There are too many talking heads right now that are declaring that the end is seriously fucking nigh for standard PCs, desktop or laptop, due to the tablet industry taking over.
Right now, I seriously see a future where my "computer" is an iPad-style (or
PADD-style) device which functions merely as the hand-held interface for "my" computer. And I put "my" in quotes because there is no guarantee that the computer itself will be a physical device which belongs to me or a slice of some cloud-related processing power. For that matter, I may not even own the interface itself, they may just be available everywhere (sort of like magazines in waiting rooms) and I make mine "mine" by logging into the nearest one when I need access, and logging out when I am done (assuming it does not already somehow recognize me). Geography will mean nothing, I will be able to access my stuff wherever I am, no matter what I am doing. I will do work, watch movies, communicate, socialize, shop, and otherwise go about my business on my handheld thingamabob and not worry about whether "my" computer will ever become obsolete, because it will automatically keep pace with technology since it will be upgraded independent of my handheld thingamabob. I will never have to worry about my graphics card or my installed RAM because all of that will be on the back end, and as long as the results will fit on my handheld screenie thing, that is all that will matter.
The established players will do everything in their power to prevent this from happening, of course (it will "disrupt their respective business models" or some junk), but I see that future as pretty much inevitable.
--Patrick
