[quote]challer1 wrote:
[quote]kakno wrote:
Many buy tablets but end up wondering what the hell to use them for. I don’t see them replacing computers any time soon. It’s more likely that computers will replace tablets IMO. Microsoft had to go that way with Windows 8. [/quote]
Computers will replace tablets? That’s preposterous. You are letting your prejudices blind you to the future. Even though I am a PC guy myself, writing this post on a $1500 custom desktop, I realize that technology goes one way and it is not backwards. You or I might feel that way about tablets, but the average user is not doing real work on their tablet nor are they playing high end games. The tablet does just about everything they need.[/quote]
Exactly. Tablets are a step back. You can’t multitask and you can’t really produce anything on them without it being a real pain in the ass. And I’m not so sure everyone could pay their bills with just a tablet. The only thing good about them is the resolution war Apple started, which has yet to fully spill over to computers.
Touchscreens are making their way into laptops. Some computers can do exactly everything a tablet does and everything a computer does. I think this will eventually kill android and iOS tablets, which are still just toys. I only use my Nexus 10 for reading. If I want to get something done, I still need to bring my laptop.
Surface sold better than expected, but many of those interested in windows tablets were waiting for the surface pro. (with x86; a real processor capable of running full windows and all windows programs with really good performance) A real windows tablet can replace a desktop, laptop and a tablet. The only obstacle is power consumption, and it will be really interesting to see what Intel’s Haswell processor family will bring to the table.
And on the phone side, budget windows phones will be really competitive against budget android phones. Give it a few years and I believe they’ll overtake iOS.
[quote]The way tech for the average user is heading is toward the cloud. The devices consumers will buy simply be an interface to interact with cloud-based applications. The idea of a computer or individual tablet will slowly fade, as users access the same base of information and software whether they are using their phone, tablet, or other yet developed device. Office computers will be replaced with workstations consisting of a small piece of hardware and a broadband connection for accessing the cloud. A keyboard and mouse (and perhaps possibly touch screen/voice commands) for improved efficiency are a possibility, but the resurgence of desktops is not.
[/quote]
We’ll see. Who’s to say you won’t use a windows computer to access the cloud? Moving everything to the cloud will increase latency a lot and is yet another step back. I still think most would prefer a competent windows laptop at the end of the day.