Found this little tidbit interesting.

[MTboatguy]

As much as we talk about computers on here and with some of the previous conversations about Windows 8 I find this little blurb interesting.

Worst PC sales drop in history - Apr. 10, 2013

 

[JB]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

PCs are the latest Betamax. Everyone (except me) is going to portable.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

I think JB's got a point, but there are different levels of users out there.

People like to upgrade gadgets too ... but I think we're finding out with economics the way they're going we can live with the old 'uns a little longer.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

I'm not really surprised. Tablets and smart phones are becoming the norm. Heck, I think you can surf the Web on an XBox now. I believe one of the reasons is you don't need a big box sitting under or on your desk to "social network". Also business is migrating toward tablets as well because except for certain circumstances, like graphics design/number crunching/etc., a computer is mainly a communications tool and data display for most employees. And the article mentioned Windows 8, which is the first time a new MS operating system didn't cause a big bump in PC sales. Which in itself isn't eye opening after reading many reviews of new PCs/laptops with W8 installed.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

PCs are the latest Betamax. Everyone (except me) is going to portable.

You're not alone, I'm right there with ya.......

Eventually I'll go portable, per say. Even then it will be a laptop(one small step at a time...lol), which by today's standards is still archaic. My desktop, XP system, works pretty good so I'm in no hurry. The longer I wait I'll have the latest and greatest technology(for a laptop). Even then, in 6 months, at most, it will be worthless.

Glad I'm not a tech head. I'd go broke trying to keep up with the latest technology....... "Someday" I'll get that widescreen too.....

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

Used to be a decent laptop was $2k. Now they're <$500. I have one desktop in the house and that's only because it lives on a desk and has two big hard drives in it that serve up media to the rest of the house's devices. If it dies, I'd probably just replace it with a big portable hard drive plugged right into my router. Apart from gamers, I don't see much of a market for desktop PCs in the future.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

JB, Is this yours ?. . :lol: .

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

You're not alone, I'm right there with ya.......

Eventually I'll go portable, per say. Even then it will be a laptop(one small step at a time...lol), which by today's standards is still archaic. ...

I am there with you too. I had a laptop for mobile work purposes and used it as a desktop at home. I don't like laptops. ANd don't get me started on an iPad! Those things are so hard to use, they are worthless. (Touch screen tech is great, until you have wide fingers!)

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

I always find these industry techno jumps and trends interesting.
You'll often hear that there is a new processor that is 20 times faster, new memory that is the multiple of its predecessor. Or the new (Apple-Iphone/Samsung/Android/pic one) phone technology that allows you surf the world in any given second to find everything useful immediately (I guess).
Yet somehow despite these massive digital jumps sold by the techsters with the sales pitch that you better keep up....the actual daily throughput of any given department upgrading to this is....what maybe 2%? Honestly, if that.
I have to use technology in what I do all day long (and my Laptop can haul the mail in terms of the Automation/Design dept)....but at the end of the day, its just a tool for me...not a lifestyle or a hobby.
When the upgrades of this stuff start to show up on the track....I think I'll get more interested.
My two bits.
BP

 

[Bill3434]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

I have had mine for about 7yrs now, it has had several upgrades. I'm in no hurry to upgrade either, especially after my experience with Vista at work. My PC primarily serves has a server for two laptops. I'll have no choice but to upgrade when microsoft stops supporting XP next year, according to the latest news release.

 

[angus63]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

I use a galaxy phone with 4G lte for convenience. My wife uses a laptop to shop. My daughter uses an ipad for social media and apps. My son uses a PC for gaming. Depends on who you are and what you want to do.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

It is about time....I mean browsing the net and doing some word processing using 4 gig processor's and 12 megs of ram is a bit over the top

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

That's definitely true. PCs have gotten better and better and better over the years but the tasks (and power needed to do those tasks) that people want to DO on a PC hasn't really changed since high speed internet became prevalent.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

...I can't imagine trying to do an AutoCAD drawing on a touch screen. UGH!!!

That was one of my considerations in my post ... I work cross platform in a couple of digital modeling, graphics and CAD programs. I might see that go to a BIG tablet someday, but I can't imagine that kinda' work on an iPad.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

That was one of my considerations in my post ... I work cross platform in a couple of digital modeling, graphics and CAD programs. I might see that go to a BIG tablet someday, but I can't imagine that kinda' work on an iPad.

Absolute Ditto on this S.Kogs and Bubba's Autocad comments.
I run Solidworks 95% of the time and Autocad for a few customers. Using either program without a....(wait for it) mouse.....is just not practical. A finger pad just doesn't cut it....I lose way too much time if I do and time is money.
I run XP on my Laptop...no problems. I don't think that I have seen too many Solidworks (business) based workstations or computers successfully running on Apple products yet....again: successfully (ie: business = competitive profit).
All Good
BP

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

The number of people doing auto-cad, graphics design and stuff I do at work is an incredibly small percentage of the PC market. The computer I am getting next week is going to have 32G of RAM. No home user ever needs that amount of memory.

The future of PC software for home personal use is going to be in the Cloud. You won't need the same computer you have now. No need to upgrade as often and then number of PCs that get sold are going to drop.

I do believe the numbers in this article also include laptops but not positive. Hard to tell. Not a very good article at all.

 

[angus63]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

Lots of factors at play, the poor world wide economy is a big one. Upgrading to a new PC is usually a "luxury" expense and if the machine you have is meeting your needs there is little reason to spend money. Portable devices are taking a big bite out of the PC market but, that's because PC makers allowed devices to catch to the PC in capabilities and not really improved the PC or what it does. (If you need a stop watch to prove the new PC is faster it doesn't count.)

Having worked with Microsoft (MVP) for the last 17 years or so I've been beating the drum for them to step up their game when it comes to software and what the PC can do and what role it needs to take in daily life but MS has been and still is focused on the enterprise and that means Windows and Office and ignoring the writing on the wall. sigh...

The other huge factor is all the IT companies have figured out that having users locked into "services" is very, very profitable and once you are invested in their ecosystem you aren't likely to leave. Having a PC with it's own software that does all you want just doesn't fit with that business concept.



You make my point for me, the PC stopped evolving at least 5 years ago, more like 10.



I can't imagine trying to do an AutoCAD drawing on a touch screen. UGH!!!

I no longer generate models or detailed drawings for a living, so I do not need the power of a PC. I do teach drafting and CAD in a lab environment now with existing drafting tables and laptop stations (one of the platforms is AutoCAD). The AutoCAD app I have for my Galaxy phone is sufficient to import drawings, mark them up and generate a grade. What is amazing is that I can do that while waiting in line at Walmart. The best thing about having a powerful smartphone for me is that I can accomplish a lot during periods I was previously bored in the past. I am all about convenience now, and a bonus is that 4G lte (25 Mbps+) is even faster uploading than my high speed cable modem.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

I do believe the numbers in this article also include laptops but not positive. Hard to tell. Not a very good article at all.

Bruce,

That is why I titled my post "tidbit" it is not an article, just a blurb.

 

[angus63]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

Absolute Ditto on this S.Kogs and Bubba's Autocad comments.
I run Solidworks 95% of the time and Autocad for a few customers. Using either program without a....(wait for it) mouse.....is just not practical. A finger pad just doesn't cut it....I lose way too much time if I do and time is money.
I run XP on my Laptop...no problems. I don't think that I have seen too many Solidworks (business) based workstations or computers successfully running on Apple products yet....again: successfully (ie: business = competitive profit).
All Good
BP

I felt the same way about change when the top end CAD platforms migrated from template selection tactile platforms to DOS menu based interfaces to Windows based icons and ribbons. But I had to adapt and actually realized the benefits over time. Sure will be interesting how the future of CAD morphs.

 

[generator12]

Re: Found this little tidbit interesting.

My ignorance on this topic trumps what I have to say, but - just what advantages do these devices offer over PC's...?

The only thing I'm aware of is mobility. (..And maybe being more "cool".)

Who wants to do his email or finances or research - much less design work or creation of presentations, etc. - while on the go? Those with their hands up are welcome to it, but personally until I see a real advantage in trading in my PC for a different piece, I'll stick with the PC.

Such advantage may exist, but if so I'm blind to it.