"Is the PC Dead?" - CNN report

[Paolo]

For what it's worth, at least from my perspective, it's a disaster right now.

We have one laptop at work running Win7, and you can't use it.

6 Gig RAM, brand new, and it's a pokey piece of shit that Talula's old laptop run circles around.

I guess I'd better keep my old XP CD handy, for offline WORK computers that aren't for stupid kids who want to play.

Here's an idea for Microshit - build a PC for those of us with WORK to do who need to make a living, and don't have a mom and dad to buy us stupid toys!

*

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/29/tech/gami ... google_cnn

(CNN) -- There's a devastating narrative being told about the PC these days: It's dying.

It's not a slow death either. Sales of traditional PCs are collapsing faster than anyone expected.

And this isn't just some vague perception from the anti-Microsoft crowd. This is backed up with real data, most notably in the latest IDC report (http://www.businessinsider.com/the-pc-i ... des-2013-4) released this month that says PC sales are down 14% year over year.

The entire market appears to be imploding, and it doesn't just apply to PCs running Windows. Even Apple's Mac computer sales are basically flat year over year (http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-q2-earnings-2013-4), yet its iPad business continues to grow.

So what's going on here? Why aren't people buying regular laptops and desktops anymore?

There are a ton of theories floating around out there, but the consensus seems to be that PC makers still haven't figured out how to leverage the transition into mobile devices.

Perhaps the biggest blame falls on Microsoft. It made a huge gamble with the introduction of Windows 8, a radically different kind of operating system designed primarly for touchscreen devices (http://www.businessinsider.com/surface- ... iew-2013-2). Windows 8 replaces your traditional desktop screen with a new touch-friendly start menu that has a lot of people confused (http://www.businessinsider.com/microsof ... -8-2012-10).

IDC's report sums it up nicely:

"While some consumers appreciate the new form factors and touch capabilities of Windows 8, the radical changes to the UI, removal of the familiar Start button, and the costs associated with touch have made PCs a less attractive alternative to dedicated tablets and other competitive devices. Microsoft will have to make some very tough decisions moving forward if it wants to help reinvigorate the PC market."

It's as if Microsoft is eating itself, trying to catch up with the mobile revolution while still packaging its new operating system in pricey hardware that's clearly declining in popularity with consumers. And because Windows 8 tablets are full PCs with expensive components, people are moving to cheaper tablets like the iPad Mini (http://www.businessinsider.com/ipad-mini-review-2012-11) or ones based on Google's Android operating system.

After all, why buy a brand new expensive computer that's difficult to learn when you can get an easy-to-use tablet that can do most of the same stuff at a fraction of the price?

However, there is a small ray of hope for the Microsoft faithful.

Microsoft is gearing up to release a new version of Windows (http://www.businessinsider.com/everythi ... lue-2013-4) later this year, codenamed Windows Blue. According to several reports, Blue will give users the option to replace the new start screen with a traditional desktop by default. If the reports are true, it would be a smart move, and one that could help ease the transition into modern mobile computing.

The company is also toying around with the idea of making smaller, cheaper tablets that are much more popular with consumers. Microsoft recently issued a statement to its manufacturing partners (http://www.businessinsider.com/7-inch-m ... let-2013-3) that Windows 8 will now support smaller screens in the 7-inch range. Plus there are several reports that Microsoft will add such a tiny tablet to its Surface line of devices. You can expect to see a bunch of similar devices from other manufacturers later this year.

Let's be clear though. This game isn't over yet.

Apple hasn't won. Microsoft and Google haven't either. The personal computing industry has been turned on its head, and everyone is still noodling around with strategies on how to adapt. Even the way we define "PC" is changing, and we're getting to the point where there's almost no distinction between mobile and regular computing.

The PC as we know it may be dying, but the PC as it will be is just getting started.

[Riverwind (imported)]

Contrary to popular belief you and I buying PC's don't drive the market, its businesses buying PC's.

A business will not buy the new Windows 8 system just because Microshaft came out with it, they will stick to the older tried and true Windows 7. Think about it this way, the cost of new machines and new OS for a company of 5000 employees, this is a major investment and companies don't like to have their employees on several different systems. Both of these costs a lot of money. Going from XP to Windows 7 was not a big jump, small learning curve but from what I understand going to Win 8 is a leap of faith. The big corporations will not buy into this and it will cost Microshaft dearly before its over.

Now is the time for open systems to come to the rescue, if they play it right Microshaft will have forever more a much smaller market share. I look forward to it. However there is still all the other software out there that must work with what ever os. That is one of the problems MS faces, non compatibility issues. This is not a good time for businesses to make this kind of investment so they will pass.

PC's are not going to be replaced with tablets or Ipods, companies are not going to buy new PC's until they know what os they will be using and if its compatible with what they already have.

River

[cheetaking243 (imported)]

Still using Windows XP, and still have no desire whatsoever to upgrade.

[Losethem (imported)]

Many businesses run spreadsheets and data programs on their machines. Those require a lot of input from a user in the form of keyboards and other traditional interfaces. I'd be hard pressed to run a spreadsheet on an iPad without having a keyboard interface and an easier way to move the cursor around than touching the screen.

It took me a while to get used to a touchpad instead of a regular mouse, but I did. But I enjoy not having finger smudges all over my viewing surface.

--LT

[Slammr (imported)]

I like new gadgets, and I tried to like the Surface, but I don't. At home, the computer I use most has Windows 7 on it. While I did upgrade one laptop to Windows 8, I wish I hadn't. Without a touchscreen, it's a waste, so I seldom use that laptop anymore, and when I do, I'm in the desktop using the old Windows.

The new Windows 8 Laptop/tablet machines are way over priced. My old Windows 7 computers are more powerful and I have no need or desire to upgrade them to Windows 8. I don't know why any business would want to upgrade theirs.

I never take a laptop anywhere with me. I have a Samsung note 10.1 tablet that I love and take everywhere. I can do anything on it, including writing in a Word program, as well as I can on a Laptop. Using the predictive keyboard on the tablet, I can type as fast as I can on a regular keyboard. I'm a big fan of tablets. I surf the web, write, and play games on them. I've tried typing on the Surface. I can type twice as fast on my tablet.

The one Microsoft kiosk in Oregon that sells the Surface always has more sales reps than customers. I wonder when the last time was they sold one? I've never seen them sell one lately. The Surface RT is a joke, and the Surface Pro, at $1000, is grossly over priced, and even at half that price, I wouldn't buy one of them.

If I need a laptop, I'll take along the one I have, but I never need a laptop anymore. I'm taking a trip next month, and I was thinking about taking along my laptop, but the more I think about it, I'll probably just take my tablet.

Everyone is going mobile, and the Windows 8 tablets can't match either the IPad or Android tablets. I'm no longer a fan of the IPad. Although I have one, except for one or two apps, I never use it. In my opinion, the Samsung Note 10.1 is the best tablet available. They make an 8 inch note tablet that I like, too, but it's over priced at $400. It also comes with a pen stylus like the 10.1, and I really like using the pen. Of course, I had to buy one, and I take it when I don't want to carry around the bigger one.

I have the old Kindle Fire, because it has no camera, and I can use it at work. It sucks. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't buy a Kindle fire. Their propitiatory app store sucks. You have to buy all the apps from Amazon. If you've already purchased the app for an Android device, you're out of luck. You have to buy it all over again for the Kindle, whereas, you buy an app for an android device, you can use it on any other android device, no matter who manufactures it. That's one of the things I don't like about Apple, also.

I vote that the PC is either dead or is awfully sick, at least.

[moi621 (imported)]

I have avoided tablets because of my "Essential Tremor", worse with intent, and finer intent.

I cannot thread a needle.

My PC is always the larger one for the larger keyboard. I could not type as accurately on the standard, smaller size.

With a keyboard I maintain control with light touch on keys not being used,

would you recommend a tablet for me.

Probably a larger one.

Or I should stay on the more manual, push button lap top or keyboard?

I prefer crisp key action too. Not feather.

Best &

[Losethem (imported)]

I purchased a keyboard/cover (combo) yesterday for the one iPad this household has. It made typing e-mails and the like a bit easier, but getting that damn iPad to interface with an HP printer is a nightmare. Then at that I can't find a way to secure the printer wireless signal so that it can't be used by others (IE I can't figure out how to lock it like you do a router), which from what I can tell makes my network open for use by others. Not good, but that issue is an HP problem, not an iPad problem.

Then you're left with the issue of being able to move a pointer around and manipulating data as you do on a regular computer. I use spreadsheets quite a bit and would find doing what I need to with a touch device cumbersome. Why anyone ever thought touchscreens for full-size machines is a good idea is beyond me, other than to keep them similar to all these new and smaller devices. Again, I dislike finger smudges all over my screen and touch screens can't avoid that without having to wipe them down 5 times per use.

iPads and other similar devices have a long way to go before I'd consider them worthy of being a laptop or desktop replacement device. I love my Macbook Air and the iPad is close to it as far as many things go, but the interface is far superior on the Macbook for what I use it for.

The good thing about the iPads and Android devices is it is making software designers take into consideration smaller storage capacities for their operating systems and programs/apps. Microsoft kept making windows an unwieldy space hog instead of streamlining it. If nothing else these tablets have made software designers go back and streamline the code to make it more efficient. Perhaps Windows 8 is great under the surface and in the background, but the user interface (UI) SUCKS!

--LT

[fhunter]

Death of PCs is grossly exaggerated. You just can not do seful work on touchscreen device. View your mail - check. But writing anything longer than a twitter post (140 symbols) is a chore. After some time you start to avoid writing, cause it is too slow. Move to anything specialized, and the situation would be even worse.

May be I am old fashioned, but I can not properly type without proper tactile feedback (yes, I have an old IBM M1 keyboard clone on my desk - that big clicky thing from 90s). And one more thing - touchscreen keyboard can be good or bad, but after auto-correct corrects you wrong for tenth time in a row, that gets old pretty quickly. The situation is even worse on smartphones (tiny keyboard, stupid auto-correct, difficult to put punctuation). I have a Palm PDA, where input system is better (handwriting recognition), but it is hopelessly outdated as a platform.

And I am really bothered by current trend on tablets - all your data is in the cloud. all your <s>base</s> data belongs to us. UGH.

I still prefer PC.

PS. I use Linux at home, and I tuned my desktop by hand, so I am more or less immune against M$ stupidities. Yes, my desktop is about 4 or 5 years old, but it works, is quiet and is good enough. Why should I buy something else?

[Paolo]

I love the old clicky keyboards!

I was told at work today that we have a new lab computer ordered, with Windows 7 pro. Unfortunately, the printing machine MUST run Windows 2000, and from what I've read, 7 won't 'talk to' it. If so, this makes my job literally impossible to do. I have a feeling this new computer won't last 1 day...

[daifu-orchid (imported)]

We run lab instruments on XP, and much on XP -even some Abobe high-end products refuse to run on 7. -even coaxed with compatibility mode. We have tehrefore moved much over the last few years to Linux. someting of a learning curve at first, but it works and practically everything on it -even stuff we got for Red Hat 5 - still runs. (In fairness, while it can run, we have updated with newer and improved versions and apps too.) Linux plusses: extreme stability, commendable speed, fixable open-source code, easy networking. We like not so much: inability to run non-standards-complieant hardware made specifically for M$. File compatibility is very good, and there is much in common under the skin of a Mac.

-I suspect that EA's vBulletin system might well be hosted on Linux. Maybe not, but Paolo knows. Let's see if he reads this and lets us in on the secret.