Steve Jobs says the end is near for the PC
Speaking at an important industry conference, Apple’s Steve Jobs predicted that the end of the PC era is nigh, and that it would be replaced by devices like the iPad, in conjunction with the cloud, for most people.
A lot of us have been speculating about just where the iPad fits into the scheme of computing, and whether the iPhone is a phone that does apps or a computer that happens to have a phone. Steve Jobs has been speculating along with us, and he feels that he has some answers. During a 90-minute interview at the D: All Things Digital conference, according to an ABC News story, Jobs made it clear that he the thinks the PC that we’re used to, be it desktop or laptop, will be a thing of the past for most of us in a few years.
Jobs had a worthwhile analogy to the auto industry. He said, “When we were an agrarian nation, all cars were trucks because that’s what you needed on the farms.” He went on to say that later on, cars came into popularity as cites grew and most of us left the farm behind, leading to a number of auto improvements like the automatic transmission and power steering. Then he said, “PCs are going to be like trucks. They are still going to be around.” However, he said, only “one out of x people will need them.” Jobs acknowledged that the move away from PCs will make a lot of people nervous because “because the PC has taken us a long ways. We like to talk about the post-PC era, but when it really starts to happen, it’s uncomfortable.”
With cloud computing, and more power being packed into small devices like the iPhone and iPad every generation, most users will not need a dedicated PC-like device. Even if they do, improvements in technology will make such devices portable enough to put in your pocket. With some better input devices and display devices, perhaps a computer the size of the iphone would be enough for us all in the years to come.
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June 2nd, 2010
No “pocket” device will ever replace the power of desktops…It’s very obvious: look at the current technology inside our new high-end desktops and compare it to the technology in, for instance, the iPhone. iPhone technology goes back years ago…Of course, technology is advancing in small devices, but these technologies have been developed for desktops at first, to be able to master it. This is how it works and how it will for the next 10 years AT THE LEAST.
Furthermore, Apple devices seem to be extremely “PC/Laptop” dependent, meaning that an iPad CANNOT live without a “sync” to its beloved iTunes. Obviously, that is an Apple strategy to sell more Macs. That strategy will stay around for as long as people will want to buy computers/laptops, because the goal of a company is to make money, no matter how.
People have to stop considering Steve Jobs as a prophet. He’s releasing crap with extremely good advertising. I mean…”magical”? Are we in Cinderella or what?
June 3rd, 2010
Uh huh… SURE.. right. Feed us some more BS.
Let’s see that iPad play Crysis. No?
How about flash support? No again?
Ok, so how about being an expensive piece of junk? Yeah, i think the iPad can do that.
June 4th, 2010
Whoa, how come so many people down on the iPad seem so adamant about posting negative comments about it?
June 4th, 2010
neil, maybe it is to balance all the smoke apple and their acolytes are trying to blow up people’s backsides about how “magical” this gadget is. The ipad is the tech equivalent of Sunny Delight – all the nutritional value of a Styrofoam cup, but sure is nice and sweet and colourful with a big advertising budget.
June 4th, 2010
Steve Jobs is a snake oil salesman.
“Buy my iPad. It will cure anything. Only $499.99″
June 24th, 2010
Thing is guys, you’re all heavy PC users. If you’re technically savvy, and you know your stuff, of course you would opt for a laptop or desktop over an iPad. I have all kinds of computers because it’s a huge part of how I earn a living. As a result I use windows desktops, Ubuntu desktops, a macbook pro, a netbook running a simple Linux distro… I know how to look after them and keep myself organised so the flexibility they offer is an advantage to me. If you’re anything like my parents or my girlfriend however, that flexibility leads to problem after problem, because they’re not technically savvy people. It’s of no interest to them, they just want a simple device that lets them read their mail, browse the web, and have five minutes of fun here and there.
For these sort of people, an iPad is very useful. I have an iPad and it’s in constant use… would I trade in a laptop or desktop for an iPad? Definately not because I need them – they’re serious tools. I don’t think that’s the case for the silent majority however. I call them the silent majority because I’m referring to the casual computer users that you will hardly ever even hear from or encounter online, and on sites such as this, because they don’t frequent these kind of sites and certainly don’t tend to post.
All I’m getting at is that if you’re a bit of a nerd and computing is a real hobby for you, or if you use complex applications for work, you’ll always want the power and flexibility of a big desktop or pro laptop. However, for a huge percentage of people those tools offer more problems than solutions – constant security updates, knowing where best to install applications and how, fixing problems, dealing with advanced configuration options, even knowing how to organise your file system! Those people shouldn’t have to dedicate themselves to the nerdyness to get in on the action, they just want a simple device that’s difficult to break.
To continue the car analogy, a hobbyist will much prefer a car they can tinker with…. a big engine with loads of power, infinitely customisable, loads of extras… so what if it breaks down a little more often? They know how to fix it! However, a single mother of two that just wants to take the kids to school and back would be far better off with a quiet, economical air conditioned family car with an engine management system. Sure, the initial cost is high, but they’re paying for stability that they don’t have to maintain themselves. They don’t want to tinker under the hood, they don’t need extreme power, and they certainly don’t need to know how it actually works – they just use it!
I really don’t see the point in making all these big negative statements about ‘which is best’. It’s all about what’s right for you. If you’re happy with your setup, fine. Stick with it. If other people want to use different devices that to you or I might seem limited or simple, fair play to them.