards the pc again with devices being relegated to simply gimmicks. Maybe the definition of what a pc is will change but the idea is still valid.

[persia]

Trotsky will return too!

[Amiga_Nut]

I see the supposed death of the PC as a pendulum in that for now people are favouring devices with pc's being out of fashion. In a few years from now people will realise that smartphones aren't really that great for everyday computing so the pendulum will shift towards the pc again with devices being relegated to simply gimmicks. Maybe the definition of what a pc is will change but the idea is still valid.

Probably for the consumer market I agree, but even company exec's who get iPads etc still more than likely are given a desktop in their office too. Add to that the regular office workers using desktop PCs and sadly Microsoft will outlive even my niece's grand children I bet (she isn't old enough to have kids, that's how terrible this situation is!)

And the CPU wars are even worse, Macs use x86 and now so will the two biggest console manufacturers in the west.

x86 and Windows.....it's like 1990 all over again.......you're all doomed...dooooooomed

[Megamig]

I see a conspiracy... Hardware manufactuers want to change more and give less.. under the guise of so-called market trends.

Here are a few examples

[MAC] ... [Remove Floppy Drive] ... [Remove SuperDrive] -- charge the same
[PC] ... [Remove Optical Drive] ... Call it a Netbook -- charge a premium

Remove keyboard.. mouse.. call it a bloody tablet..

I agree with many on here. Desktops have the RAW power that other systems lack. This is definitely the case when it comes to CPU power and hard/optical drive speed!

[LaserBack]

ppl who use tablets and smartphones are the most dumb, IQ of such ppl is equal to a chimp
I have a cheap android 7' table but I use only to read pdf books
mostly I read cyndirella, snow white etc
but for all  I always use my core i5 PC gamer desktop

[Jpan1]

Well, in one way it good that the PC is undergoing some kind of shape changing metamorphosis - but still, the fact is that PC's will be needed for doing 'proper' stuff on.
Portable devices are great, but they won't replace the PC or even kill it.
I would be in favour of future computing to be more 'lego like' where only parts would be upgraded and not the whole device. This would be far more efficient and less wasteful than upgrading constantly to 'new' and 'better' devices, which more or less do the same thing as my what my old Amiga does! In fact the Amiga/ST/C64 etc - bridge the gap between tablets and laptops - they just need plug n play monitors, and off we go! Maybe 'home computing' will come back home...

[bloodline]

ppl who use tablets and smartphones are the most dumb, IQ of such ppl is equal to a chimp
I have a cheap android 7' table but I use only to read pdf books
mostly I read cyndirella, snow white etc
but for all  I always use my core i5 PC gamer desktop

I appreciate the stella assessment of my intellect you have carefully made there!

I might suggest that those who are unable to figure out how to establish a new work flow using a tablet are nothing more than ageing dinosaurs destined to die out, while the others around them adapt and reap the rewards... But I won't

[Iggy]

I appreciate the stella assessment of my intellect you have carefully made there!

I might suggest that those who are unable to figure out how to establish a new work flow using a tablet are nothing more than ageing dinosaurs destined to die out, while the others around them adapt and reap the rewards... But I won't

While my opinion on Linux is quite tempered by actually researching the kernel, this opinion is just downright silly.

[LaserBack]

I appreciate the stella assessment of my intellect you have carefully made there!

I might suggest that those who are unable to figure out how to establish a new work flow using a tablet are nothing more than ageing dinosaurs destined to die out, while the others around them adapt and reap the rewards... But I won't

I was not talking about you specifically,a few percentage of ppl who use a tablet can be smart
I was talking about  most of the ppl ie dumb masses
anyways
what kind of new work flow you can do on a tablet?
ppl is fingering such things like monkeys, observe a camwhore using a tablet and you will understand
Tablets are useful only to read ebooks, otherwise obsolete for me

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

If you're going to call someone else "dumb" please at least use proper grammar and punctuation. :furious:

[commodorejohn]

I might suggest that those who are unable to figure out how to establish a new work flow using a tablet are nothing more than ageing dinosaurs destined to die out, while the others around them adapt and reap the rewards... But I won't

I might suggest that some of us are capable of adapting but would first have to see any sign of these implied "rewards" for going to the time and effort of adapting to a device only slightly more portable than a small laptop, which requires an outboard keyboard and attachment case for convenient text entry, has only a low-precision pointing device, is constrained to only use vendor-approved software unless hacked, and cannot be upgraded at all, and I also might suggest that the implied existence of such rewards is merely post-purchase rationalization on the part of persons who want to think themselves futurey as defined by Wired.

So I will.

[trekiej]

I wonder if computers are going the way of the Doe Doe bird?
Also, it looks like another power grab. It forces people to buy something else.
If I can not build a computer, then I just will not be able own one.
edit: Maybe that is what they want.

[commodorejohn]

That's exactly what they want. Computer-as-disposable-appliance is what this has been about from day one.