AfterDawn: Tech news

PC era ending, says IBM PC engineer

Written by James Delahunty @ 14 Aug 2011 3:45 User comments (12)

PC era ending, says IBM PC engineer

Dr Mark Dean says variety of devices are starting to end the era of the PC.
Dean was one of the engineers of the first IBM PC, holding 3 patents related to the technology. The original IBM PC set several standards that were followed and built-on over the years in the market. Now, Dean says that the era of the PC is ending, being replaced by the socially-mediated innovation brought by the PC itself.

"When I helped design the PC, I didn't think I'd live long enough to witness its decline," wrote Dean. "It's becoming clear that innovation flourishes best not on devices but in the social spaces between them, where people and ideas meet and interact."

Dean, who says his primary computer is now a tablet, said that PCs will be used a lot in the future but are no longer the force for innovation that they were for a couple of decades. "It is there that computing can have the most powerful impact on economy, society and people's lives."



He made the comments while commemorating 30 years since the IBM personal computer. Microsoft also marked the occasion with a blog post, but instead said that the world is moving into a "PC-plus" era, pointing out that over 400 million PCs are projected to be sold this year.

Tags: IBM
Previous Next  

12 user comments

114.8.2011 17:40

fear not old geezer nerd dude that worked at IBM once upon a time and happens to be named dean, the PC still Remains the most powerful and versatile machine ever. even into the foreseeable future as not one of those PC ending devices can match it.

214.8.2011 18:30

He must be senile.
You are not going to force a tablet or any other device a PC can do 10 fold. I suppose you can get one of these devices with a 27" monitor, fast CPU/GPU and a ton of RAM with one of those kiddie thingies.
Jeff

314.8.2011 18:56
ITWARZ
Unverified new user

As I recall IBM was wrong about the PC;s marketability from the beginning. Who was the IBM exec who asked, and I'm paraphrasing, what would anybody want to use a computer at home for? IBM used to give PC's as gifts to my manager whenever he bought some new piece of heavy iron. IBM probably would have long since gone the route of DEC or WANG were it not for the company's patents. IBM has been consistently wrong about the PC's future and I see nothings changed.

414.8.2011 22:33

Until we completely master technology and can make handheld devices have the same computing power as larger devices (e.g. desktop), then people will continue using their PCs.

515.8.2011 20:45

The PC was about freedom.
The iPad is about shackles.

The form of the computer may change, but it will always flourish as an OPEN device with LOTS of connections with LOTS of expand-ability. The tablet is not this.
Maybe someday it will be. But then it would be a PC! Just with a different form factor.

616.8.2011 01:40

Originally posted by ThePastor:
The PC was about freedom.
The iPad is about shackles.

The form of the computer may change, but it will always flourish as an OPEN device with LOTS of connections with LOTS of expand-ability. The tablet is not this.
Maybe someday it will be. But then it would be a PC! Just with a different form factor.
You should try an Android tablet... All these things are available in some models.

716.8.2011 11:23

Originally posted by DXR88:
fear not old geezer nerd dude that worked at IBM once upon a time and happens to be named dean, the PC still Remains the most powerful and versatile machine ever. even into the foreseeable future as not one of those PC ending devices can match it.
Go DXR88!!!!!!!!!!

How true. This 'has been' IBM guy is just trying to make a name for himself and he is............as a goof.

Another recent poll/study by a reputable source (forgot) stated that the PC is at it's strongest and not declining.

No longer the "force for innovation"??? Ummm......is water wet and is the sky still blue???? No kidding IBM geezer......other things have been invented so it goes without saying that the PC isn't the only means of innovation.

816.8.2011 13:32

Originally posted by i1der:
Originally posted by ThePastor:
The PC was about freedom.
The iPad is about shackles.

The form of the computer may change, but it will always flourish as an OPEN device with LOTS of connections with LOTS of expand-ability. The tablet is not this.
Maybe someday it will be. But then it would be a PC! Just with a different form factor.
You should try an Android tablet... All these things are available in some models.
I suppose you can overclock the piss out of a tablet, install multiple internal hard drives in one case that has all the guts, have a killer video card?........?

No thanks.

916.8.2011 13:44

Originally posted by i1der:


You should try an Android tablet... All these things are available in some models.
I will most likely get an "Ice Cream Sandwich" when they come out. :D


1016.8.2011 15:24

Originally posted by ThePastor:
Originally posted by i1der:


You should try an Android tablet... All these things are available in some models.
I will most likely get an "Ice Cream Sandwich" when they come out. :D


Either he is a pimp for Android or does not understand building a PC is a hobby for some people.
Jeff
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 16 Aug 2011 @ 3:24

1116.8.2011 16:55

Agreed. A tablet does not come close to fulfilling my hobby needs. It will be a great tool, but the PC is still king. The tablets are not quite there.

But I could see a time when they will be.

1219.8.2011 22:33

Wrong. I have a couple PC's, an ipad 2, an hp tablet as well as a laptop. None of the others will ever replace a pc IMO.

Comments have been disabled for this article.

News archive