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PC is dead
What if you have an option to connect your mobile device to a larger screen as and when required, somtthing like a Windows 10 OS.
performance and upgradability
Both performance and upgradability are the ones that do it for me. (Not to mention trying to squint at the little screen while tying as my phones auto correct feature starts mucking with my sentences.) My tablet is fine for browsing the web or playing clash of clans or check my email. It is not fine for composing a post over a sentence long, playing anything remotely graphics heavy, or doing things I might actually get paid for. I have more devices in my house than I can shake a stick at and I can count four of them as PC's/laptops. Two are waiting for upgrades, but once my tablet gets slow it's a goner.
Performance, Performance, Performance !
I certainly don't think the PC is dead by any means - laptops are nice and usually meet most basic needs but there are times as noted in the article that performance is needed and when that times comes - individuals will be extremely happy to have a PC.
Re: A couple more reasons
@Keith. Interesting point about content creation vs content consumption. If you are primarily a content creator then a PC/notebook may be right for you because you can still consume content just fine on that rig. The funny thing about the content consumer as a primary role is that they also tend to be content creators, even if they don't realize it. Typing "LOL" may not be creation, but editing a photo or video prior to posting on social media certainly is, and long comments, on blogs certainly is creation. Will those content consumers eventually want a hybrid device that is at least a little more friendly when it comes to typing and working with multiple data types? Does the phablet fill the role? Does something along the lines of a Chromebook? Or, will those users just trade off some functionality for portability and accessibility?
Re: Desktop isn't dead, but...
Nothing makes me smirk more than when people pull out those rubbery, uncomfortable looking keyboards to use with their iPads. I feel for those people. In most cases, they must have been assigned a desktop at work and have no choice but to bring their tablets into meetings to take notes. If they have a laptop and have a choice, though, I scratch my head in disbelief. What are they thinking?
Re: The PC was never even sick let alone dead.
The whole 'consumption device' thing is a bit of a vast oversimplification. Sure, there are the clear cases, like watching a movie or reading a book in bed is way better on a tablet... setting up a 3D animation scene is way better on a desktop.
But, the inbetween can be quite gray. If a doctor is using a tablet to input information during a patient visit, that might actually be far easier than having to roll over to, or sit at a desktop/laptop to do the same thing. And, that's not a clear-cut case of 'consumption' either.
And, as I said in one of my other posts, it's often more a matter of context that determins which is better suited, or even possible, for the same type of task.
Microsoft didn't fail at tablets for many years for lack of trying. The problem was that they were approaching the tablet like a more mobile laptop (and arguably still are). That simply isn't the case... and that's why they aren't going away (nor are desktops). It has little to do with computing power into a particular package size, though that certainly influences the possibilities.
But, the inbetween can be quite gray. If a doctor is using a tablet to input information during a patient visit, that might actually be far easier than having to roll over to, or sit at a desktop/laptop to do the same thing. And, that's not a clear-cut case of 'consumption' either.
And, as I said in one of my other posts, it's often more a matter of context that determins which is better suited, or even possible, for the same type of task.
Microsoft didn't fail at tablets for many years for lack of trying. The problem was that they were approaching the tablet like a more mobile laptop (and arguably still are). That simply isn't the case... and that's why they aren't going away (nor are desktops). It has little to do with computing power into a particular package size, though that certainly influences the possibilities.
Re: Desktop isn't dead, but...
Heh! For sure...
but more than that actually. Certain types of input are more efficient with a touch-based UI, while others are far better with a mouse. Then there are the phyiscal constraints and advantages of each.
Like I said, they are just relatively different for different purposes.
And yes, typing up long documents on a touch-screen is a bit of a pain, until you're on a flight and only a tablet will fit and you actually get something typed up that you wouldn't have otherwise, etc. Prior to updating my iPad 2 to iOS 8, I could type reasonably on it (30 wpm consistently up to almost 40 at times), to be quite honest. But, it's a more fatiguing, tedious process for sure.
but more than that actually. Certain types of input are more efficient with a touch-based UI, while others are far better with a mouse. Then there are the phyiscal constraints and advantages of each.
Like I said, they are just relatively different for different purposes.
And yes, typing up long documents on a touch-screen is a bit of a pain, until you're on a flight and only a tablet will fit and you actually get something typed up that you wouldn't have otherwise, etc. Prior to updating my iPad 2 to iOS 8, I could type reasonably on it (30 wpm consistently up to almost 40 at times), to be quite honest. But, it's a more fatiguing, tedious process for sure.
Re: Desktop isn't dead, but...
The issue can be put as simply as "it sucks to type lengthy articles on a touchscreen."
Re: A couple more reasons
Good distinctions - content creator and content consumer.
If I can only have one device, choosing for content creation seems to have more of a future.
If I can have two devices, choosing a backup for content creation and storage strategies is appealing.
If I can have three devices, now I can select for content consumption.
BTW when one maintains two devices, proper maintenance, upgrades, and future-proofing increases. Or, one can share it all in the clouds.
If I can only have one device, choosing for content creation seems to have more of a future.
If I can have two devices, choosing a backup for content creation and storage strategies is appealing.
If I can have three devices, now I can select for content consumption.
BTW when one maintains two devices, proper maintenance, upgrades, and future-proofing increases. Or, one can share it all in the clouds.
Desktop isn't dead, but...
Andrew, I certainly agree with your main point, but disagree that tablets are in trouble. For example, I own an iPad and a MacBook Air. Both are nearly as portable, but they have very different uses, strengths, weaknesses, etc.
And, this is a point Microsoft doesn't seem to get yet... a mobile device, regardless of size and processing power, is a different kind of UI experience with different purpose and application.
A desktop or laptop is always going to be more productive for a certain set of tasks. But, at the same time, a mobile device is going to be more productive, or especially, more appropriate for another. If I'm going to meet a client or business associate, etc. at a coffee shop for a conversation, I'm probably going to take my iPad. I typically don't need to take a lot of notes and can easily do so on a device that is much less socially intrusive (especially if the person I'm meeting has no device in use). Or, if I'm on a ride into the city on public transit, it's far easier to use an iPad or phablet than pulling out a laptop, no matter how small the laptop is. It's just a totally different kind of interaction.
Yes, the gap has been closed in a few major areas, between laptop and tablet that has impacted the rapid rise of tablet sales. I'd say that first among these is battery life. With more efficient processors and better batteries, it's much closer these days. That's one of the primary reasons I initially went tablet, as I needed more than 3 hours of computing time away from a power-source. The other is portability, though as an Apple user, I guess I've been kind of spoiled for many years in that regard. (Where my wife works, most of the company issued laptops stay in the office, while the employees have found 'hack' ways to use iPads, etc. because their laptops are true boat-anchors!)
But, that doesn't mean tablets are in any danger, just that maybe the initial enthusiasm was a bit much, and that people aren't going to replace a $600 device every couple of years. The other problem was that many of the Android tablets were so horrible, I'm sure there are a lot of people who got burned and now think tablets are fairly useless.
Another point I might take issue with is your comment concerning the enterprise. While true, the enterprise is going to become less relevant in the big picture of future business. But that's a whole other discussion.
Ultimately, I think there is a lot of room for desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones (phablets)... they each have their advantages and disadvantages. None of them, IMO, are going away or are in much danger. The big question is - if one were forced to only pick one or two (for economic reasons, etc.) - which would they choose? That will probably become the biggest driver of any kind of major shift.
And, this is a point Microsoft doesn't seem to get yet... a mobile device, regardless of size and processing power, is a different kind of UI experience with different purpose and application.
A desktop or laptop is always going to be more productive for a certain set of tasks. But, at the same time, a mobile device is going to be more productive, or especially, more appropriate for another. If I'm going to meet a client or business associate, etc. at a coffee shop for a conversation, I'm probably going to take my iPad. I typically don't need to take a lot of notes and can easily do so on a device that is much less socially intrusive (especially if the person I'm meeting has no device in use). Or, if I'm on a ride into the city on public transit, it's far easier to use an iPad or phablet than pulling out a laptop, no matter how small the laptop is. It's just a totally different kind of interaction.
Yes, the gap has been closed in a few major areas, between laptop and tablet that has impacted the rapid rise of tablet sales. I'd say that first among these is battery life. With more efficient processors and better batteries, it's much closer these days. That's one of the primary reasons I initially went tablet, as I needed more than 3 hours of computing time away from a power-source. The other is portability, though as an Apple user, I guess I've been kind of spoiled for many years in that regard. (Where my wife works, most of the company issued laptops stay in the office, while the employees have found 'hack' ways to use iPads, etc. because their laptops are true boat-anchors!)
But, that doesn't mean tablets are in any danger, just that maybe the initial enthusiasm was a bit much, and that people aren't going to replace a $600 device every couple of years. The other problem was that many of the Android tablets were so horrible, I'm sure there are a lot of people who got burned and now think tablets are fairly useless.
Another point I might take issue with is your comment concerning the enterprise. While true, the enterprise is going to become less relevant in the big picture of future business. But that's a whole other discussion.
Ultimately, I think there is a lot of room for desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones (phablets)... they each have their advantages and disadvantages. None of them, IMO, are going away or are in much danger. The big question is - if one were forced to only pick one or two (for economic reasons, etc.) - which would they choose? That will probably become the biggest driver of any kind of major shift.
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