iPad will replace PC in 5 years

Question

Check this out. Somebody is smoking something at ZDNet http://www.zdnet.com/blog/storage/when-will-the-ipad-replace-desktops/1631?tag=mantle_skin;content

Mahesh Chand · Answer

@Sam, @Vulpes, check this out: http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/Blogs/8568/yoga-my-dream-laptop.aspx T his seems like to be the future. All in one Tablet.

Mahesh Chand · Answer

You can clearly tell that this author is not a tech guy. For most of the tech guys, Tablets including iPad is just a piece of junk. I got it to just to see this hype is all about and it has no use for me but to play Angry Birds while waiting in my son's basketball practice. I guess it may be cool to have one for soccer moms, for tech world, iPad has no use.

Sam Hobbs · Answer

The article starts by saying " While an iPad can't replace a desktop system today, it will be able to - for the vast majority of users - in 5 years. Not only possible, but inevitable. " and concludes by saying " Desktops and notebooks aren't going away ". The article assumes that since it is possible to do it in the future, it will be done, yet it provides no explanation for why the iPad specifically will be popular. I think the most relevant conclusion, which the author does not see, is that the technology of the future has not yet been invented. The article ignores some critical facts. iOS is bundled with Apple hardware; iOS must be ported to other hardware by Apple. iOS applications are programmed using Objective C which is not as portable as Java and C#. These are significant barriers that other operating systems, such as Android, do not have. Monotouch however does provide portability for iOS applications. The fact that iOS is bundled with the hardware means that the hardware and software combination are relevant but Android can be used anywhere that a vendor wants to use it; they simply must pay for the development of the port to their hardware. The proprietary status of iOS alone can make it or break it in the sense that the hardware and software combination must remain superior to anything that use an open-source OS such as Android. The author definitely admits that tablets are limited by the absence of "multi-tasking" abilities and here multi-tasking refers to the user's ability to work with multiple applications, not the processor's ability to work with multiple applications. The author admits that "transcoding and rendering video is slower than I'd like". He then credits the snappy response to SSD drives, which will be used for desktop systems too; they are already being used in desktops. The author assumes that most users only need a single 1 GHz processor. The advantage of desktops is expandability. Nothing else has motherboard slots like desktops do. Nothing else has physical expansion space like desktop systems do.

Mahesh Chand · Answer

I think ultrabooks are the way to go. They can be used as a PC as well as a Tablet. Also don't forget powerful as a PC/Laptop.

Vulpes · Answer

Yeah, it's a silly article. Before the iPad was even invented, I had thought that a PC was overkill for many home users - and for those folks an iPad (or similar tablet) is probably an ideal device. However, I doubt whether those users make up even 50% of the market for PCs, let alone 'the vast majority' ! The simple fact is that a battery driven device with a 10 inch touch screen has its limitations for business or serious home use and I don't see any reason why those users should accept any compromises given the relative pricing of iPads and PCs. Sure, you'll no doubt be able to attach docking stations, keyboards, larger displays etc. onto it but why bother when you can get all that in a more integrated form with a PC? Of course, that doesn't mean that the iPad won't sell to 'hardened' PC users as a subsidiary device - it will, I even have one myself ;)