30 Years On, The PC Is No Longer The Leading Edge Of Computing

[engine]

30 Years On, The PC Is No Longer The Leading Edge Of Computing [bbc.co.uk]

PCs are going the way of typewriters, vinyl records and vacuum tubes, one of the engineers who worked on the original machine has said.

The claim was made in a blog post commemorating 30 years since the launch of the first IBM personal computer.

No longer, said Dr Mark Dean, are PCs the leading edge of computing.

No single device has taken the PC's place, he said, instead it has been replaced by the socially-mediated innovation it has fostered.

I was thinking back 30 years to my first PC in the office. Others looked on in amazement at what it could do.
Previously, it'd been the mainfram and mini that ruled the roost.

[wheel]

My son just got a samsung galaxy II. It's called a cellphone, but I'd be hard pressed to determine why it's not actually what we would call a 'pc'.

[piatkow]

What is a personal computer?
IN my view
1. A self contained unit for a single end user
2. Tailorable - you can install your own apps and write your own apps
3. Capable of transferring data to external media from which it can be loaded onto other compatible machines

I don't care what operating system in runs, its a computer and its personal.

[J_RaD]

oh look ANOTHER ARTICLE preaching the death of the computer ( PC ).

how long have they been writing these? 10 years now? *yawn*

[engine]

oh look ANOTHER ARTICLE preaching the death of the computer ( PC ).

This time, it's nearer the truth, imho.

samsung galaxy II.

I'd be hard pressed to determine why it's not actually what we would call a 'pc'.

I agree, it's amazing.

@piatkow

Yes, its now harder to define.

[jecasc]

Maybe a PC will be a screen, a mouse and a keyboard with a docking station for a smartphone that has the computing power of a modern PC in a few years. But that's about it. And I doubt even that - when I think how often I forget my phone at home or in the office. "Oh, hello I am going to leave again, because I forgot the very heart of my PC on my nightstand."

There is a big error in thinking in these predictions. I am writing this posting on my home computer on a Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard. Why did I throw the standard keyboard that came with my PC away and got this? For the same reason a smartphone or tablet can never replace a "normal PC setup". Because it is also about usability and ergonomics and not only about computing power. Especially in businesses. If I told my employes that I would replace their dual 23 inch monitor, ergonomic workplaces with an iPad they would kick my butt and leave. And actually I would close down and go with them. An iPad is a nice toy but not for everyday/allday use.

So I go with the Microsoft guy in the article: The future will be PC-plus and not minus-PC.

[wheel]

I think where we're going is that some small cellphone/portable device will become the heart of our computing capability that we then just move around from connection to connection. I think Apple's already going there with the connectivity between the mac, iphone, and ipad. In fact I mentioned the galaxy to a buddy yesterday, told him it outshone the iphone - and he said he wouldn't move because the phone worked with his mac.

[J_RaD]

Maybe a PC will be a screen, a mouse and a keyboard with a docking station for a smartphone

cause that worked so well for Motorola *gag*

I think Apple's already going there with the connectivity between the mac, iphone, and ipad.

apple is going there so you get so locked into their ecosystem of total control and can't see outside of it. They've got the users on the hook, now all they have to do is reel them in and make dinner out of them!

[brotherhood of LAN]

Most directory structures would now define the old school PC as a 'desktop'.

[J_RaD]

every device has its place and usage, there isn't going to be this ONE holy grail device that just does it all.

sounds like the home shopping network trying to sell me some kitchen device.


the PC will never die, laptop or desktop. They might slow down in sales but go away forever? no way.

We've even have ARM notebooks being released next year.

[engine]

Acer has a view on this, too.

Acer's Founder Says Tablet PCs Are Short Term Fads [webmasterworld.com]

[StoutFiles]

When did PC get defined as a bulky desktop? Unless we reach a day where EVERYTHING is stored on the cloud, the PC will never die. Not to mention the service providers are starting to regulate bandwidth...do you want to be limited on how much you can use your own files?

Desktops, laptops, netbooks, smartphones, gaming consoles...they're all personal computers. Desktops may indeed die one day but PC's in general will never die, just evolve.

[engine]

I suspect the original title of PC was prefixed with IBM Personal Computer, or IBM PC.

Personal computer does mean so many more things, and i'm certainly not yet ready to move over to the cloud.

[J_RaD]

Desktops may indeed die one day but PC's in general will never die, just evolve.

I don't see desktops ever dying either, I don't think any form factor will ever just go away, they all have their uses.

Acer has a view on this, too.

I agree, apple just created some device which they could slap ultra high markups on and are trying to push them as the 2nd coming....... remember netbooks? that lasted just as long. The TV ads over and over create the illusion, but hype wares off. If apple could charge you $1,000 for brick they would... iBrick. The only thing apple innovates anymore is the ways they will fish money out of their sheeples wallets.

[engine]

Oh, I forgot to mention, the wife's iPad requires a PC to sync and backup.

[graeme_p]

I can also not see desktops going away altogether because they are ergonomically much better than any other form factor. Even my laptop spends most of its time with an external keyboard, trackball and speakers plugged into it, and I will probably buy a bigger monitor at some point.

I can see myself replacing it with a netbook or tablet and some kind of docking station. I like hybrids like this:
[alwaysinnovating.com...]

[edited by: lawman at 4:30 pm (utc) on Aug 12, 2011]
[edit reason] fix link [/edit]

[StoutFiles]

Oh, I forgot to mention, the wife's iPad requires a PC to sync and backup.

The next OS update (iOS 5) will be getting rid of the PC to sync/backup. Assuming you have an iCloud, of course.

[J_RaD]

of course....further locking you into apples grip.

I can see myself replacing it with a netbook or tablet and some kind of docking station. I like hybrids like this:

why not a shuttle form factor or even mini-itx?

[bakedjake]

I can also not see desktops going away altogether because they are ergonomically much better than any other form factor.

It's hard to get work done on an iPad or a cell phoen. At least for me. I have a 30" monitor at 2560x1600 and I really can't see giving up that real estate and a keyboard for data massaging. Folks say they can type "just as fast" on an iPad or a phone as a PC keyboard, but I certainly cannot.

why not a shuttle form factor or even mini-itx?

Just built my most recent Shuttle and love it to bits. We've got them all over the house (as well as smartphones and an iPad).

Don't forget that portable devices (even laptops) and desktops are completely opposed when it comes to features. By default, most tablets are not expandable/upgradeable/user servicable in any way. Most of them don't store data (locally) in any robust way - I couldn't store and search the contents of my Microsoft Outlook PST on any portable device, for example. They are greatly restrained by their concern for battery life.

Laptops are better about expandability and user service, but still hampered by concern for battery life and portability.

Desktops may become a niche market. But the AS400 is still around, and with good reason. ;-)

Where the article is wrong? Graphics and massively parallel computing. Graphics subsystems in portable devices (even laptops) lag desktop graphics capabilities by 5 years.

There's an article I read somewhere recently, where the author basically said "I love my iPad to bits and think it is marvellous, but it's not really useful." I love my iPad too - but I use it mostly while cooking for recipes and when I need to look something up on the web quickly. I don't even have email configured on it.

Another friend of mine (in enterprise tech) refers to iPads as "media consumption devices".

Dr. Dean said he's moved on to a tablet as his main computing device. That's nice, but it tells me he's not doing much engineering anymore, because I'm not aware of many professional grade applications for engineering available on tablets today. I'm happy to be proved wrong on this though - I'd love to know about them if they exist!

[londrum]

seeing as the story was probably written on a PC, uploaded to a website designed on a PC, maintained on a PC, and then read by us on a PC, and then talked about on here using a PC, i think the story might be jumping the gun a bit

[jecasc]

Folks say they can type "just as fast" on an iPad or a phone as a PC keyboard, but I certainly cannot.

What they actually mean is "just as slow" because those are usually "hunt and peck" typers. It often looks fast, yet it is still on letter a f t e r a n o t h e r and nothing compared to touch typing with ten fingers on an ergonomic keyboard.

[graeme_p]

I had a small form factor desktop a few years an, but I could not just pick it up and take it with me.

Tablets are for consuming, not creating. Real work needs a keyboard, a different UI, and a different range of software.

[J_RaD]

^ sync what data you need, pick up your laptop and go.

Just built my most recent Shuttle and love it to bits. We've got them all over the house

i've been using them on and off since the SV25! It has now dropped off due to their lack of AMD support :-(

What they actually mean is "just as slow" because those are usually "hunt and peck" typers.

hahaha CORRECT!

[dcheney]

IMO, other form factors (tablet, phone, netbook, etc.) will remain secondary until there is a better (both reliable & efficient) input method than keyboards.

[J_RaD]

well i don't see that happening until we get our brains hardwired.

[piatkow]

there isn't going to be this ONE holy grail device that just does it all.

All mobile phones include a clock but how many mobile phone users have given up wearing wrist watches?

[engine]

@StoutFiles

The next OS update (iOS 5) will be getting rid of the PC to sync/backup. Assuming you have an iCloud, of course.

No iCloud here, and unlikely to get it. I'd rather keep my files locally.

From an earlier thread, printing from an iPad is really hard. Printing from a PC is real easy.Why is it so hard to print from iPad, and what's your solution?
[webmasterworld.com]

[Sgt_Kickaxe]

I'm not interested in iCloud either, my files are mine. I also look at ANY cellphone or tablet display as a MAJOR downgrade from my current setup of monitors. I still cannot stand typing on a touch screen or mini-keyboard and so I will remain a dinosaur with my big screens and monster sized case full of interchangeable goodness.

[graeme_p]

My tablet works perfectly well with a full size USB keyboard, a mouse works but does not show a pointer, and it has an HDMI output.

If it was more powerful, and had a more flexible OS, it could replace a PC - and there are tablets that look like they you do most of my work.

[jecasc]

My tablet works perfectly well with a full size USB keyboard, a mouse works but does not show a pointer, and it has an HDMI output.

If it was more powerful, and had a more flexible OS, it could replace a PC - and there are tablets that look like they you do most of my work.

Ok - but if you hook in a USB keyboard, mouse - perhaps additional monitor - what are you doing then? You are turning your tablet into a Desktop PC.