IBM inventor: PC is dead

Mark Dean / IBM

In our increasingly smartphone-and-tablet computing-centric world, one of the computer engineers who helped design IBM's first personal computer, has made it official: The PC is dead.

Thirty years ago, Mark Dean was part of the original team that helped usher in a personal computing revolution when Big Blue announced its PC. On the anniversary of that seminal announcement, Dean said it is time to move beyond the PC. (see: Today is the IBM Model 5150's 30th birthday)

"My primary computer now is a tablet. When I helped design the PC, I didn't think I'd live long enough to witness its decline," Dean, nowadays the chief technology officer for IBM Middle East and Africa, wrote on a company blog. "But, while PCs will continue to be much-used devices, they're no longer at the leading edge of computing. They're going the way of the vacuum tube, typewriter, vinyl records, CRT and incandescent light bulbs."

Taking note of recent changes reworking the contours of the tech landscape, Dean observed that while PCs are getting replaced, the interesting development action now centers around mobile hardware and social networking connections.

"These days, it's becoming clear that innovation flourishes best not on devices but in the social spaces between them, where people and ideas meet and interact. It is there that computing can have the most powerful impact on economy, society and people's lives," he wrote.

For IBM, which this year celebrates its centenary, Dean's apercu isn't likely to spark much controversy within the company's corridors. Starting when Lou Gerstner took over as CEO in 1993, Big Blue progressively reduced its reliance on PC-related sales in favor of software and services to the point where it eventually sold its PC business to Lenovo Group in 2004.

[rf35]

I'm not giving up my PCs any time soon. In fact, I intend to upgrade my central system in a few months. I'm drooling over a Core7 Alienware with 32GB RAM and a 2 TB internal solid state RAID. And I might even run XP on a partition just to be contrary. My current central is an old custom-built powerhouse (at the time) that has been going strong for 10 years.

[TornadoRed]

I can see a possibility that each household will have one PC, probably more capable of doing far more than they do today. Then each member of the household will need only a smartphone or tablet, if the tablet is capable of running Skype with a Blue Tooth headset.

So the PC is not dead, but the number of new ones sold annually might be a mere fraction of what was sold 5-10 years ago.

[Harden_Tar]

A tablet is a PC. Unless you have a docking station with multiple monitors, a full size keyboard, and a whole lot of storage, a tablet is just a fancy notepad with email and telephone capabilities.

[barbaram99]

Tool I member an outer limits show that tocthed on the thing ye brought up. Yet the network ye said will not work for all persons. It would not work for me as a person that was head injuryed at birth with C/P plus blindness. I do like to shut the lid of my old Notebook and know that they can't shy on me. I have no machines with webcams they are useless to me. So dear sir just how are they to have everyone online against their will. It can't work..The bloody borg in Star Trek were connecked to a hive mindset. Can ye see human beings robbed of who we are.I do belive tech is a good thing. I miss the old days in a way. I don't want some chip in my brain..Ido draw thelline. I do not want others into my head. It is plain wrong..

[netjunkie1]

IBM would like to see the end of the PC, they tried to corner the market with their own version of products that were proprietary and was snubbed by consumers because they weren't open source technology. I remember, they came out with a micro-channel bus which was shunned.

[ludvig1-2009]

All new innovations do are provide people the ability to spend more money on something they already have but is now considered old fashioned. I still play records and use a typewriter when my printer doesn't work. The old light bulbs last longer. I bought one of the new ones and it burnt up after one day of use and almost started a fire in my house. Yes I still ride a bicycle as that is a bit more economical than a horse. I spent less than $100 on maintenance on it in the last 2 years.

[rwsmith29456]

I guess I'm old fashioned. I like something big enough to see.

[barbaram99]

My Old Notebook is faster than them netbooks. I got it used. I have never use the on dispay keyboard. True the tabet is a PC. I like my desktop and Notebooks as they have the NIC built in for wired use. I have a big display on my home system. I hate tiny displays that I can't see. I use a 15.4 display on Notebook. I am not willing to give up my system for a useless tiny display. People are smart and know what they need to use. I don't believe the desk top and Notebooks will pass on any time soon. I can't see a tiny display so no I would not buy one. I don't want a netbook .My Notebook has everything I need. I have the things I use. I reag things on the computer. I don't need a touch display as a legally blind person. The gent is crying wolf. I would think the tabets wouls be the ones that may pass. Ye can't do much on them.

[Gamesman001]

Every few years someone says the same thing yet most people still own PCs. New tech continues to evolve for the PC. Games, Graphic programs, high resource use programs, home networking all work better on a PC. No don't believe the hype.

[dfheffernan]

There is no way I can possibly be as productive on a 10'' tablet with no real keyboard and limited storage space as I can be on a desktop with a 28'' monitor, a full size keyboard and terabytes of disk space. He's off his gourd if he thinks desktops are going away. Maybe for "casual computers" but not for anyone who is serious about computer use.