The question implicit here would have meant something completely different five years ago. But things are changing: computers are shrinking; tablets are knocking; the clouds are forming. The PC will thrive, says Ballmer, because PCs encompass all of this. [Bits]
Dave Jacka
Friday, June 4, 2010 at 10:31 AMHe’s exactly right but he also confirms whats Steve Jobs said earlier about people moving away from he calls PC’s. In the definition of PC Steve Ballmer is correct. It is just a personal computer and the form factor is what will change. Maybe Steve Jobs should have said people will move towards devices other than Desktop PC’s (Mac Desktop PC’s included). I envision a world where my Desktop is the “truck” for the heavy load work, Xbox like gaming device is also TV tuner / DVR and then whatever else for consuming media, e.g. iPad iPhone or whatever else there is. Love competition everyone because it what gives us consumers the awesome products we have today and what we’ll get tomorrow.
Shane
Friday, June 4, 2010 at 10:34 AMI think the PC might becoming something very different then what we think of it today.
I can see having a centralised “box” which allows all my “disconnected” devices to sync with each other (are you listening Apple). This doesn’t need to be the cloud (as I’d prefer to have most of my data stored some where within my control with possible cloud backups) as well as place for my devices to store data (like docs and settings).
Laptops will become smaller in form (think MacAir) and the desktop will most likely move towards a glorified dumb terminal (think a small form factor box with an inbuilt OS (lets hope it’s customizable). It should have the ability to store some apps locally, run some apps via the “central” box and store docs remotely.
For people who need extended storage we will need to have faster (USB3+ – inbuilt external sata) connectivity to allow people to connect to external drives.
Of course, having my microwave, fridge, pantry, wardrobe and just about any other flat surface become a interface might just drive me crazy!! Although, if they could sync all the clocks I’d be really happy
boc
Friday, June 4, 2010 at 1:46 PMAt the moment my desktop pc is used for work, games, downloading, internet, mail, and file storage.
I bought a NAS so downloading and file storage will be offloaded onto that over time.
Internet and mail I will move onto a tablet when a decent non-Apple tablet comes out.
Hopefully my desktop will eventually be just a work and game machine.