Are PCs going extinct?
If new market research numbers are anything to go by, the PC as we know it might be going the way of the floppy disk.
By comparison, sales of tablets – especially the iPad – are booming.
Let’s look at sales numbers for iPads. Apple says it sold 17 million iPads in the last quarter.
But in the big scheme of things, about 88 million PCs were sold during that same time period. So while they still comfortably outsell iPads, the gap is closing in.
This could all change, however, depending on how Windows 8 does in the market. It’s also quite possible that people were holding off on buying a new PC until Windows 8 launches.
But let’s look at Microsoft’s forthcoming operating system. As I’ve said before, it’s designed to be used primarily with a touchscreen. But several devices are designed to take advantage of the best of both worlds.
Acer, for example, has a laptop that features both a touchscreen and a traditional fold-out keyboard. Other Windows 8 computers will be able to slide into docks at work, then slide out for reading eBooks on the train (or playing video games).
And in case you were wondering – you can get apps with Windows 8. Not exactly the same titles will be there as what’s available in Google or Apple’s ecosystem, but there’ll be quite a healthy selection at launch.
With Apple having so much momentum in the tablet market, (and then some more for Google’s Android OS), will PC sales ever recover? Or is their decline the new norm?
- Maurice Cacho, MSN Tech & Gadgets
Comments
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Posted by: The Question | Oct 20, 2012 10:40:08 AM
I don't believe PCs will ever "go extinct", they will perhaps turn into the minority market though. Too much of my current work is being done on a PC and cannot be done on a tablet at the moment (nor would I want to). Video editing, CAD and 3d animation, anything that requires precise mouse selection or needs serious processing power generally cannot be done on a tablet (... for now). I also can't see where I'd be happy going from two 19" monitors at work to a single 10" tablet for my work space.
Admittedly, I'm drooling over what I'm seeing from the Surface Pro, but it won't replace my PC.
Posted by: Bryan | Oct 20, 2012 1:07:07 PM
I am a big computer user, I have been using computers since the old Tandy days, I think computers are far superior too the Tablet Market, I only use a computer and no tablets at the moment but I am considering buying a tablet so if the computer goes the way of the Floppy I will not miss out. The bottom line is the Computer market becoming the way of the Floppy no I do not think so. Because like I say the Pc Is More Powerful Than anything on the market, But if Apple makes a tablet powerful enough as the Pc then yes the Pc will have a rough time on the market.
Posted by: what a retarded article | Oct 20, 2012 5:44:49 PM
Seriously? Why even think PCs are going extinct. They're essential in office settings, and currently PCs have much more processing power and storage capabilities than tablets. I dont even need to mention more as I'll be wasting my time. PCs are here to stay. They may not be as popular for media uses on the go, but a PC will still be needed.
Posted by: Astroguard | Oct 20, 2012 7:47:32 PM
I don't believe PC will go into extinct at least in the next 5 years. Unless there's a major breakthrough in tablets technology and software support. Tablets are something nice to have but not need to have in an office environment. Size and power do matter when come to processing jobs efficently.
Posted by: whatsupwiththat | Oct 23, 2012 9:06:49 AM
really how could you even think this, u will always need need graphical components and they just dont fit in lap tops, and most lap tops just dont upgrade very well. but if they can start downsizing graphics cards to become more powerful in lap tops then sure it could happen.
Posted by: Scott | Oct 23, 2012 10:45:25 AM
No, PCs will never go extinct. Those who need high-powered devices (3d animators, gamers, analyzers of big data, etc) will always need the biggest and most powerful. Even though the tablet/smartphone market is growing and the devices are getting more powerful, they will never catch up to desktop versions. Yes, the tablets of tomorrow may be as powerful as the desktops of today, but the desktops of tomorrow will be more powerful than the tablets of tomorrow. No matter how much you miniaturize, you will always be able to make a bigger version that is more powerful / cheaper.
Also, as a comment above me mentioned, I wouldn't want to go from playing games on 2 32" monitors with a mouse and keyboard to a 10" tablet with a touchscreen.
Posted by: Jtan | Oct 23, 2012 11:49:45 AM
for the cost of an Ipad I can get a I7 chipset with almost 12GB RAM in a desktop PC. Plus another 150 bucks gets me a 24 in screen. Really how does the 2 compare. I use that for everything and a media server at home.
Sure portability, but in most cases it's only checking emails and texting. Most ppl. do that on their phones. I totally understand that the iphone is useless for those purpose with just a 4 in screen, but most people can go for a better phone from any of the other companies.
Anyways, why would I carry a 10 inch tablet in my hand the whole day long.
Personally the tablet market is over rated.
Posted by: Tony | Oct 23, 2012 1:46:24 PM
The tablet market is filling in a niche market that was never designed to replace the desktop / laptop environment. The tech sector has played around with this tablet sector for years even before the introduction of the iPad. The idea of the iPad was nothing new for anyone that was following the tablet market.
It is very similar to the argument of the Cloud based computing. SUN among others have talked about it for years.
The reason we are seeing tablets outpacing the desktop / laptops in sales is primarily due to the maturity of each respective market. Desktops / laptops have been out there for over 20 years. How long has the tablet market been around?
Consumers naturally attract to something new to add to the cache of their personal belongings. Hence the exponential growth curve in sales. This is not to say that it will continue to grow. Simply put, if you charted the volume sales on the vertical axis and the time on the market on the vertical axis, you will find similar deltas.
People who have had a tablet for any considerable period of time (a year or two) will find that they continue to use their desktops / laptops. The tablet only serves to compliment connectivity in a mobile situation. In a dormant state, the desktop / laptop rules as the most practical purpose in generating the greatest productivity.
Arguments are made that the tablet can be complimented by a bluetooth keyboard. However, step back and look what you have done. You have effectively recreated a laptop, albeit a broken one.
Posted by: christian louboutin schuhe | Jan 2, 2013 3:03:59 AM
Wie nett du bist! Dieser Beitrag ist sehr gut.