Back in the 80s, people speculated that personal computers were about to kill the mainframe. Yet here, 30 years later, it is IBM’s most profitable line.
But it isn’t the same mainframe we knew back then, the product had to be updated to address today’s needs. If IBM hadn’t done that, it would have died years ago as predicted.
Digital Trends has an interesting piece up this week. It poses the idea that the desktop computer isn’t necessarily “dead,” in the wake of the paradigm shift we’re seeing in regards to the introduction of ever-cleverer, more-capable mobile devices — But rather, that the PC is just waiting for its next rebirth.
“Every other week, there seems to be story about the PC dying,” Enderle’s report begins. “This week, it was because Intel is planning on exiting the motherboard business. The screwy thing is, I think the exact opposite is about to happen,” he says.
“Not only is the desktop not dead, it’s about to go through a resurgence. We’re just waiting for that visionary vendor who realizes that bigger is still better, and this Lemming-like agreement that the desktop is dead is holding people back.”
Do you agree? — Is the “Personal Computer” era really over? — Or, do you side with Enderle and believe it’s on course for its next rebirth?
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Read the full story.
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