Quote:
Originally Posted by stonetools
I would say that there are lots of users like you (I'm a laptop owner, myself , by the way). I'm also saying that there are lot of consumers-probably the majority -who simply don't need and don't want to deal the complexity and options of a laptop (shocking, but true  ). For such folks, a tablet will be sufficient.
There will still be a lot of folks that need a PC for work purposes, but they'll use them at work. At home, most consumers will lean back with a tablet , smartphone, e-ink reader , game console, smart TV or some other type of post PC device. If they have a hobby, where they need to do something like advanced video or graphics editing , then they'll buy a laptop.
As for multiple devices, people will own as many devices as they wan tand can afford. Its imoportant to realize that you don't actually NEED any of these devices. There's a billion Chinese who don't own any of these devices- including the "MUST HAVE" laptop-and yet they somehow go on living. |
I guess my only point of contention is that it seems you divide people up into two groups: people who "need" a pc for work, and everyone else, who will be satisfied with an iPad, or other tablet (I'm sure I'm oversimplifying your position, so I'll apologize in advance). I think there is, and will continue to be, a huge (and yes, "huge" is just as vague as "most" or "lots") chunk of the population that "want" more than a "post-PC" device for things that have nothing to do with work. Any human being that has any specific piece of software dealing with a hobby, specific games, or other, niche, interest, is unlikely to find satisfaction in any app market. Yes, there are "lots" of people who have only marginal use for their devices, and will be satisfied with a limited-use device. And there are "lots" of people who will buy a product because it has a specific logo on it, and then spend hours finding work-arounds for its limitations. But there are also "lots" of people who will never be satisfied with a device that has reduced capabilities.