As many have found out, through commercials, internet ads and by word-of-mouth, smart phones and personal tablets are all the rage in technology. Why do we like these machines so much ? The answer is relatively simple: convenience. The majority wants to be able to social network, email, communicate and do all the things that a personal computer (PC) can do while being completely mobile. We want all the power of a PC in an easy-to-use, easy-to-transport packaging. If we can have the vast functions of a computer in a cell phone, why wouldn't we? And with thousands of useful and entertaining smart phone and tablet apps, everything we need is in our pocket. Some of the driving forces behind this trend that I have noticed include these apps, 4G technology and touchscreen technology. Everyone is after the "lastest and greatest."
However, according to this article, http://money.cnn.com/2011/10/19/technology/intel_pc_sales/index.htm,PC's aren't going to go down without a fight. They're putting up a good one, too. As the article states, the company Intel, though seeing "slumping demand" for PC's in the United States and Canada, has seen great increases in demand world-wide. China has become number one in the personal computer market in the last quarter.
Though it seems PC's aren't necessarily suffering, they are in no way reaping the benefits that media tablets like the iPad are. And experts are guessing that the demand for these tablets is only going to continue to rise: http://www.itchannelplanet.com/trends/article.php/3908851/Media-Tablet-Sales-Worldwide-Expected-to-Jump-181-Percent-in-2011.htm.
Though this article seems like 'old news,' it shows that really, we've seen this trend already. Companies, like Apple, are continually producing products like these that make our lives supposedly easier. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/14/us-apple-research-idUSTRE72D30020110314
It's going to get even bigger from there. Many wonder what this will mean for the personal computer industry, though it seems to be maintaining itself--how much longer can it do this? Will PC's become arbitrary? Doubtful, but it will be very interesting to see where this trend takes us as consumers, and where technology will go from this point on.
As an owner of a smartphone (a BlackBerry Torch), I feel like I will never have a reason to use anything other than it and my laptop--they seem portable enough. I wonder if I'll jump on the bandwagon of tablets...we'll see!
It's sad to see the PC going out. I remember when PCs arrived on the scene and they literally took the world by storm. I purchased my own computer and was ahead of many curbs (several of my classmates were sharing with their parents). Of course, it didn't take long for laptops to attract attention. PCs are not going to last much longer as "the thing to buy"; however, they will continue to be seen in office spaces and classrooms. Can you imagine filling a student lab at a school with high-tech tablets? Yes, innovative, and yes, potentially dangerous. The PCs will continue to aid the technology we are forming.
ReplyDeleteI cannot say that I have ever considered purchasing my own pc. In fact that last time I used one was in high school, living with my parents! My friend, a computer programmer, will not buy anything but a pc. I find that interesting...I should ask her sometime why, but I haven't thought about it before now!
ReplyDeleteSocial media has been affected greatly by tablets and smartphones. The fact that anyone can post anything from anywhere has increased the social media phenomenon. It seems like the PC industry will eventually falter and go out of business, but it keeps hanging around. Until laptops can function exactly like a PC, they will not overtake the PC industry. There are pros and cons to each machine so they will coincide for a while. It will be interesting to see what happens in the future. Great post!
ReplyDeleteSmart phones and Tablets are out-dating the PC but I don't think the PC is obselite. I don't think it would be plausible for a whole company to run on smart phones and tablets so I would think that is where they will thrive. Me, myself I do not have a smart phone or tablet although I have done a lot of hands on work with a smartphone and I don't see someone writing there paper on iphone unless its a last min cram. Secondly when doing a lot of work on a computer like research or class work i find a PC like my laptop to be the most useful they can hold a lot more data and run multiple windows and applications at once. Also I don't see it to be very comfortable to write a 10 page paper with a touch screen the give that a keyboard allows makes typing more comfortable for long periods of time
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