Is it over for the PC?

[Mungo]

I think one of the hardest things to balance in order to remove towers and laptops, Is power consumption and processing power. It's very difficult to get the same performance out of a device with a battery rather than something plugged into a wall. Until we have something that's as revolutionary as Telsa describes,

"I obtained convincing evidence of the feasibility of wireless power transmission on a vast scale for all industrial purposes.

The chief discovery, which satisfied me thoroughly as to the practicability of my plan, was made in 1899 at Colorado Springs, where I carried on tests with a generator of fifteen hundred kilowatt capacity and ascertained that under certain conditions the current was capable of passing across the entire globe and returning from the antipodes to its origin with undiminished strength. It was a result so unbelievable that the revelation at first almost stunned me. I saw in a flash that by properly organized apparatus at sending and receiving stations, power virtually in unlimited amounts could be conveyed through the earth at any distance, limited only by the physical dimensions of the globe, with an efficiency as high as ninety-nine and one-half per cent."

I don't think we're going to have an ability to just have "Devices".

Hmm!

I wonder what that would do to people.

There are already reports that too many high frequency wireless waves can affect the brain.

 

[Doug_E_Fresh]

I'm not sure what it would do to people. I guess it would depend on how it was done. I think the amount of lightning strikes would increase greatly. ha ha.

 

[[email protected]]

Of course I look at PC from the hardware end, and an ol' guy like me always built his PC's and loaded whatever I wanted on them. But besides all the software directions over the years, I do get a little concerned that the good, old clunky tower or desktop is on it's way out, and all that is left are "devices" all sealed up in one package --- there's nothing to be put together any more. It's all one piece now. :lol: It's the start of a new generation of hardware, but the end, maybe, of tinkerers and do-it-your-selfers. BTW, PC is technically short for "personal computer" and does not designate the operating system, but since Microsoft had the market it's been associated with them. In that regard, even a Mac is a "PC". But most, or I should say all the other operating systems are gravitating to the device market anyway. But being older I don't mind being nostalgic and having that clunky desktop on my desk. Maybe now's the time to buy a tower cheap and then load whatever I want on it before they don't make them (or sell the parts) any longer.

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/04/16/windows-its-over-tech-site-declares/?intcmp=features

The trend today is toward licensing every keystroke, file, photo and musical performance whether it be created by the user or not.

Every single device or pretended convenience be it cloud backup, tablet technology or web based application tends toward theft of that which individuals create and legitimately purchase for use.

Do you pay a license fee every time you use a shovel in your back yard? (I do) (1)
Do you pay a subscription fee every time you use your toilet? (I do) (2)
Do you pay for software and pay again every time you use it? (MSoffice365)
Do you pay for your music and movies and pay again every single time you watch them? (3)
Do you pay for use of your own data? (4)

The 'trend' is to put chains upon us and the best devices for doing that are tablets and phones that need replacement every 18 months.

I have an old laptop on which I installed MSoffice 97. It still works just fine, thank you. Well enough to have written three books, several short stories and a few magazine articles. Why pay and pay?

Because we are slaves to the market. It is truly said that the tail is wagging the dog.

woof woof


and that's just me, hollering from the choir loft...
(1) HOA fees
(2) Sewer or septic fees
(3) VUDU, Apple TV, Ultra Violet, etc.
(4) cloud data storage

 

[ccfromsc]

Also what does the future bring? I see a melting/merge of the desktop and the TV. Already you have "Smart" tvs....have the desktop to be able to just plug into the tv...a la HDMI, which you can already do.... but with more. Like have the Apple TV or Ruku built in the desktop.

But one thing I do notice is this: what of the moral and ethical questions it will raise!

 

[[email protected]]

Also what does the future bring? I see a melting/merge of the desktop and the TV. Already you have "Smart" tvs....have the desktop to be able to just plug into the tv...a la HDMI, which you can already do.... but with more. Like have the Apple TV or Ruku built in the desktop.

But one thing I do notice is this: what of the moral and ethical questions it will raise!

Excellent point ccromsc.

Apart from the financial slavery to TV software, there is the rapidly diminishing source of decent entertainment diversions. At one point broadcast television nearly went out. It's experiencing a resurgence today thanks to obscene cable company charges. Magazine articles suggest a lot of people are cutting the wire in favor of internet based programming such as youTube, Netflix and the set top boxes that allow one to view hundreds of channels.

If you are close enough to a large city you can install a digital antenna and buy a cable quality DVR from ChannelMaster. All free once the initial installation is complete. I used this set up myself until we moved to a house that has questionable reception. I live in Tampa Bay and there are over 40 HD tv stations broadcast FREE.

And then there's the nasty software offered for entertainment. I'm a fan of TCM, Turner Classic Movies and MEtv. Those channels put out programs from the 30's through the 60's. The morality portrayed in those stories is shockingly different from today. For example, search your available list of theater movies, new releases on cable, Red Box, etc. The overwhelming majority of them are demonic, overtly sexual (and I'm not talking about standard porn), murderous, and all containing slander about the Church and Christianity.

Don't get me wrong. I like my electronic diversions. Who doesn't? The whole planet is addicted to it. I've been to third world countries where people didn't eat regularly, but they all had access to television, cell phones and radio.

Man does not eat bread alone.

and that's just me, hollering from the choir loft...

 

[StanJ]

I have a desktop, Playbook and Galaxy III smart phone. They all do their job.
If I was still doing PC/Network support I would carry a desktop replacement. They are a tad heavy but are robust and well suited for the IT systems worker. My desktop has Windows 7, on an ASUS MB with an AMD 64 X2 DCP 5200+ CPU with 8 gig of DDR2-800 RAM and a pretty decent PCIe 16x ASUS video card. It works well for all occasions, and my current needs. The box is about 5 or six years old and one of the many I built myself.

 

[StanJ]

Update to my last post above;

I would now buy the Windows Surface Pro 3 as a desktop replacement and I am seriously looking at replacing my BB Playbook with an Android tablet.

 

[pom2014]

The PC is here to stay.

It will of course become like a truck, used for work and heavy usage.

The consumer will go to tablets and phones, most have, and in time their big screens and consoles. Some already have.

But for work, the PC, connected to remote access will be the way from now on.

This will be a combination of local and virtualisation. Local for intense graphical use (Video editing, CGI, CAD, etc.) and virtual desktops
for business, marketing and telecommuting.

The media consumption devices will become the relaxation devices and some PCs may still be employed for the hobbyist and HC gamer. (Really a form of hobbyist)

 

[StanJ]

Oh my gosh I thought your username said PORN2014 Apparently it's not just my hearing that is going. :wacko:

Anyway I do use a Note 8 tablet a lot now for FB and other things. I've relegated my Note II to simply taking call so I may just drop it for a land line that is much cheaper. I can get one for $15 a month. I only used my PC for forums and paying bills now, as well as studying the Bible.

I just stored my Playbook away. May give it to a needy person if I come across one.

 

[pom2014]

Stan,

Have you looked into fido.ca for a pay per or BYOD plan instead?

Honestly land lines are going the way of telegraphs and faxes.

You might want to keep using the Note if they can slip you into an acceptable scheme.

 

[StanJ]

I looked into MagicJack today and it seems to be the answer for me. 40 bucks for the first YEAR and 20 bucks a YEAR after that. The reviews are good for even for a VoIP service, so when my contract is up on my cell phone I'll probably switch to that. 70 bucks a month vs 20 bucks a year is a not brainer.

 

[pom2014]

The issue with VOIP is that if you do not have data connection it will not work.

So you are tethered to your home or a good wireless connection that is free.

Not a good mobile choice, but if you're a stay at home person, then you'll ne good as gold.

 

[StanJ]

Oh I understand VoIP, and I have a really high end connection....50 mps, so no problem.

As I am retired, I am always home and never go out on my own. When I do go out it's with someone who has a cell phone.

Need to make sure I only spend what I have to on my pension.

 

[pom2014]

Oh good Stan just didn't want you to get stuck out in the winter with no mobile.

 

[StanJ]

Oh good Stan just didn't want you to get stuck out in the winter with no mobile.

Appreciate that, but it is because I'm never out alone these days that I thought about the change. I have had a cell phone since 94, so it will be weird to not have one. Even so, I will probably feel naked going out without a cell I'm sure.

 

[RedRaider]

yea, most are going away from landlines!

 

[[email protected]]

As long as large businesses hire droids to work in cube farms, there will be a market for desktop PCs.

I've made a living out of servicing these industrial sweat shops and can tell you with all honesty that there is absolutely no sign they are going away. The future, if you can call this bleak dead end job a future, is in sweat shop computer service. The technician doesn't need a college degree, only an A+ certification and a few months' experience he or she can get at a low budget tech school. Parents are still programmed to spend a fortune on a college education, but in the computer field that isn't the way to go. Corporate and general certifications are the path to a job and it doesn't cost anywhere near as much money.

The vast majority of good programming jobs have been out sourced with only a few jobs remaining in America for those who excel at programming. That's only young people too, I may add. I once was proficient in 14 different languages with prospects for opening my own programming shop. Everything went south when outsourcing and cheap packages like Quick Books became popular. For the average computer geek, the only really good jobs are in the service field and that's restricted to PCs. Unfortunately, prospects for career advancement and the pay to go with it is nil.

On the other hand, a very lucrative career can begin with highly specific certifications in network service and development. The infrastructure of American business computer systems is changing all the time with experienced and qualified administrators in high demand. These certifications are hard to get, which is why those that have them are well paid. I have a Masters Degree and can tell you that an advanced certification requires classroom attention and work on a higher, brain busting level than post graduate university work. Its difficult, but if you have the smarts for it much less expensive than college.

I've spent forty years in the business and seen it change dramatically. Today I'm moving to retirement, but can advise any young person or parent of a young person to go with certifications rather than college. It pays better and if the young person has the head for it can promise a good career.

No, the PC isn't going away. As long as there are corporations willing to invest in computers there will be a market for the PC as well as those who can administer and repair them.

and that's just me, hollering from the choir loft...

 

[StanJ]

I agree RJP....all you need to do is call ANY support line of any company that sells IT services, to see how little front line support people actually know. I never waste my time with them and always ask for tier two support.

 

[lforrest]

The PC is still the bread and butter of the tech industries. The only people using Macs are some graphics designers.

Network security is where its at right now. You have the government pressuring tech businesses to secure their networks, and they better be showing some competency or were talking fines and prosecution.

 

[pom2014]

Macs are also still used for video.

But they are just PCs.