“What exactly is a PC? That question is likely to become a hot topic over the next few years,” MG Siegler writes for TechCrunch.
“People are now carrying around computers in their pockets, called smartphones. But those aren’t considered PCs. Instead, they’re considered descendants of the original mobile phones. The truth is that they’re closer in just about every way to a personal computer — in fact, they may be the most personal computers ever,” Siegler writes. “And now this line is being further blurred by the rise of the tablet… Again, if anything, these machines seem more personal than the personal computers of yesteryear.”
Siegler writes, “That’s why I agree with British research firm Canalys’ decision to include tablet sales alongside PC sales in their new report. That’s going to piss some people off because the combination has them projecting that Apple will become the top PC vendor by the middle of next year. If their data is right, Apple will unseat HP to take the crown.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The once and future ling, Apple assumes its rightful throne.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
The iPad has created a whole new category which should be referred to as smart appliance, web appliance or connected appliance (due to its appliance-like simplicity).
Leave terms like PC and tablet computer to those clunky, complicated relics of the 20th century.
Many years ago, some started categorizing computers according to size. Back then, all computers could be put into one of three categories:
Mainframe Delivered in a moving van
Minicomputer Delivered in a pickup truck
Personal computer Carried to the desk in a wheelbarrow
Perhaps in the post-PC era it’s time to change the way we look at computers and adopt something such as:
Mainframe Delivered in a moving van
Minicomputer Delivered in a pickup truck
Desktop computer Carried to the desk in a wheelbarrow
Tablet computer Carried under the arm
Pocket computer Carried in the purse
Where, in this categorization, we refer to all smaller than the minicomputer as “personal computers”.
I shall continue to discriminate among desktop computers by operating system, also. One computer might be a Mac, anything a peecee (or, variously, a peasea).