The why of tech
The why of tech
THE PC as we know it is dead. There is no reason for the computer to exist in the form it does now. Its reign is over. Computers morphing
into new devicesIt's heavy, it's bulky, it's expensive and it's completely unusable in all but the most controlled environments. While the acquaintance period was certainly a romp, computer manufacturers are being forced to make their products friendlier and more useful.
Replacing it will be "devices" or "appliances" designed for specific tasks, and just right in terms of power, size and cost, for the job you purchased them to do.
Ever since 1980 or so, when personal computers became popular, the processor has doubled its ability to process information every 18 months. While the capability of the computer has exponentially increased, our ability to put it to work has not.
For most of us, composing correspondence or creating a spreadsheet is about all we want a computer to do. The computer's ability to process information has far exceeded the needs of the average person and this is, if anything, fantastic news.
Already, companies are manufacturing specialized computers that you wouldn't normally consider computers. The PlayStation by Sony is a great early example. Its processor is every bit as powerful as a modern PC, and it can process graphics 15 times faster. No wonder Saddam Hussein bought 4,000 of them for use by the Iraqi military.
Other devices are coming in cell phones. Called smartphones, all the major players have or will soon have mobile phones that can handle computer tasks such as managing a calendar, sending and receiving e-mail, composing letters and tweaking spreadsheets. Or perhaps you have kids that want a watch with an MP3 music player built in. In addition to telling time, these devices accept headphones and can store and play CD-quality music.
Every single one of these devices is a computer.
You should not only expect, but demand products that have exactly and only the features you want. Just say no to the big beige boxes, the future is quite literally in your hands.
Next week, find out how this means mostly bad things for Microsoft.
Steve Jefferson is a Honolulu-based freelance writer
and section editor for InfoWorld. He can be
reached at: stevej@lava.net