Recently, there have been a few articles on the TIME magazine about the predicted end of the PC. With millions and millions of PCs in use all around the world, is this prediction maybe a little premature?
The story goes like this. Both Microsoft and Apple have recently been releasing and developing technology that goes beyond the simple PC. With tablets, smart phones and cloud computing, why would we even need clunky desktops and laptops?
For example, the successor to the current Windows 7, (codenamed Windows 8, I know, very original of them…) is an operating system designed primarily for tablets, although it will be able to work on other items, and is apparently much like the current Windows 7 for phones.
There are a few problems with this story. For one, a definition of PC may be needed. As Henry McCracken from TIME’s Techland writes, the definition of PC according to Miriam Webster’s dictionary is:
Personal computer
noun
a general-purpose computer equipped with a microprocessor and designed to run especially commercial software (as a word processor or Internet browser) for an individual user
Um… Sounds a bit like a tablet, don’t you think? Maybe even a smart phone?
Even the components that traditionally make up a “PC” can be found in many other gadgets like the tablet and smart phone, among others. Screen, keyboard (if you want to be pedantic, you could even say QWERTY keyboard), processing power, storage, etc. Yep, last I checked, these could all apply to my phone…
The second problem, is that many people just won’t want to change from their PCs too soon. Often, a PC can be seen as a tool for serious work, when you are sitting in your office typing out a report for your boss. A tablet is great for travel and flexibility, but may not be as popular for other stuff just yet.
Maybe we should stop and think a bit before declaring things obsolete. Three years ago, there was an article punting the end of Facebook, a couple of days ago I read another article saying that Facebook is killing websites!
