News - Steepest ever decline in PC shipments witnessed in Q1 2013

[rabbid]

touchscreens for my home computer does not seem logical it is not ergonomic for me as the monitors are too far away. Touch is for phones, tablets and public facing devices (in store etc), basically any device where the naturaly input method is dispaly interaction.
cursor movement via eye movement is what I want to see !

Quite, the minority report style touchscreen inputs are all very cool and innovative, but if you had to do that 8 hours a day you will be lining up to claim PIPs within a week or two!!

Those things might be fine as occasional or targetted POS type use but why do we have the keyboard & mouse still? Because nothing comes close for extended periods of use for productivity and ease of use!

[amdavies]

I'd guess that, for most people, the computer experience is about email and web browsing. Perhaps throw in a game or two here and there and add a social media experience of some description (Facebook, Twitter etc.) and you're pretty much done.
All of the above can pretty well be covered by smart phones now and, as has been pointed out, they're almost ubiquitous for the current teenage generation. The people aren't just growing up without computers, they're growing up not needing them.

Personally I can see a combination of smartphone with a large monitor, keyboard and technology along the lines of wireless HDMI for the security (?) and bandwidth making up any new growth in the desktop computer market. You computer is carried with you and can differentiate locations so as to offer productivity solutions in the office, social apps in transit and entertainment when you get home.
Big beige boxes may have gone away a while ago and I think their replacements won't be long for the mainstream world.

[Ragga]

I love tablets there the future for hand held communication

[ed^chigliak]

For some they're the future for others they're the past. It's like 1997 all over again.

Actual it's different now. In 2013 you can hold the future in your hand without negatively affecting you chances of getting laid whereas in 1997 it was more akin to contracting leprosy.

[Georigueur]

For some they're the future for others they're the past. It's like 1997 all over again.

Actual it's different now. In 2013 you can hold the future in your hand without negatively affecting you chances of getting laid whereas in 1997 it was more akin to contracting leprosy.

LOL what?

[kingpotnoodle]

touchscreens for my home computer does not seem logical it is not ergonomic for me as the monitors are too far away. Touch is for phones, tablets and public facing devices (in store etc), basically any device where the naturaly input method is dispaly interaction.
cursor movement via eye movement is what I want to see !

I don't think Microsoft really intended us (and business) to rush out and grab touch screens for desks. Sure some hardware manufacturers have tried but I think thats just a desperation to be "current". There are touch mice and trackpads which make great use of the gestures without you having to wave your arms like a drowning monkey.

Windows 8's direct touch capability was primarily designed for tablets, convertibles etc (Microsoft didn't have a choice but do this, the market led the way) and to at least enable touch screens to function wherever they're crowbarred in. W8 is also made to be usable via multi-touch gestures on touchpads and old fashioned mouse clicks, it's a complete fabrication to suggest that Windows 8 is unusable and offers nothing without a touch screen.