There's been a lot of discussion about falling PC sales. Many are blaming Microsoft's new Windows 8. But the problem may be more complicated.
I remember buying my first computer. It was exciting! A computer would help me learn applications needed to get a good job, help me become more efficient and organized, help me create the things I want to create and I can play games on it too.
Nowadays, many people purchase an iPad as their first computer. For example, my friends daughter needed a new computer for school, she's 12. He asked if he could just purchase an iPad for her. We went out for dinner and his daughter explained to me what she needs. Essentially, she needed something to write her reports on and print them out to hand into the teacher. I showed her my iPad partnered with an Apple wireless keyboard (in an Origami case) and the iAWriter app ($1.99, which I am using now as I type this). She thought it was perfect. The only glitch was printing.
Printing from an iPad could be solved a few different ways. One is to purchase a wireless printer. We use one at the office to good effect. I can print from anywhere even when I'm not in the office and my documents are waiting for me when I arrive. Or I can email the document, open the file from a computer and print it that way.
Since this family already owned two computers and a printer that everyone shared, this young girl needed only an iPad + keyboard. She emails her homework to her mom, dad or brother to print it out.
She loves her setup and uses it every day. She also gained additional benefits of owning an iPad. She can surf the web, play games and create with drawing apps. Games and drawing apps are fantastic on the iPad and it's very well suited for surfing the web.
This young girl did not need a computer to do her schoolwork. She could be just as productive with an iPad. Her excitement equalled mine when I bought my first computer. Herein lies the problem for PC vendors. The bloat of a computer along with all the viruses, crashing issues and the additional expense of purchasing software isn't as attractive as the form factor and efficiency of an iPad. In the coming year or two Android tablets will have caught up to the iPad in usability further deteriorating the need for a PC.
A full computer is no longer necessary. That's why sales are falling. Microsoft, along with Windows 8, is only part of the story. Hardware manufactures like HP, Acer and Dell will suffer unless they develop a solid tablet strategy (which may best be built upon Android rather than Windows 8).
The world is changing and the post PC era is coming fast.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Microsoft Internet Explorer - What is the cost of being #1?
Microsoft was fined by the European Union over $700 million for failing to offer users a choice of web browser on a Windows PC. In 2009 Microsoft made a legally binding commitment allowing users to make a choice of how they access the internet. The ruling found they did not live up to their end of the bargain.
In 1995 Microsoft included Internet Explorer (IE) as part of their operating system, Windows 95. Since the browser was given away for free other browser companies like Netscape were left in the dust.
This weeks ruling determined Microsoft failed to honor their obligation between May 2011 and July 2012. Approximately 15 million users were not given the opportunity to select the browser of their choice. Oops!
"We have apologized for it," Microsoft said in a statement.
Microsoft and other companies that try to gain an unfair advantage need to be investigated. Having a tendency towards unscrupulous and questionable business practice could cause one to wonder how they conduct themselves in other areas of business. The saying 'rotten to the core' may apply.
Companies competing with Microsoft can expect unfair competition. But will the fine produce the desired effect? My guess is that Microsoft has found out the cost of competing unfairly in the browser space. It will be curious to see if they are willing to continue paying over $700 million each time they are caught in order to have the most popular browser on the planet.
In 1995 Microsoft included Internet Explorer (IE) as part of their operating system, Windows 95. Since the browser was given away for free other browser companies like Netscape were left in the dust.
This weeks ruling determined Microsoft failed to honor their obligation between May 2011 and July 2012. Approximately 15 million users were not given the opportunity to select the browser of their choice. Oops!
"We have apologized for it," Microsoft said in a statement.
Microsoft and other companies that try to gain an unfair advantage need to be investigated. Having a tendency towards unscrupulous and questionable business practice could cause one to wonder how they conduct themselves in other areas of business. The saying 'rotten to the core' may apply.
Companies competing with Microsoft can expect unfair competition. But will the fine produce the desired effect? My guess is that Microsoft has found out the cost of competing unfairly in the browser space. It will be curious to see if they are willing to continue paying over $700 million each time they are caught in order to have the most popular browser on the planet.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
128GB iPad coming soon to corporate America
Apple has set its eyes on the dying infrastructure of the PC industry and Microsoft’s Windows operating system business. The release of the new 128GB iPad clearly shows Apple is working hard to offer businesses the flexibility they need. Fortune 500 companies require space to save their data whether it's spreadsheets, presentations, images, X-rays or any other type of content. As professionals find apps other than Microsoft's suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) to help them accomplish their goals, expect PC sales to continue to spiral downward.
Apple's 128GB iPad costs $799. Microsoft's 128GB Surface costs $999. There are issues about the accuracy of Microsoft's claim. The truth is their 128GB is really closer to 80GB. I will have more to say about this in the future.
My PC sits closed on my desk. I have a Mac for Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign which works overtime daily. An iPad along with an Apple wireless keyboard allows me to email my coworkers, type out my ideas, arrange my schedule and sketch. After a days work, my Mac stays put while my iPad goes into my bag traveling home with me. This way I am still connected to work and play. Only on heavy workload days does the Mac comes home. This flexible setup just works better for me and it takes 30 seconds to break everything down and get it into my bag.
It's interesting what's been happening lately with the PC. The launch of Windows 8 seems clouded with mystery. Sales numbers are guarded so the actual number of early adopters is unknown. Intel has decided to stop making motherboards for full PCs only to focus on UltraBooks and tablets. The streamlined ARM processor is given respect but only by those who can code efficiently.
This is a lot to take in for PC manufacturers. The metrics show a determined decline. Acer is pointing their finger at Microsoft for soft sales and Microsoft points their finger right back at the hardware manufacturers for not building more compelling machines. All of this confusion may result in professionals demanding more structure. An iPad provides a structured platform many/most businesses are willing to investigate and integrate into their networks. By offering an iPad with greater storage the gap between computers and tablets reduces. The plethora of productivity and specialized apps for iPad means more work gets done without the need for legacy Windows software. Anyone who needs to save lots of files and enjoys working on an iPad can further reduce their dependance on their PC.
It's an exciting time in corporate America. One where mobility is a reality and the 'PC' used to get your work done is an iPad.
Apple's 128GB iPad costs $799. Microsoft's 128GB Surface costs $999. There are issues about the accuracy of Microsoft's claim. The truth is their 128GB is really closer to 80GB. I will have more to say about this in the future.
My PC sits closed on my desk. I have a Mac for Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign which works overtime daily. An iPad along with an Apple wireless keyboard allows me to email my coworkers, type out my ideas, arrange my schedule and sketch. After a days work, my Mac stays put while my iPad goes into my bag traveling home with me. This way I am still connected to work and play. Only on heavy workload days does the Mac comes home. This flexible setup just works better for me and it takes 30 seconds to break everything down and get it into my bag.
It's interesting what's been happening lately with the PC. The launch of Windows 8 seems clouded with mystery. Sales numbers are guarded so the actual number of early adopters is unknown. Intel has decided to stop making motherboards for full PCs only to focus on UltraBooks and tablets. The streamlined ARM processor is given respect but only by those who can code efficiently.
This is a lot to take in for PC manufacturers. The metrics show a determined decline. Acer is pointing their finger at Microsoft for soft sales and Microsoft points their finger right back at the hardware manufacturers for not building more compelling machines. All of this confusion may result in professionals demanding more structure. An iPad provides a structured platform many/most businesses are willing to investigate and integrate into their networks. By offering an iPad with greater storage the gap between computers and tablets reduces. The plethora of productivity and specialized apps for iPad means more work gets done without the need for legacy Windows software. Anyone who needs to save lots of files and enjoys working on an iPad can further reduce their dependance on their PC.
It's an exciting time in corporate America. One where mobility is a reality and the 'PC' used to get your work done is an iPad.
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