In a news article from CNN it's been reported that Microsoft's new OS, Windows 8, is designed to function like a tablet but work on PC's. According to the statistics in this article global PC shipments have declined over the past year with a large part due to the mass release of tablets and smart phones. Much to the thanks of Apple and the late Steve Jobs who declared as a society we have moved into the post PC era. With companies such as Hewlett-Packard removing themselves from the PC business, due to the large effects of tablet sales cutting into their profits. It is the belief of many people that eventually PC's could be replaced but these tablets and perhaps smart phones, which are smaller and more user friendly. With PC's at around a 90% penetration in U.S. homes today, I don't foresee PC's disappearing for good anytime soon, but I do think that in the next few years we will see tablets taking a much larger role in both businesses and homes. It is the belief of Microsoft that tablet users still want more memory and processing power out of their tablets. Their hope is that Windows 8 will bring all the pros of a tablet to the PC, with more hands on interactions, more applications, and an OS that resembles that of iPad's OS. According to what we have learned in class, PC's can offer CPU's with parallelism which allows for must faster use and three separate memory storage devices; RAM, ROM, and HDD. This still gives PC's the upper hand in processing power and amount of memory, however according to Moore's law that the number of transistors will double every 24 months, and the CPU continues to shrink, one can only imagine the speed that will soon be applied to tablets that will allow them to compete fully with PC's. Although Windows 8 is still in production and will be for some time, it may be able to narrow the gap and keep PC's and tablets on the same level. The common stereo type of OS users is that Mac's are more for the artsies and Microsoft more for the nerds. It is Microsoft's goal to not only create an OS for PC's that resemble tablets, but to create an OS for tablets that resemble PC's in their ability for the user to get more out of their tablet experience and that iPad's are being under utilized compared to what users could do with them. If Microsoft is successful in their attempts to complete Windows 8 as a tablet friendly OS for PC's, I think it will have a large impact on PC sales in society because I think if there was a PC that functioned the same as a tablet, only with a keyboard, it would be extremely useful and easier to use than most PC's OS.
Citations:
Goldman, D. (2011, September 14). CNN MoneyTech. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from CNN: http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/14/technology/windows_8_pc/index.htm?iid=EL
Image provided by: http://teknoise.com/2011/04/06/laptop-vs-tablet-computers-ipad-advantages-and-disadvantages/
I found this article to be very interesting. I think that the disappearance of PCs is a phenomenon that we are currently witnessing and something that we will see come to fruition in the near future with the takeover of more powerful tablets and tablet operating systems such as Windows 8. I think that tablets, especially iPads, can prove to be extremely useful for businesses and I've started to see them being implemented in many ways. The last thing you mention is about the usefulness and functionality of a PC with a tablet-esque operating system, but I think that the more important side of Windows 8 is it's attempt to bring the power of a PC OS to a tablet, and I think that this will be shown in increasing tablet sales and further decline of PC sales.
ReplyDeleteThis article really opens the readers eye to how fast technology changes. The ipad is only on its second generation and there is already talk of it replace PC’s that have been around since the advent of the home computer. After reading this review I am torn between which direction windows could move to is better. On one hand I have a tablet and love this simplified OS that comes with them. On the other hand I love getting on my computer and having the having the ability to use it for many different functions. At the end of the day it would probably be best to create simplified OS for PC’s but also a traditional version for those who do not prefer a simplified OS in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThis Article was exactly the type of thing I have been looking for. I for one am hopeful that Tablets take over because I think it is so much easier to perform with no matter what the case may be. As much as I love the idea of that I don't think this will happen before the year 2030. PC's still have much to offer that tablets have yet to improve on like a CD drive but that wont matter in the near future when CD's will also be a thing of the past. That is another topic for another time
ReplyDeleteAn interesting debate, although I must agree that PC's will remain a household and office staple for quite a while. The tablets are entertaining and easy to use, but they do not have the necessities. Many people still need a large visual workspace and that means an external keyboard. Also, how easy it it to print with a tablet? I rely heavily on the inputs of an actual laptop so I can utilize external devices. I suppose if they can create remote control functionality within the tablet then they might replace the PC. Until then, there is much more demand for functionality and reliability than the aesthetics of a tablet.
ReplyDeleteFor the sake of PC workers, owners, and loyalists, I hope what they’re saying about Windows 8 is right. Like you said, PC penetration is at 90%, but I believe a lot of that is due to PC’s past dominance and doesn’t really reflect the way the battle between Mac and PC has gone over the past decade or so. It seemed for a while that every other day I was reading another article about yet another iPad imitator that failed miserably. As an Apple guy, it doesn’t really bother me either way, but for the majority of people that are still clinging to PC’s decreasing supremacy, I hope Windows 8 can provide some much needed solutions.
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