The End of the Windows PC is Near

[Martyn]

But you still cannot do much of what you can on a pc on a tablet/phone.

Yes correct, it just takes the urgency out of repairing laptops/desktops. Most people have other means of surfing the net, Facebook and picking up emails. I get calls to repair laptops that went wrong quite a while ago, they eventually need it for things that are difficult on a phone such as a cv/resume.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Which makes my point. The PC for HOME USE is dying. If all you need is to check email and facebook you don't need a PC.

PCs started as a business tool and they are retreating back to that.

 

[Pants]

Just by looking at the title of the thread, my two cents would be that since desktop computers and laptop computers are shipping with Windows 8, and the OS is supported for 10 years by M$, at the very LEAST there's until 2022. And of course, after that, people aren't going to just dump their computers, I'd give that another 2 - 3 years at least for that. Then When Windows 9 comes out, there's another 10 years right there, and 2 - 3 years for the stragglers to let there PCs go. I can't see Windows PCs going unused for another 15 - 20 years, at least.

 

[glennd]

there's a large percentage of people who bought desktops years ago who wouldn't buy one today. they bought it so they could do email and keep up with the grandkids, ie whatever they bought is overkill for their requirements. this is the area of the market that is evaporating. this kind of consumer now has more options for devices that better suit their needs. they're no longer forced to acquire some big ugly box and set aside a sizable chunk of their home just to do a few basic tasks. so of course there will be a natural reduction in the market, this is to be expected.

the pc as we know and love it won't go away though because it still fulfills a function. however, there's a real delineation now in the device market between 'creators' and 'consumers' or if you like those who regard the computer as a tool and those who regard it as essentially a toy, which wasn't there even a few years ago. the creators still need the big screen, the full size keyboard and the mouse, the consumers want the convenience and portability and tend to be happy playing the role of early adopter.

 

[lan101]

there's a large percentage of people who bought desktops years ago who wouldn't buy one today. they bought it so they could do email and keep up with the grandkids, ie whatever they bought is overkill for their requirements. this is the area of the market that is evaporating. this kind of consumer now has more options for devices that better suit their needs. they're no longer forced to acquire some big ugly box and set aside a sizable chunk of their home just to do a few basic tasks. so of course there will be a natural reduction in the market, this is to be expected.

the pc as we know and love it won't go away though because it still fulfills a function. however, there's a real delineation now in the device market between 'creators' and 'consumers' or if you like those who regard the computer as a tool and those who regard it as essentially a toy, which wasn't there even a few years ago. the creators still need the big screen, the full size keyboard and the mouse, the consumers want the convenience and portability and tend to be happy playing the role of early adopter.

Well put

In the last 2 years I've had at least 10-15 clients over the age of 55 buy an ipad and use that almost exclusively. They may use the computer every now and then but not much. I think we will continue to see that trend grow but I don't see the pc market going away. I'm still plenty busy most of the time. Business market continues to grow for me so that helps me rely less on residential as time goes on hopefully.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Another trend that could be coming, I was helping a user who had a new surface pro 3. They got the dock. I have to admit it's a slick setup. They come in the morning, dock their surface pro into the dock. I've got them set up to use dual screens from it. Also their files are synced with one drive. When they finish at the office they pull the dock apart, pull their surface off, reattach the keyboard, put it in it's case and go. Since all their files are synced with one drive, they can work from home or whatever event they are at. I actually was not a fan of the surface, and they are all overpriced in my opinion, but it is a slick setup I admit.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Another trend that could be coming, I was helping a user who had a new surface pro 3. They got the dock. I have to admit it's a slick setup. They come in the morning, dock their surface pro into the dock. I've got them set up to use dual screens from it. Also their files are synced with one drive. When they finish at the office they pull the dock apart, pull their surface off, reattach the keyboard, put it in it's case and go. Since all their files are synced with one drive, they can work from home or whatever event they are at. I actually was not a fan of the surface, and they are all overpriced in my opinion, but it is a slick setup I admit.

Frankly I could see phones being that powerful in 5-10 years.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Feasible I suppose. I know my current phone, which is an HTC One M7, which is last year's model actually, has a quad core processor, 2gb of ram, and 32 gb of storage built in. And this is last year's model. I suppose we can worry when they put an i7 into a phone lol.

 

[SpaceSquad]

I suppose we can worry when they put an i7 into a phone lol.

Man Facebook would fly on that!

And Candy crush! The speed !!111

 

[glennd]

Man Facebook would fly on that!

And Candy crush! The speed !!111

... the horror ...

 

[glennd]

Frankly I could see phones being that powerful in 5-10 years.

i give them 3-5 or less for good behaviour. geez we're nearly there now. most people don't realize the power of the machine in their top pocket. the fact that we use it to make phone calls is nearly beside the point. hook it up to some peripheral I/O (dock) and you've got some serious portable computing.

 

[Xander]

I first linked it two years ago and it was already two years old then.

Mozilla Seabird concept phone from 2010. Mobile phone that, when docked, becomes your desktop PC.

Once you've watched that, look at the Nokia Morph concept from **2008**. Okay, that one's a little farther off but there's nothing there that seems impossible.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Have never played candy crush. Clash of clans would ruin ok though lol.