Post PC era - too early still?

[iEvolution]

Nope, in fact I doubt tablets will ever replace computers they are more of a companion to the computer.

a) tablets don't have near the capacity
b) tablets don't have near the processing power needed for things like video creation/processing
c) In general, a keyboard is a faster way to work than a touch screen especially when you have all the key shortcuts memorized...though this is subjective.

 

[darngooddesign]

I take it you don't consider pilots, physicians, or geologists to be "professionals"?

Don't be so pedantic. I meant professional computer users...graphic designers, programmers, photo retouchers, videographers, cnc mill operators, 3d artists, illustrators, etc. Do I need to keep listing examples or can you make a distinction between a pilot and 3D animator as far as their professional computer needs?

 

[chrono1081]

Hi guys,

I have used a Windows PC my whole life and have finally become fed up and have decided to go Apple all the way. My wife and I currently have iPhone 4's and an iPad 1. We just love our IOS devices!

I have been going back and forth on what Mac to buy and have not made a decision. One feature that caught my eye recently is the wireless mirroring coming in IOS 5 for the iPad 2. The fact that I can have all of my content on a very mobile device and display this on my three HDTVs at home is very cool. Now that iCloud is coming out and we no longer need PCs for setting up our IOS devices, it feels like getting a computer is a step backwards. For the price of an iMac 27inch, I can get two iPad 2s (one for my wife and one for me) and a couple of Apple TVs.

Although I would love to leave a computer out of my life, I am thinking it is still a bit too early to fully leave the PC era behind. I may go with the setup I noted above, but get the entry level Mac Mini, just to act as a file server, and for light photo/video editing. A time capsule will be my main backup source.

So what do you guys think, will the iPad/iPhone/Apple TV setup work, or will I still need a computer? Am i over complicating things and should just get an iMac instead?

Apple seems to be making things much easier for us to just rely on our iPhones and iPads, the post PC era has begun.

For a lot of people I know, iOS devices are perfect. They aren't great with computers and simply want the internet to browse around on and play on face book. My Dad is a prime example. He isn't good with computers at all but he is much better with a Mac than he was with Windows, and even better with iOS. He takes his iPad everywhere and loves it.

It'll be really nice when iOS 5 is released and he wont need to hook it to the computer.

 

[vrDrew]

Don't be so pedantic. I meant professional computer users...

I don't mean to be pedantic.

But the point I'm trying to make is, firstly, that the options many professional people have for their computing devices have expanded significantly thanks to the appearance of the iPad. Ten years ago a doctor on his rounds or a pilot in his cockpit was limited to a laptop - or paper. Three years ago it expanded to include Smartphone Apps, which were limited by very small screen sizes and generally low-powered processors. Today, we are in the situation where a lot of those people are asking themselves if they need (personally) to interact with a personal computer at all.

Secondly I think that many commenters here need to keep in mind that the group you described (videographers, computer programmers, etc.) is now a very small subset of total computer users. What the exact percentage is, I don't know - but I'd argue it currently is under 10% of all computer users.

And lastly, I think that as the capabilities of the iPad grow, you'll see the number of professions falling into that "gotta have a PC" group getting smaller still. The Gorillaz famously produced a entire album using only Garageband on an iPad. Artist David Hockney creates ALL his digital paintings using iOS devices.

That's what Steve Jobs means when he talks about "post-PC" - not that the personal computer is going to disappear. Its just that it isn't going to be the main "point of contact" a majority of people have with their data.

 

[Carouser]

a) tablets don't have near the capacity
b) tablets don't have near the processing power needed for things like video creation/processing
c) In general, a keyboard is a faster way to work than a touch screen especially when you have all the key shortcuts memorized...though this is subjective.

Don't be so pedantic. I meant professional computer users...graphic designers, programmers, photo retouchers, videographers, cnc mill operators, 3d artists, illustrators, etc. Do I need to keep listing examples or can you make a distinction between a pilot and 3D animator as far as their professional computer needs?

This is a great example of 'selecting on the dependent variable'. You've chosen all the instances of people needing desktop OSes as evidence that people in general need desktop OSes, and thus miss the point of 'post-PC era' which vrDrew explains quite well.

 

[kdarling]

Ten years ago a doctor on his rounds or a pilot in his cockpit was limited to a laptop - or paper.

Nope. Those kinds of professionals adopted tablets long ago.

Ten years ago, both commercial and private pilots were already using tablets (Electronic Flight Bags) in the cockpit for planning and navigation. (In 2001, even I and my friends were using digitized charts, logs and other tools on touchscreen convertible tablet PCs while flying.)

You could hook up a GPS puck, and you could download realtime weather OTA. Some of them were even certified by the FCC to interface with the airplane's systems to be used as Multi Function Displays.

Nine years ago, the USAF was using Windows 2000 tablets to prevent friendly fire incidents in Afghanistan.

Also years ago, doctors were adopting tablet PCs to take class notes, and to make their rounds with. There were even custom tablets made to withstand constant antiseptic treatments to prevent the spread of germs.

-- end history lesson

To your point, I agree that the awareness of today's simple tablets has increased greatly, because of their relatively low price, generally easier learning curve, and all the current publicity.

That's what Steve Jobs means when he talks about "post-PC" - not that the personal computer is going to disappear. Its just that it isn't going to be the main "point of contact" a majority of people have with their data.

Jobs was comparing the era of a majority needing a farm truck, to today's more urban car-oriented style. In other words, most heavy producers will continue to use trucks (PCs) while most consumers will use cars (simpler devices).

It's certainly about time that the casual consumer had computers that were really easier to use. Apple deserves a lot of credit for finally applying themselves and others to that market.

 

[darngooddesign]

This is a great example of 'selecting on the dependent variable'. You've chosen all the instances of people needing desktop OSes as evidence that people in general need desktop OSes, and thus miss the point of 'post-PC era' which vrDrew explains quite well.

Wrong again. Had you read what I posted, rather than what you wanted to see, you would have noticed I said for general use post PC will arrive soon and for computer professionals** it will never arrive.

** Professional who have to use computers rather than professionals who happen to use computers.

 

[Carouser]

Wrong again. Had you read what I posted, rather than what you wanted to see, you would have noticed I said for general use post PC will arrive soon and for computer professionals** it will never arrive.

** Professional who have to use computers rather than professionals who happen to use computers.

Oh, I see what you mean. You're right - for people who have to use computers, for whom computers are indispensable, they will have to use computers. Those who don't need computers won't have to use them (and can use tablets instead). The truth of this tautology is undeniable.

 

[palpatine]

i talked to a friend who can see the future.

they said there will be powerful computers and less powerful ones, and they will come in many shapes and sizes.

post-modern, post-pc, etc. don't mean a complete repudiation of everything that has ever come before...

 

[Macman45]

It Has Always Been The Case

Don't be so pedantic. I meant professional computer users...graphic designers, programmers, photo retouchers, videographers, cnc mill operators, 3d artists, illustrators, etc. Do I need to keep listing examples or can you make a distinction between a pilot and 3D animator as far as their professional computer needs?

That graphic design, CAD, artistic applications were the domain of the MAC. Over the years with the advent of PC's capable of handling these task's and because of their "Mainstream" appeal, at a much lower outlay, these professions migrated.

The last PC I built (and I'll list the spec. to make my point:

AMD Phenom Quad Core CPU
16 GB RAM
2 X Radeon 4870 Graphics cards (4 GPU's intotal)
2 x1 TB hdds
2 x DVD Rewriters
A 1000KW PSU
Many fans (can't remember now)


All that to achieve what my iMac eats for breakfast at a small fraction of the power consumption AND if I has not been able to get oem prices on the components probably around the same price as my iMac.

If MS fail to address the many issues concerning windows when they release Windows 8, then I think we will see a shift back to mac for these high end users.

Tablets, notebooks etc. will improve, but will never (IMO) be able to truly replace a high end computer, be it a Mac or Windows based system

As much as I love my ipad2, there are still things it can't do, and I think this will be the case for the foreseeable future. If you are doing high end Video, Photographic work, you simply need the real-estate that a large display gives you.

Laptops capable of these tasks cost a fortune, and are still a compromise. In short then, the PC and Mac desktops are with us to stay.

 

[Ijustfarted]

I'm having the same dilemma. Dont know if I want to buy a MacBook pro when the get refreshed or just stick to my good ol thinkpad and just use iPads for all my needs.

 

[darngooddesign]

I'm having the same dilemma. Dont know if I want to buy a MacBook pro when the get refreshed or just stick to my good ol thinkpad and just use iPads for all my needs.

If you aren't sure that you need to upgrade to a new faster computer means that post-pc works for you.

 

[Ijustfarted]

If you aren't sure that you need to upgrade to a new faster computer means that post-pc works for you.

Yeah maybe your right. The iPad will truly be a post pc device for me when all the major porn streaming sites start using html5