The era of the PC is over

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http://allthingsd.com/20120915/its-official-the-era-of-the-personal-computer-is-over/

Except for us dinosaurs.

Jerry

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Just because the author elaborates that the sale of computer chips has recently focused toward cell phones and other devices doesn’t indicate the end of the PC. It’s a novelty and everyone already has a PC. With the introduction of new operating systems, intense gaming, and complex programs, people will retire their old desktop/laptop and buy a new one. When it comes down to business, a smart phone or a tablet will just not cut it. For play, the new technology reigns, but for work, education, and serious gaming, the PC still and will continue to rule for some time……just my opinion!

Dinosaurs ruled the earth for hundreds of thousands of years. The PC has been around, functionally, for only the past 50. I just don’t see NASA hosting the next Jupiter mission with a tablet or a cell phone!

Maud

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I have to agree Maud. There are just way too many PC users that depend on more powerful devices than tablets or phones.

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I have to agree Maud. There are just way too many PC users that depend on more powerful devices than tablets or phones.

I believe the same was said about pagers and fax machines, they are not gone either, but…

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I believe the same was said about pagers and fax machines, they are not gone either, but…

I am not sure the comparison is that good. Pagers and faxes were replaced by more powerful hardware (cell phones) or more pratical solutions (email, file sharing, etc). Such is not the case with the PC, where the would be replacements are neither. The replacements are just more portable.
For some tasks, the replacements aren’t even replacements (you’d have issues writing longer documents on phones or even tablets without keyboards).

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I am not sure the comparison is that good. Pagers and faxes were replaced by more powerful hardware (cell phones) or more pratical solutions (email, file sharing, etc). Such is not the case with the PC, where the would be replacements are neither. The replacements are just more portable.
For some tasks, the replacements aren’t even replacements (you’d have issues writing longer documents on phones or even tablets without keyboards).

Correct, however the point is that technology is ever changing and tomorrows gadget will always have the potential to displace today’s necessities.

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Correct, however the point is that technology is ever changing and tomorrows gadget will always have the potential to displace today’s necessities.

I agree and that makes tomorrow a bit more exciting :).

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IMHO Phones & Tablets are ok for media consumption and email for real work you need a good laptop or desktop. No keyboard = no production! :cheers:

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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From the article:

“As a signpost on the road to the so-called Post-PC Era we’ve been hearing about for so many years, this one is pretty hard to argue with: As of this year, personal computers no longer consume the majority of the world’s memory chip supply.And while it may not come as a terrible surprise to anyone who’s been paying attention to personal technology trends during the last few years, there’s nothing like a cold, hard number to make the point crystal clear.”

Wrong … another example of how “facts” can be misinterpreted. The point is not “crystal clear”, and is pretty easy to argue with.

The article’s premise assumes PCs and tablets/smartphones have comparable life cycles and use comparable amounts of memory. But which has more memory, your computer or your smartphone? You can’t draw conclusions from the amount of memory used when one class of device uses hard drives as its primary storage medium and the other uses additional memory for the same purpose. That’s comparing apples to oranges.

And I’ll bet the average person changes cell phones 3 or 4 times more frequently than his/her PC. Just because you don’t buy a new PC every two years doesn’t mean you aren’t using it. The article is only looking at number of devices sold per given time, not number of devices actively in use at any one time.

If this is the end of the PC, what’s going to happen to all those cubicle workers sitting in offices all over the country? Can you imagine cubicles full of workers pounding on tablets instead of PCs all day long? And what would compel IT departments to make that switch for their rank-and-file employees?

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dg: I presume (and hope) you are referring to the author who has misinterpreted the facts?

Maud

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While I agree that a substantial desktop population will remain for “real work”, it will be less as a percentage than the past. An awful lot of the younger generation have much less need for full blown desktops and use their smartphones and tablets exclusively instead. I got my wife an Ipad and she hasn’t turned on her PC since……

Jerry

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If by the PC Era we mean the era of the desktop, I think that is far from over, but rapidly becoming more of a niche. Laptops, notebooks and now pads and even smartphones are eroding the desktop share, while at the same time expanding the population by orders of magnitude. But all of those ARE computers, ARE personal and ergo all are in fact PCs.

The form factor or the I/O devices do not alter the definition of what constitutes a PC – it is a computer whose primary purpose is to satisfy the computing needs of an individual.

So the PC era is far from over; just more diversified. Is this a time of transition? Yes, for sure. Is it a new paradigm? Not really.

Jock

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Hardly too much of a surprise…
You’ve got a very large demographic of mostly younger people who are opting for more mobile devices like smart phones and tablets.
I can hardly picture the younger generation sitting around on a desktop, or even a laptop anymore, texting their friends.
These will be the ones flooding the marketplace, diluting the desktop market.
And I also believe that many, if not most people, really don’t have need/use for a full desktop, or at least not anything powerfull enough for me to consider a real desktop computer.

The traditional idea of the personal computer is changing and this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone.
Maybe we’ll start seeing more quality & power go into desktops in keeping with those that actually need and use one.
There will always be PC gamers and avid overclockers that opt for desktops, and if my guess is right, they’ll want
ever increasingly more powerful computers.

The only way to kill the desktop will be if one could get the power and ability of one in a handheld device, but that’ll not happen anytime soon.
Even if it does there will always be someone in need of something more.

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Portability is great but requires light form factors and optimized energy use. Yes, smartphones will replace desktops for some users, for some tasks. Other tasks will most likely require a bigger or more versatile form factor (did I say surface?). A keyboard is needed for tasks where writing is more relevant. For sheer power, nothing replaces a desktop at the interesting price point we can get for it. I see no advantage of those 17″ laptops over a desktop, other than being transportable. actually, I see disadvantages – price, performance (disks usually slower, SSDs still expensive).

The post PC era is a soundbyte that so many would be hip bloggers and tech journalists push around senselessly. Actually, seeing someone pull a catchphrase like that, makes me think they are not worth my time. ZDNet is a case in point. With a couple honorable exceptions, they seem to be caught by catch title fever, most times in the most possible dumb way.

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The post PC era is a soundbyte that so many would be hip bloggers and tech journalists push around senselessly. Actually, seeing someone pull a catchphrase like that, makes me think they are not worth my time. .

Totally agree with that. I think it’s a really stupid thing for them to say.

The “younger generation” that is so busy texting friends and all that is going to grow up and eventually texting won’t be the main thing they use their electronics for. Messing with small portable keyboards, on screen keyboards, etc. gets old fast when the boss is breathing down your neck, you have a huge project, need lots of screen real estate and a keyboard for your adult fingers so you aren’t hitting 2 keys at once. Their needs and interests will change. When they have families and need to support them, and jobs that call for more than tablets and smartphones, these kids of today *will* change.

I have Chrome open right now with *49* tabs – because I just finished a project and needed them all. There were times when I had another five open besides that. Tabs sometimes stay open for weeks. I have loaded up the various “new tab” screens with icons, some with 20 icons in a category so I can get at them fast. I also have 11 emails open but when working, could have as many as 15 or 18 with various pieces of my project on them. But that isn’t all, either. And guess what, no surprise, that isn’t going to fit on a tablet very nicely while I type on a little old portable keyboard or on screen keyboard.

I think this talk of PC is dead is pure rubbish.

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Not everybody needs portability. That’s what certain people want you to think; but it’s just not true.

A laptop gives you portability, with all of the power of a desktop PC. Simply hook up a monitor or two, a mouse, and a keyboard, and you’re good to go.

If you don’t need portability, you can use a desktop, rather than a laptop, computer. You won’t have any battery issues, and it’s a lot easier to get the dust out, add memory or HD, etc.

Since you can log remotely into the “cloud”, you don’t really need portability in most cases; you just need an adequate workstation with a real keyboard and mouse.

It will be a very long while before the traditional computer (desktop / laptop) dies.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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The market is a bit skewed, it appears to be reflecting a very large demographic of people who are not doing any real
computer related work. And Apple has managed to capitalize on this, perhaps to a greater degree than most anyone else.

It’s remains debatable whether these devices should even be called computers. (more like social and entertainment devices)
It would appear that the article would have you believe in a sense that these are actual computers.

If Microsoft is indeed begining to loose their vast dominance due to the fact that they have traditionally held the desktop market, they’ll likely maintain and grow their Office and server products and remain highly relevant for the foreseeable future irregardless.

But it just goes to show that there is a VAST number of people who don’t really need a computer because they aren’t really doing anything
with them. At least not anything that a smartphone or tablet can’t do.

This is all a bit misleading too because many, myself included, will require both, and MS has yet to make any real inroads into this portable market.
MS had better get it’s act together and start competing seriously in this market or they will get left behind in more than just a single market.

It’s a bit impetuous for an article to suggest the PC is on it’s way out, but in certain markets Microsoft is being shown the door.

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I’ll bet that behind just about every tablet/smartphone in the field is a desktop/laptop in the bedroom/office. I’d like to see those statistics!

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Hey All,

Here’s an interesting perspective although only tangentially related to the discussion. :cheers:

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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My two cents

Also something to think about…….almost 50% of desktop users are still using rather old OS’s and outdated hardware…….the XP machines. At some point in the future, they will be replaced. With what is the issue.
No doubt new sales versus use is going to be skewed when factoring in this situation…….new sales of desktops does not directly reflect use statistics, while mobile market sales are advancing rapidly from both new hardware/software advancements and the the filling of voids in usage.

I’ve been noticing these voids filled beyond personal use, as I suspect most of you do, also.
My Terminex and heating and cooling service agents are using tablets now in servicing, estimates and billing. And with the last furnace service, he emailed the copy of the bill being charged, as I wrote the check.
My insurance adjuster used a tablet to figure out hail damage last year.

I think mobile computing has a bright and growing future in the business realm because it fill a void, not because it replaces a desktop.

However, I don’t own one because I have no need at this time.

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I do believe that tablets will become much more prevalent in these type activities. I do however believe that more intensive type activities will be more limited due to the computing power needed. I also believe conventional keyboards and/or mice will still be necessary. More intensive type activities will be more difficult with the limited space S/W keyboards available with tablets.

The higher end tablets that actually run full OS’s (such as Surface Pro with Win 8 Pro) and include some sort of hardware keyboard will probably make serious inroads in those people replacing desktop PC’s. I can see where, in many applications, the desktop PC will continue to loose market share. Laptops may even with the release of these more powerful tablets. Lets face it, taking your PC with you in a lightweight package is appealing.

I just believe, perhaps especially in the hands of our aging population (I am a part of this segment of our population) those who’s eyesight may not be quite as good as it used to be, these folks may need the bigger screens provided by laptops.

Most tablets I am aware of have something like 10 or 11 inch screens. This is something like 2/3 what my present laptop has (16.4 inch screed). This might be one of the determining factors for me.

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I wonder how many fall into my category of having an older desktop with 7/64 but a hardware capacity of only 4GB?
I would love to upgrade my memory but as the machine is working perfectly well I find it hard to justify scrapping it just for more memory.
An awful lot of people still run XP and 732 which restricts memory anyway. I suspect this is a temporary bottleneck which will even out with 64 bit OS and better hardware as people upgrade to infinite memory capacity.

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You might not have to scrap the PC just for more Ram. My laptop came with 4 Gb Ram installed, but was perfectly capable of utilizing 8 Gb. I swapped out my 2 – 2 Gb sticks for 2 – 4 Gb sticks. Reboot, Windows recognized the added memory, Done!

Check with the PC Manufacturer, or better yet run the Crucial Memory Advisor Tool. This tool gives you the info you need on what type Ram you have, how much you can install, etc. It cost me about $50 to double my Ram.

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If your limitation is due to your motherboard not able to support more than 4GB or to run 64bit OS. then it is not too expensive to upgrade your motherboard. Novatech do very good bundles that come ready tested with CPU and memory installed (and you can still increase the memory if needed) but can order with 8GB which should be fine for most people. Cost will be less than £200 some go for as little as £150 (depends on spec you choose (AMD or INTEL).

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I think ALL form factors have their place. What percentage each occupies will vary as products- and the needs of the individual consumer-change.I myself just bought a new laptop- mainly to “lock in” Win7 which seems more copacetic to my usage than will Win8- but also to get a more-portable unit than my old 15″ laptop weighing over 5 lbs., in view of recent shoulder and hand surgeries. It has a 13.3″ screen, DVD drive, and still weighs only around 3 pounds! Great option at the lower end (in terms of “light”) of the “thin and light” category, and weighing only a little more than the less-capable “ultrabook” category. After a long mental struggle, I opted for the larger-capacity standard HD over the SSD because of larger drive capacity- but made sure it had accelerator-sensor protection in case of an accidental drop. Also got the business model with a true DOCK- not the personal model that can only use a USB-link port replicator.

How this plays into the current discussion- at home, I can hook in all my peripherals to the dock, and it acts like a desktop computer. When I travel, I now have an easy-to-carry device that does everything my home computer can because it IS my home computer- even haqve a near-no-weight portable USB-poered scanner for scanning in receipts, documents, etc.. Thus, when I’m away for more than an overnight, I have all my computer power and a reasonable screen real estate, can do anything I can at home, and have no need to sync multiple devices. The weight, function, and convenience combination top anything I can get from a tablet, much less a smartphone. I’m not a gamer, so I don’t need the extra power of the desktop.

I love some of the new-concept laptops coming out with detachable or rotatable screens that can function as a tablet, but unless Win8 turns out to be a non-Vista, and find that a touch-screen interface is usable for me for more than the occasional program, I see no reason that they would be more functional for my personal needs than would my current laptop.

I still use a dumb phone. As a man, having a phone that’s small and fits in my pocket easily and is light in weight is more important than the occasional desire to check e-mail during a day trip while waiting in a doctor’s office, while my wife is shopping, etc. I don’t WANT to be in constant contact or availability with ANYONE! My private time or time with my wife is PRIVATE, and only people who might have an urgent need to contact me immediately have my cell phone number. (Full disclosure- 66 years old.) The reason younger folks, non-working wives, etc., go for the smartphone and/or tablet is exactly that- THEY’RE NOT WORKING! If they need computer power to produce something other than surfing the Internet, tweeting, or the occasional short e-mail, they’d find the smartphone/laptop platform(s) inadequate rather quickly.

IF the job picture in this country ever recovers, and more youth move into the workplace, it’ll be the smartphone/laptop market that stagnates, and the laptop/desktop market that expands.

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I think ALL form factors have their place. …..,.

How this plays into the current discussion- at home, I can hook in all my peripherals to the dock, and it acts like a desktop computer. When I travel, I now have an easy-to-carry device that does everything my home computer can because it IS my home computer- even haqve a near-no-weight portable USB-poered scanner for scanning in receipts, documents, etc.. Thus, when I’m away for more than an overnight, I have all my computer power and a reasonable screen real estate, can do anything I can at home, and have no need to sync multiple devices.

IF the job picture in this country ever recovers, and more youth move into the workplace, it’ll be the smartphone/laptop market that stagnates, and the laptop/desktop market that expands.

Comedian, I hope you have also invested in a good locking system so that your computer which IS your home computer can’t be stolen if you look in the wrong direction. The kind that’ll track its location might be useful to you.

I disagree that those who use smartphones and tablets are not working. I had the old-style phone and loved it for a lot of reasons and did not want a new one but the carrier forced me to get a new one by announcing it would no longer carry signals for the type phone I had. I do have to go out to do some of my work and it was tough to type on that old phone, so I bought a new used smartphone on ebay. After I learned to use it, I realized that I no longer was tied to the office and if I had to go out when an important message might be pending, I could now do so without worrying, and could reply with fairly lengthy emails that took less time than the old-style typing on the older phone. I could look up things quickly on the built in browser too. So it expanded my “office” and made it easier for me to work. I now have an iPad, too, just got it a few weeks ago, and that has made it even easier for me.

I have 3 laptops of various ages and sizes, and the one I am typing on has a 17 inch screen, needed because all that screen space helps me work better and faster. Sure I can carry it around but do not like to. I don’t sync all my computers. I could, but don’t.

My work is done completely on my computer so unlike other jobs, I need to have some device available 24/7 no matter where I am. The combination I have now works for me, and yeah, I do *work.* I think that working business people do find that these devices are helping them work faster, better, and wherever they are. I don’t think age has much to do with it, I think it’s more a case of when did a person start using computers, how much did they learn, and what part do these computers and other devices play in their lives. I know people who are 20 years younger than I am who are “duh” when it comes to electronic devices because they never needed to know. Whatever they use one for now is more in the entertainment and playing arena than the work arena, unless they do use a company computer at work.

I see, in real life, a big split between those who use computers and electronics as toys and entertainment devices, and those who use them for business. It is hard to generalize because of that. I also see that the young folks who use computers and devices for fun, homework and social centers (skyping while doing homework, or watching movies or tv shows, etc.) will grow up and be collaborating for work via their electronics, not writing social notes and gossiping. So whatever they are doing now with them will be useful to them 20 years down the road, but they (IMO) will need far more than tablets and phones for their work.

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“Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics”

The fact that PCs no longer consume the majority of DRAM could be because PC production is declining, smartphone/tablet use is increasing, or a combination of the two. I see smartphones and tablets as supplementing PCs, not really replacing them. I’m typing this message on a PC at work; even if I were at home, I’d use a laptop or desktop PC because it’s really annoying to type more than a sentence or two on a tablet. And forget smartphones for creating more than a few words. All electronic devices have their place, and until something replaces the keyboard, large screen, and large memory and disk space of the PC, PCs will continue to be used widely.

The author needed to write something controversial to sell his article, picked a single fact and used it for his purpose. Hardly a real analysis.

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The EYE’s and Hands of older people are making it unbeleiveable hard to use the much smaller’
mini phones and other units.
Age 79 years young

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The EYE’s and Hands of older people are making it unbeleiveable hard to use the much smaller’
mini phones and other units.
Age 79 years young

I agree with that. AARP magazine has ads for simple cell phones with large buttons, in case that is of interest to you. And some lazy websites (Reuters for instance) now send out their daily emails in tiny eensy weensy type suitable for smartphones but horrible to read on computers. Type in general seems to be smaller not larger. In fact, what I am typing right here is small so I just changed the font size on the toolbar to make it bigger. The chiclet style keyboards on Macs seem to be made for kids’ fingers and I swear it originated from the days in the 80s when they were selling little macs to schools.

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I believe the era of the conventional PC is far from over. First, there are so many millions in use and being sold that it is just logical there will be many years of continued use. Second, can you imagine composing a report or long email on a smartphone? As 1Ted has stated, this chore can be hard even on a tablet if a user is using the S/W keyboard when there is an underlying physical problem. Third, look at all the professions that have to work on complex drawings or spreadsheets or data bases, or whatever. Can you imagine opening these things in smart phones or again even on a tablet?

Yes many job functions can be performed on a tablet (especially if it is a powerful tablet), but most professions do need a conventional PC to actually do the work that might be displayed on a tablet.

Smartphones are great for reminding you of something, or texting, or even sending emails (if they are not too complex) if you are physically able to use them. You can even surf and use facebook/twitter on a smartphone, but I defy anyone to work on a spreadsheet on a smart phone.

The conventional PC will be around and used for years to come. The swing from desktops to more portable laptops is well along, but even desktops tend to be liked more by power users.

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I believe the era of the conventional PC is far from over. First, there are so many millions in use and being sold that it is just logical there will be many years of continued use. Second, can you imagine composing a report or long email on a smartphone? As 1Ted has stated, this chore can be hard even on a tablet if a user is using the S/W keyboard when there is an underlying physical problem. Third, look at all the professions that have to work on complex drawings or spreadsheets or data bases, or whatever. Can you imagine opening these things in smart phones or again even on a tablet?

Yes many job functions can be performed on a tablet (especially if it is a powerful tablet), but most professions do need a conventional PC to actually do the work that might be displayed on a tablet.

Smartphones are great for reminding you of something, or texting, or even sending emails (if they are not too complex) if you are physically able to use them. You can even surf and use facebook/twitter on a smartphone, but I defy anyone to work on a spreadsheet on a smart phone.

The conventional PC will be around and used for years to come. The swing from desktops to more portable laptops is well along, but even desktops tend to be liked more by power users.

—–
I think these articles that make such statements as “the era of the PC is dead” are either written to get people to come to the site and read advertising there, as barely disguised promotional pieces by people who get perks or know some company is a heavy advertiser (or would be), or, they are written by people whose use of computers is mostly recreational.

I’ve been seeing articles that “assume everyone knows” the pc is dying. I think this is going to be a concept for years to come as Microsoft, Apple, Google, others do their best to sell tablets and smartphones and they themselves push out the idea that the use of the desktop (and larger laptops) is dead. So every time you see a number indicating that fewer desktops are sold, fewer laptops sold than last quarter, etc. they use it to push their agenda and sway public opinion toward the latest thing they have to sell, or you could say toward the direction where those companies see new profit that wasn’t there before. They count on people refusing to give up the desktop and laptop, figuring they really don’t have to pay any attention to that – people will buy them as needed anyway. They may hold off on a new one, though, and put that money into buying a tablet, and then later on down the road replace the desktop or laptop. So these big corporations get their cake and get to eat it too by pushing these ideas like “the pc is dead.”

Pretty soon, everyone writes forum messages, emails and articles as though “everyone knows” the pc and desktop is dead – why? because they “heard it,” read it, it was repeated often enough for them to believe it so it becomes a sort of self perpetuating idea. Meantime, the corporations laugh all the way to the bank because you are now loaded up with desktop, a couple of laptops in different sizes with different operating systems, tablets from two different companies because no one company has all the features you want, and a smartphone or, as they get cheaper and if plans don’t increase insanely in cost, 2 smartphones with usage depending on what you want to do today.

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I might very well acquire a Surface Pro or similar Tablet when they become available. When I do that, do you think I’m giving up my laptop. . . NO WAY! I like the large screen with a very nice resolution on my laptop. I do have to admit my desktop is not used much anymore, but then I am not what I would consider a power user or gamer. It’s just more convenient using our laptops in front of the TV (As you might have guessed I don’t work at my profession on my PC).

Whatever tablet I consider will have to have a H/W keyboard and ability to use my USB mouse. I can see occasionally using the tablet W/O a keyboard, but not regularly. I guess I will be trying to turn the tablet into a small laptop. Perhaps I’ll look at an ultrabook type PC, with a touch screen (I assume those will be available). I’ll just have to decide at that time.

I guess the point is conventional PC’s will be in my life and many others lives for many years.

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I might very well acquire a Surface Pro or similar Tablet when they become available. When I do that, do you think I’m giving up my laptop. . . NO WAY! I like the large screen with a very nice resolution on my laptop. I do have to admit my desktop is not used much anymore, but then I am not what I would consider a power user or gamer. It’s just more convenient using our laptops in front of the TV (As you might have guessed I don’t work at my profession on my PC).

Whatever tablet I consider will have to have a H/W keyboard and ability to use my USB mouse. I can see occasionally using the tablet W/O a keyboard, but not regularly. I guess I will be trying to turn the tablet into a small laptop. Perhaps I’ll look at an ultrabook type PC, with a touch screen (I assume those will be available). I’ll just have to decide at that time.

I guess the point is conventional PC’s will be in my life and many others lives for many years.

Medico – I agree with your perception of this – we’ll all have our PCs – and MS, Apple, and crew does not have to push it on us, so they are free to devote all their advertising and promotion dollars to trying to talk us into tablets, smartphones, and whatever comes next, including the mini-tablets which they hope people will buy to span the gap between phone and larger tablet. OTOH, the Galaxy S IV, when it comes out next year, is going to have a 5 inch screen, and it will be interesting to see how that competes with the mini-iPad that “they” say is coming “soon.” I found that the Galaxy S III with its 4.8 inch screen is hard for me to hold onto, can’t reach with the thumb across the screen, and doesn’t fit well into some pockets.

PS the small font that is default on this board is driving my eyes crazy so I switched to one I can see. LOL!

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I have adjusted mine as well (Ctrl + Mouse Wheel) to an easier font to view. The comment made by 1Ted starts much earlier than 80. I am starting to see the affects at 60.

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I have adjusted mine as well (Ctrl + Mouse Wheel) to an easier font to view. The comment made by 1Ted starts much earlier than 80. I am starting to see the affects at 60.

I just click the font size on the toolbar of the message box – that makes it bigger for everyone who reads the thread. I think the default font is kinda too small, actually. I was having trouble with near vision when I turned 43, seemed like a lot of my friends were having problems around the same time, so I would assume there are a lot of people who have to put on the glasses to see the default font here as easily as they’d like.

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I’m 47 and I need glasses to work on my computer. LOL
You may be able to adjust your browser’s “zoom” setting too.
For IE, it’s at the bottom right, I have mine set at 150%.

If you have a small monitor it’ll be harder to do though.

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I’m 47 and I need glasses to work on my computer. LOL
You may be able to adjust your browser’s “zoom” setting too.
For IE, it’s at the bottom right, I have mine set at 150%.

If you have a small monitor it’ll be harder to do though.

I am using a laptop with 17 inch screen, and I can zoom up the browser. But it occurs to me if they make the default font here larger, the size of “3” on the font size picker they have on the toolbar above where I am typing right now, it might be a real plus for most of the people who come here.

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I am using a laptop with 17 inch screen, and I can zoom up the browser. But it occurs to me if they make the default font here larger, the size of “3” on the font size picker they have on the toolbar above where I am typing right now, it might be a real plus for most of the people who come here.

I am not sure if there is a method to change the default font. I supposed we could propose that to Matt (I.M.O.G.) to see if it’s possible. I also just changed to 3 font size. Easier for my getting old eyes as well. Perhaps Matt will read this.

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I am not sure if there is a method to change the default font. I supposed we could propose that to Matt (I.M.O.G.) to see if it’s possible. I also just changed to 3 font size. Easier for my getting old eyes as well. Perhaps Matt will read this.

Ahh…hmmm—- email it to him ??

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Clint, that is one thing that worries me about tablets. Will I be able to set up a resolution that I can see on that small of a screen. When the time comes I will have to do quite a bit of investigation.

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It’s not too bad on my iPad but I still need to use my glasses though.
I don’t think I’ll ever be in a possition to not use the reading glasses for computing of anykind.

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Clint, you wrote : I don’t think I’ll ever be in a possition to not use the reading glasses for computing of anykind.

I am. At 80, I can see this screen without any glasses. I got new lenses, cataracts, and asked for “infinity” replacements. No more glasses of any focus. JP.

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Clint, you wrote : I don’t think I’ll ever be in a possition to not use the reading glasses for computing of anykind.

I am. At 80, I can see this screen without any glasses. I got new lenses, cataracts, and asked for “infinity” replacements. No more glasses of any focus. JP.

I don’t know what “infinity” replacements are but if you can see that good I sure wish they’d make them in regular contacts for the “rest of us.”

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IMHO
MS Founder Bill Gates stated that he envisioned a ‘PC IN EVERY HOUSE’ this still seems to be the case whichever way you side with it. MS (WINDOWS) have made the PC in whichever format it is (pc tablet smartphone etc.), easier to use by everyone. That seems to be MS main focus. Everyone, everywhere and anyone, anywhere seems to be coming true. It would be very premature to think that MS would abandon the primary reason of which is their very existence.

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I don’t drive my large SUV everywhere when my smaller Chevy HHR gets the job done far cheaper. Likewise when I need to tow my travel trailer or haul 5 or 6 people, my HHR can’t cut the mustard. Different vehicles for different work loads.

Computing is no different. For checking the weather, e-mail, and looking up restaurant addresses, I use my Nook. Much quicker to access than my laptop. For editing RAW photos from my dSLR, ripping MP3 files from CDs, creating documents, a tablet simply can’t do what a PC can do. Different devices for different workloads. In fact I’m considering another laptop purchase early next year.

Remember in 2008 they predicted the death of the P/U and SUV. Don’t let the press get you all worked up. They don’t know squat.

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The one thing that MIGHT move us away from the traditional PC (desktop and laptop) is some sort of port replicator for the ipad / smart phone, which would allow you to connect monitor / mouse / keyboard / printer / flash drive / etc.

In this way, you could snap it into the port replicator when you get home or to the office, and it would have all the advantages of a regular PC; and you could remove it and take it with you when you leave.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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The one thing that MIGHT move us away from the traditional PC (desktop and laptop) is some sort of port replicator for the ipad / smart phone, which would allow you to connect monitor / mouse / keyboard / printer / flash drive / etc.

In this way, you could snap it into the port replicator when you get home or to the office, and it would have all the advantages of a regular PC; and you could remove it and take it with you when you leave.

There is a kind of a workaround for this – if you either store files on a cloud server such as dropbox or some such, or, there is an app for iphone (and probably ipad as well) called USB Disk – check the app store for it – it involves plugging the iphone’s cord into your usb port and using iTunes – I have the app, have not used it, and have not read all the instructions. But apparently you can use it to transfer files back and forth.

I do wish we had usb ports for ipad and iphone. So annoying!

I did discover that the above app will act as a clipboard automatically without you asking it to – for text messages. If you write a text message and decide to “cut” off a portion, it will automatically be stored as a file in the app, under its own file name. It only works for text messages though.

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