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Raw Bytes Computer News KPBX FM 91.1 Radio National Public Radio Network Frank Delaney Producer Broadcast on Wednesday Morning 7:35 AM During Morning Edition Support Public Radio ! The Theater Of the Mind |
In computer news this week 02/25/2009 What are the issues regarding the
future of pc computing today ? When I
was a kid I read Tarzan comic books, the ape man who lived in the African
jungles among the animals. Although he was Lord of the jungle, every once in
awhile he’d shimmy up the tallest tree in the jungle just to look
around and see the state of his kingdom. Currently
Microsoft – the Tarzan of the pc industry – is doing the same
thing – trying to look around and determine what the future of
computing is; where it lies, and what will be the platform, and the options
and issues are many. PC
computing took off in the 1980’s, and most business replaced their
traditional mainframe/mini computers with pc networks. The tasks done on pc’s were much wider than those done on mainframes,
as pc’s could do more from the beginning. Since the
80’s, the traditional tasks done on pc’s have been word
processing, accounting, spreadsheets, and vertical market programs. As the internet evolved all businesses
are now involved in websites and ecommerce, and pc’s now process email
which is rapidly replacing traditional paper mail and fax communications. The price
of a business pc has plummeted to far below the
thousand dollar price point, and for the first time recently pc vendors sold
more laptop computers than traditional desktops. Newer devices than the pc
have exploded into business usage, most notably cell phones and entertainment
devices like mp3 players, both of which have vastly outsold the pc in recent years. Microsoft’s new
honcho Steve Ballmer's keynote speech for the troops this year was notable
for saying Microsoft had to go beyond "just" the PC. Ballmer
acknowledged growth in the smart-phone market and the importance of the
mobile phone. He noted the cell phone is now the first experience many
people have in learning about computing and getting online, and
Microsoft is very interested in partnering with cellphone companies for the
future. But there
are many new trends now in computing, including cloud computing. Google is
among one of the largest proponents of this new technology. Even though the costs of traditional
computers have decreased significantly, there is still a major investment in
pc hardware, networks, software and support staff. The concept of cloud computing is that
your company can computer and operate from anywhere without having to make
that traditional investment.
Instead you and your employees can access all your applications and data
online – or in the clouds - on Google servers, and pay for
computing as a service. Cell
phones are ok for email and music downloads and limited web surfing, but they’re too
limited and clunky to do .real computing on 8 hours a day. Even the current
smart phones that have more pc capability running the Windows Mobile
operating system have not taken off.
Seemingly
unreal new Star Trek computing technology is coming our way, and what once
seemed impossible – like the idea of a small business having its own
computer – now forces us all to think outside the box as to what might
be possible in the future of computing. |
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For Raw Bytes This is Frank Delaney (C) 2009 MTA Micro
Technology Associates http://www.mtamicro.com/kpbx.html PO Box 31522 Spokane, Wa 99223-1522 (509)624-7230 |
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