CNET September 5 International reported on August 12, is the 30th anniversary of the birth of IBM PC, it became the founder of modern Windows computers. Mark Dean, the father of IBM's personal computers, was at the moment happy that his company had divested its PC business in 2005. Dean believes we are in a "post-PC era," with the personal computer founder saying the main machine he is using now is a tablet.
Less than a week later, the world'S largest PC brand, HP, also announced a major overhaul. HP CEO Léo Apotheker announced that the company is considering the sale or spin-off of the PC division, and decided to abandon the listing just six weeks of the tablet, TouchPad.
In the midst of this gloom, we can't bear to criticize or ridicule Frank Shaw, vice president of Corporate Relations at Microsoft, for his own product rebuttal. Living in the world view of Windows, Shaw optimistic that there are a lot of PC features can not be replaced by a tablet or smartphone, the latter two devices can only count PC” deputy".He believes that we are now at best in the era of "PC+" (PC-plus), rather than the post-PC era.
PC will eventually become a toast to the words of some of the overreaction.IDC data shows that the global PC sales this year is expected to 36.15 million units, by 2015, the number will increase to 54.15 million units. We can not expect the PC can have much of the growth rate, but the PC market at least not stagnant. the iSuppli report also believes that as a tablet pc with the potential to subvert the PC, sales this year is expected to be 6 million units, by 2015, the number will grow to 27.53 million units.
As for HP's dramatic decision, the PC boss may argue that this is a transformative measure that must be taken in the face of future upheaval. HP CEO stressed that the "tablet effect" has caused a strong impact on the PC industry, which makes HP must rethink operational strategy. He did not specify, but the Apple iPad has made traditional PC sales.
In fact, HP to give up the PC is not a visionary approach. Analysts had similar proposals as far back as 2001. At the time, HP was trying to acquire Compaq, Forbes magazine's Dan Ackman said: "some analysts suggest that HP should quickly lose light will be defeated, but not make money in the PC sector.”
When Ackman said this, the iPad didn't even appear in Steve Jobs's mind. The PC market, however, has been fiercely competitive and marginally profitable. Apotheker, who previously worked for SAP, Germany's largest software vendor, simply wanted to reassert HP's market competitiveness in high-yield products and services.
Therefore, the PC did not die, HP abandoned and not much, but it does not mean that the status quo will always be static. Almost every week, we find that small companies have incorporated the iPad into their everyday office supplies, just as they did when they snapped up PCs.
However, if you think the PC has since announced the resignation, that may not be clear enough.
Desktop and laptop computers installed Microsoft software has long occupied the vast majority of the PC market share, which led to consumer awareness of personal computers on the concept of the screen mouse and keyboard, they can not imagine, PC and other possibilities. Tablets and smartphones are very personal, and there is no doubt that they belong to the computer, but they are new PC type, not the concept of fuzzy four, not to mention Microsoft Shaw said is only the deputy of the PC so simple. We can expect that in the coming days, tablets and smartphones will be able to coexist with the PCs we know.
Perhaps "commingling" is a more appropriate word than " coexisting."Microsoft plans to release more information about Windows 8 at its BUILD conference this month, which is Microsoft's first version of Windows that challenges the strength of the iPad.
The most shocking part of HP's exit was not the spin-off or the sale of the PC, but the decision to personally kill TouchPad in such a short period of time. Although there is a sudden surge in prices after the sale, HP also said, Maybe not to TouchPad damn moment, but please be frank with the fact that TouchPad has become a zombie is a foregone conclusion, do not expect it to be resurrected.
TouchPad encounter reminiscent of the 1970s and 1980s, Date General, Digital, Prime and Wang an and other companies have invested in the development of the mini-computer situation. They all tried to produce the PC but eventually failed, but they did not even like HP did not try to directly announce the exit.
Thus, to abandon the TouchPad shows HP's long-term vision is not enough, perhaps it does not want to join the competition in the future of personal computer evolution.
HP's decision, in the end, is right or wrong, in the speed of change, the science and technology of the Times, who dare to light conclusions.