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  3. What Will You Do When There Are No More PCs?

What Will You Do When There Are No More PCs?

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  • R Offline
    R Offline
    Roger Wright
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    This article on cnn.com[^] discusses HP's decision to exit the PC business, and predicts that others will follow. The PC we all know and love/hate has been a marginal product line for at least a decade, and I'm surprised that any major manufacturer bothers with it still. It's not possible to operate a business that returns a margin of 2% - 5% and survive for very long. The Wintel platform has had its day, and it's been a good run of 30 years or so, but its era is winding down. The article doesn't make any predictions, but I think the end will come sooner rather than later; that's just the way paradigm shifts work. When it does, people won't be replacing their old PCs with new ones, but will instead be buying prepackaged, integrated tools that just do what they need them to do with a minimum of fuss. What are you doing to prepare for the sea change? Working on new skills, like mobile development, or cloud-based solutions? Are you working on one last killer app that will make you rich enough to retire? Or are you perfecting your burger flipping technique? What's it going to be, and at what point in the process do you plan to exit gracefully and begin your new career?

    Will Rogers never met me.

    D L P T R 34 Replies Last reply
    0
    • R Roger Wright

      This article on cnn.com[^] discusses HP's decision to exit the PC business, and predicts that others will follow. The PC we all know and love/hate has been a marginal product line for at least a decade, and I'm surprised that any major manufacturer bothers with it still. It's not possible to operate a business that returns a margin of 2% - 5% and survive for very long. The Wintel platform has had its day, and it's been a good run of 30 years or so, but its era is winding down. The article doesn't make any predictions, but I think the end will come sooner rather than later; that's just the way paradigm shifts work. When it does, people won't be replacing their old PCs with new ones, but will instead be buying prepackaged, integrated tools that just do what they need them to do with a minimum of fuss. What are you doing to prepare for the sea change? Working on new skills, like mobile development, or cloud-based solutions? Are you working on one last killer app that will make you rich enough to retire? Or are you perfecting your burger flipping technique? What's it going to be, and at what point in the process do you plan to exit gracefully and begin your new career?

      Will Rogers never met me.

      D Offline
      D Offline
      David1987
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      It won't happen. At least not soon. All this mobile stuff is nice and all, but Real Work (and Real Games) continues to be done on PC's.

      L 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • R Roger Wright

        This article on cnn.com[^] discusses HP's decision to exit the PC business, and predicts that others will follow. The PC we all know and love/hate has been a marginal product line for at least a decade, and I'm surprised that any major manufacturer bothers with it still. It's not possible to operate a business that returns a margin of 2% - 5% and survive for very long. The Wintel platform has had its day, and it's been a good run of 30 years or so, but its era is winding down. The article doesn't make any predictions, but I think the end will come sooner rather than later; that's just the way paradigm shifts work. When it does, people won't be replacing their old PCs with new ones, but will instead be buying prepackaged, integrated tools that just do what they need them to do with a minimum of fuss. What are you doing to prepare for the sea change? Working on new skills, like mobile development, or cloud-based solutions? Are you working on one last killer app that will make you rich enough to retire? Or are you perfecting your burger flipping technique? What's it going to be, and at what point in the process do you plan to exit gracefully and begin your new career?

        Will Rogers never met me.

        L Offline
        L Offline
        Lost User
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        I'm learning game programming on IOS. Then I will look at multi platform business dev. (someone posted a link earlier to a too to use c# for antroid and iOS. ) First and foremost, bough, I'm trying to get out of it and become a teacher. Personally i think there will be a move to tablet development in the future. Phones ain't good for lob apps, and are not necessary. Wireless Internet isn't reliable enough outside of cities, so tablets I reckon will be the way we move . Given hp have also withdrawn fro. Te tablet market, I may just be talking bollocks, thou

        MVVM# - See how I did MVVM my way ___________________________________________ Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011 .\\axxx (That's an 'M')

        1 Reply Last reply
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        • D David1987

          It won't happen. At least not soon. All this mobile stuff is nice and all, but Real Work (and Real Games) continues to be done on PC's.

          L Offline
          L Offline
          Lost User
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          Hah! What do you mean by 'soon'? I suggest you bookmark this post and read it to your kids (they really won't understand the 'never need more than 64k quote from Bill) in a few years

          MVVM# - See how I did MVVM my way ___________________________________________ Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011 .\\axxx (That's an 'M')

          D P 2 Replies Last reply
          0
          • R Roger Wright

            This article on cnn.com[^] discusses HP's decision to exit the PC business, and predicts that others will follow. The PC we all know and love/hate has been a marginal product line for at least a decade, and I'm surprised that any major manufacturer bothers with it still. It's not possible to operate a business that returns a margin of 2% - 5% and survive for very long. The Wintel platform has had its day, and it's been a good run of 30 years or so, but its era is winding down. The article doesn't make any predictions, but I think the end will come sooner rather than later; that's just the way paradigm shifts work. When it does, people won't be replacing their old PCs with new ones, but will instead be buying prepackaged, integrated tools that just do what they need them to do with a minimum of fuss. What are you doing to prepare for the sea change? Working on new skills, like mobile development, or cloud-based solutions? Are you working on one last killer app that will make you rich enough to retire? Or are you perfecting your burger flipping technique? What's it going to be, and at what point in the process do you plan to exit gracefully and begin your new career?

            Will Rogers never met me.

            P Offline
            P Offline
            PIEBALDconsult
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            I work on the server/backend, so I don't think I'd be affected were that to happen. It's just a matter of what to use to do the development. I could easily go back to using a dumb terminus connected to a mainframe or mini-computer. I'm also interested in thin/zero clients. The last time I was at the Microsoft Store (in Scottsdale) I took a look at a Win7 tablet. I found that I could get to the DOS prompt, use Edit to write a C# program, compile it with CSC, and run it :-D . The problem, of course, was that there wasn't really enough screen real estate for both the on-screen virtual keyboard and the Edit window. :sigh: To mis-quote Red October: "Developing on a tablet is possible, but not recommended". I expect that a separate keyboard could be attached, and if it could also be connected to a TV, that'd be pretty good.

            M 1 Reply Last reply
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            • R Roger Wright

              This article on cnn.com[^] discusses HP's decision to exit the PC business, and predicts that others will follow. The PC we all know and love/hate has been a marginal product line for at least a decade, and I'm surprised that any major manufacturer bothers with it still. It's not possible to operate a business that returns a margin of 2% - 5% and survive for very long. The Wintel platform has had its day, and it's been a good run of 30 years or so, but its era is winding down. The article doesn't make any predictions, but I think the end will come sooner rather than later; that's just the way paradigm shifts work. When it does, people won't be replacing their old PCs with new ones, but will instead be buying prepackaged, integrated tools that just do what they need them to do with a minimum of fuss. What are you doing to prepare for the sea change? Working on new skills, like mobile development, or cloud-based solutions? Are you working on one last killer app that will make you rich enough to retire? Or are you perfecting your burger flipping technique? What's it going to be, and at what point in the process do you plan to exit gracefully and begin your new career?

              Will Rogers never met me.

              L Offline
              L Offline
              Lost User
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              Roger Wright wrote:

              What are you doing to prepare for the sea change? Working on new skills, like mobile development, or cloud-based solutions? Are you working on one last killer app that will make you rich enough to retire? Or are you perfecting your burger flipping technique? What's it going to be, and at what point in the process do you plan to exit gracefully and begin your new career?

              Drink another Bundy and say fuck it.

              Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004

              M 1 Reply Last reply
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              • L Lost User

                Hah! What do you mean by 'soon'? I suggest you bookmark this post and read it to your kids (they really won't understand the 'never need more than 64k quote from Bill) in a few years

                MVVM# - See how I did MVVM my way ___________________________________________ Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011 .\\axxx (That's an 'M')

                D Offline
                D Offline
                David1987
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                Uhm yea, that's not what I meant by soon :)

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • R Roger Wright

                  This article on cnn.com[^] discusses HP's decision to exit the PC business, and predicts that others will follow. The PC we all know and love/hate has been a marginal product line for at least a decade, and I'm surprised that any major manufacturer bothers with it still. It's not possible to operate a business that returns a margin of 2% - 5% and survive for very long. The Wintel platform has had its day, and it's been a good run of 30 years or so, but its era is winding down. The article doesn't make any predictions, but I think the end will come sooner rather than later; that's just the way paradigm shifts work. When it does, people won't be replacing their old PCs with new ones, but will instead be buying prepackaged, integrated tools that just do what they need them to do with a minimum of fuss. What are you doing to prepare for the sea change? Working on new skills, like mobile development, or cloud-based solutions? Are you working on one last killer app that will make you rich enough to retire? Or are you perfecting your burger flipping technique? What's it going to be, and at what point in the process do you plan to exit gracefully and begin your new career?

                  Will Rogers never met me.

                  T Offline
                  T Offline
                  TheGreatAndPowerfulOz
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  Tablets are just the new format of PC. As such for real development, it will require the ability to attach a keyboard and monitor. Alternatively, PCs will still be around, but will be costly beasts that only developers will have need of. Then cross-platform development will be done, like it's being done now.

                  If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." - John Quincy Adams
                  You must accept one of two basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe, or we are not alone in the universe. And either way, the implications are staggering” - Wernher von Braun

                  P 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • R Roger Wright

                    This article on cnn.com[^] discusses HP's decision to exit the PC business, and predicts that others will follow. The PC we all know and love/hate has been a marginal product line for at least a decade, and I'm surprised that any major manufacturer bothers with it still. It's not possible to operate a business that returns a margin of 2% - 5% and survive for very long. The Wintel platform has had its day, and it's been a good run of 30 years or so, but its era is winding down. The article doesn't make any predictions, but I think the end will come sooner rather than later; that's just the way paradigm shifts work. When it does, people won't be replacing their old PCs with new ones, but will instead be buying prepackaged, integrated tools that just do what they need them to do with a minimum of fuss. What are you doing to prepare for the sea change? Working on new skills, like mobile development, or cloud-based solutions? Are you working on one last killer app that will make you rich enough to retire? Or are you perfecting your burger flipping technique? What's it going to be, and at what point in the process do you plan to exit gracefully and begin your new career?

                    Will Rogers never met me.

                    R Offline
                    R Offline
                    Ravi Bhavnani
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    I agree 100% with PIEBALDconsult. Like him, I work on an enterprise solution (that's connected to by desktops, tablets, smart phones and even electronic devices).  I couldn't imagine developing our product on anything but an adequately powered PC (or a Linux workstation if we were non-Microsoft).  We happen to use quad core Xeons with 8G RAM, a 100G SSD as a system disk, and a vanilla 2TB 7200rpm secondary disk.  All work is of course checked in to a TFS server.  All dev workstations are equipped with dual 1920x1200 panels. That being said, I agree that the client PC market is fast losing share to smaller footprint portable devices.  The age of the family computer is past.  But enterprises will continue to have a need for desktop devices, with their field personnel moving from laptops and netbooks to tablets or just smartphones. /ravi

                    My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

                    J X 2 Replies Last reply
                    0
                    • R Roger Wright

                      This article on cnn.com[^] discusses HP's decision to exit the PC business, and predicts that others will follow. The PC we all know and love/hate has been a marginal product line for at least a decade, and I'm surprised that any major manufacturer bothers with it still. It's not possible to operate a business that returns a margin of 2% - 5% and survive for very long. The Wintel platform has had its day, and it's been a good run of 30 years or so, but its era is winding down. The article doesn't make any predictions, but I think the end will come sooner rather than later; that's just the way paradigm shifts work. When it does, people won't be replacing their old PCs with new ones, but will instead be buying prepackaged, integrated tools that just do what they need them to do with a minimum of fuss. What are you doing to prepare for the sea change? Working on new skills, like mobile development, or cloud-based solutions? Are you working on one last killer app that will make you rich enough to retire? Or are you perfecting your burger flipping technique? What's it going to be, and at what point in the process do you plan to exit gracefully and begin your new career?

                      Will Rogers never met me.

                      B Offline
                      B Offline
                      Brady Kelly
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      I'll still be coding web apps for consumption on whatever replaces PC's.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • R Roger Wright

                        This article on cnn.com[^] discusses HP's decision to exit the PC business, and predicts that others will follow. The PC we all know and love/hate has been a marginal product line for at least a decade, and I'm surprised that any major manufacturer bothers with it still. It's not possible to operate a business that returns a margin of 2% - 5% and survive for very long. The Wintel platform has had its day, and it's been a good run of 30 years or so, but its era is winding down. The article doesn't make any predictions, but I think the end will come sooner rather than later; that's just the way paradigm shifts work. When it does, people won't be replacing their old PCs with new ones, but will instead be buying prepackaged, integrated tools that just do what they need them to do with a minimum of fuss. What are you doing to prepare for the sea change? Working on new skills, like mobile development, or cloud-based solutions? Are you working on one last killer app that will make you rich enough to retire? Or are you perfecting your burger flipping technique? What's it going to be, and at what point in the process do you plan to exit gracefully and begin your new career?

                        Will Rogers never met me.

                        Mike HankeyM Offline
                        Mike HankeyM Offline
                        Mike Hankey
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        I hope it doesn't happen in my lifetime.

                        A girl phoned me and said, 'Come on over. There's nobody home.' I went over. Nobody was home! Rodney Dangerfield

                        P 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • L Lost User

                          Hah! What do you mean by 'soon'? I suggest you bookmark this post and read it to your kids (they really won't understand the 'never need more than 64k quote from Bill) in a few years

                          MVVM# - See how I did MVVM my way ___________________________________________ Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011 .\\axxx (That's an 'M')

                          P Offline
                          P Offline
                          PIEBALDconsult
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          _Maxxx_ wrote:

                          'never need more than 64k

                          And there is no need for anyone to have a computer in their home. ::shrug::

                          B 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • T TheGreatAndPowerfulOz

                            Tablets are just the new format of PC. As such for real development, it will require the ability to attach a keyboard and monitor. Alternatively, PCs will still be around, but will be costly beasts that only developers will have need of. Then cross-platform development will be done, like it's being done now.

                            If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." - John Quincy Adams
                            You must accept one of two basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe, or we are not alone in the universe. And either way, the implications are staggering” - Wernher von Braun

                            P Offline
                            P Offline
                            PIEBALDconsult
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #13

                            ahmed zahmed wrote:

                            new format of PC

                            Yes, a more personal Personal Computer.

                            X 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                              I hope it doesn't happen in my lifetime.

                              A girl phoned me and said, 'Come on over. There's nobody home.' I went over. Nobody was home! Rodney Dangerfield

                              P Offline
                              P Offline
                              PIEBALDconsult
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #14

                              That can be arranged. :suss:

                              Mike HankeyM 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • R Roger Wright

                                This article on cnn.com[^] discusses HP's decision to exit the PC business, and predicts that others will follow. The PC we all know and love/hate has been a marginal product line for at least a decade, and I'm surprised that any major manufacturer bothers with it still. It's not possible to operate a business that returns a margin of 2% - 5% and survive for very long. The Wintel platform has had its day, and it's been a good run of 30 years or so, but its era is winding down. The article doesn't make any predictions, but I think the end will come sooner rather than later; that's just the way paradigm shifts work. When it does, people won't be replacing their old PCs with new ones, but will instead be buying prepackaged, integrated tools that just do what they need them to do with a minimum of fuss. What are you doing to prepare for the sea change? Working on new skills, like mobile development, or cloud-based solutions? Are you working on one last killer app that will make you rich enough to retire? Or are you perfecting your burger flipping technique? What's it going to be, and at what point in the process do you plan to exit gracefully and begin your new career?

                                Will Rogers never met me.

                                C Offline
                                C Offline
                                Chris Losinger
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #15

                                Roger Wright wrote:

                                It's not possible to operate a business that returns a margin of 2% - 5% and survive for very long.

                                this doesn't follow. margins are slim because competition is fierce, and competition is fierce because there's a strong market for the product. and HP dropping out of a business isn't really surprising to me - they've been making crappy management decisions for a long time.

                                image processing toolkits | batch image processing

                                R 1 Reply Last reply
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                                • P PIEBALDconsult

                                  That can be arranged. :suss:

                                  Mike HankeyM Offline
                                  Mike HankeyM Offline
                                  Mike Hankey
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #16

                                  I got a cousin that knows someone that will make all the arrangements. bwaaahahahaha

                                  A girl phoned me and said, 'Come on over. There's nobody home.' I went over. Nobody was home! Rodney Dangerfield

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • C Chris Losinger

                                    Roger Wright wrote:

                                    It's not possible to operate a business that returns a margin of 2% - 5% and survive for very long.

                                    this doesn't follow. margins are slim because competition is fierce, and competition is fierce because there's a strong market for the product. and HP dropping out of a business isn't really surprising to me - they've been making crappy management decisions for a long time.

                                    image processing toolkits | batch image processing

                                    R Offline
                                    R Offline
                                    Roger Wright
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #17

                                    It does follow, when you consider a company's ability to weather economic downturns, price wars, etc. With a margin of 10% - 15% you have some wiggle room. There are far more lucrative areas in which to invest capital, and there's little incentive to settle for such a low ROI. The fact that many people still want to buy PCs is not a good reason to keep making them, if you can't make a decent profit; let them eat tablets.

                                    Will Rogers never met me.

                                    C R 2 Replies Last reply
                                    0
                                    • R Roger Wright

                                      It does follow, when you consider a company's ability to weather economic downturns, price wars, etc. With a margin of 10% - 15% you have some wiggle room. There are far more lucrative areas in which to invest capital, and there's little incentive to settle for such a low ROI. The fact that many people still want to buy PCs is not a good reason to keep making them, if you can't make a decent profit; let them eat tablets.

                                      Will Rogers never met me.

                                      C Offline
                                      C Offline
                                      Chris Losinger
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #18

                                      Roger Wright wrote:

                                      The fact that many people still want to buy PCs is not a good reason to keep making them, if you can't make a decent profit

                                      that's true. but it just means the least-efficient manufacturers will drop out of the PC market, not that the PC market itself will go away. there are hundreds of companies in Asia who will be very happy to fill the void that HP (or Dell, or whoever) leaves.

                                      image processing toolkits | batch image processing

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • R Roger Wright

                                        This article on cnn.com[^] discusses HP's decision to exit the PC business, and predicts that others will follow. The PC we all know and love/hate has been a marginal product line for at least a decade, and I'm surprised that any major manufacturer bothers with it still. It's not possible to operate a business that returns a margin of 2% - 5% and survive for very long. The Wintel platform has had its day, and it's been a good run of 30 years or so, but its era is winding down. The article doesn't make any predictions, but I think the end will come sooner rather than later; that's just the way paradigm shifts work. When it does, people won't be replacing their old PCs with new ones, but will instead be buying prepackaged, integrated tools that just do what they need them to do with a minimum of fuss. What are you doing to prepare for the sea change? Working on new skills, like mobile development, or cloud-based solutions? Are you working on one last killer app that will make you rich enough to retire? Or are you perfecting your burger flipping technique? What's it going to be, and at what point in the process do you plan to exit gracefully and begin your new career?

                                        Will Rogers never met me.

                                        L Offline
                                        L Offline
                                        Lost User
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #19

                                        I must say I am a little concerned. My parents bought the IPAD2. Now their laptop is just sitting and collecting dust. However, I am a ASP.NET developer so I'm not too worried but it does look like the time will come when PCs or laptops will probably only be seen in businesses. I think this will come quicker than most think ! Isn't it fun being a developer ? I know at some point I'm going to end up driving a truck for a living. I'm not sure how but I'm convinced its going to happen ! HAHA !

                                        P M L 3 Replies Last reply
                                        0
                                        • L Lost User

                                          I must say I am a little concerned. My parents bought the IPAD2. Now their laptop is just sitting and collecting dust. However, I am a ASP.NET developer so I'm not too worried but it does look like the time will come when PCs or laptops will probably only be seen in businesses. I think this will come quicker than most think ! Isn't it fun being a developer ? I know at some point I'm going to end up driving a truck for a living. I'm not sure how but I'm convinced its going to happen ! HAHA !

                                          P Offline
                                          P Offline
                                          PIEBALDconsult
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #20

                                          UBX wrote:

                                          driving a truck

                                          Not once the iTeleport app is released.

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