Gates Claims PC Era Not Over Yet

An anonymous reader writes "Bill Gates has collaborated to pen a response to the Wall Street Journal's recent claim that we are at the end of the PC era. From the article: 'The reality is a little different. The truth is that the model which has fueled the incredible popularity and affordability of the PC will continue to drive innovation and choice in the burgeoning area of personal devices such as cell phones, digital players and mobile PCs. As such, the PC is becoming more important and popular as a key enabler for these new digital scenarios in every corner of the world, from Indianapolis to Istanbul. If anything, it is, to paraphrase Churchill, perhaps the end of the beginning: the end of the first phase in the life of a young and evolving technology that is just now becoming as ubiquitous as the TV or the automobile.'"

Shocking

[Anonymous Coward]

So a guy who makes his living selling a product is telling people that the product is something worth buying.

I would have never expected such a thing.

Translation:

[acidrain69]

Hold on, we REALLY might come out with Vista sometime in the next 5 years.

I do happen to agree with him, the PC isnt' going anywhere. Cell phones are overhyped, they are just too limited. But he does have an OBVIOUS bias and motivation.

How typical!

[Godji]

these new digital scenarios in every corner of the world, from Indianapolis to Istanbul

As usual, the USA is the center of a world, and those exotic other places are in the corners. Sir William Gates should be awakened to the realization that as an approximately spherical object, our planet does not have corners!

Eh, but don't get me wrong, I'm used to it. After all in the room analogy, the USA must be the Windows (TM) of the world, and that's a lot worse than being in a corner ;)

Re:How typical!

[Jim_Callahan]

Or, if you want to use the calculus explanation, it has an infinite number of corners whose shape diverges only infinitessimally form the planar.

Assuming, of course, that the world is perfectly spherical, which it isn't. Realistically, anyplace with a pointy hill or pyramidal landmark is a corner of the world.

This moment in taking too literally a reply to a comment that the parent took too personally has been brought to you by James Callahan. Thank you, I'll be here all week.

10 signs the PC era is over...

[jkrise]

The PC era can be declared over, if and when:

1. Windows Vista - Service Pack 2 is released.
2. Microsoft releases a complete OS under "GPL 3.0 or later".
3. Software patents are declared illegal in the US.
4. Chinese firm releases complete PC - hardware and software, fully developed and built in-house - at under $100.
5. SCO defeats IBM and buys RedHat.
6. nVidia releases GPL drivers.
7. Symantec withdraws from security market, declaring Vista is 'unbreakable'.
8. DRM is declared illegal, DMCA revoked, and the RIAA dissolved.
9. Hurd 1.0 is available for download.
10. No more chairs in the Chair-Man's Office at Redmond.

-

Re:gates is right

[ozmanjusri]

Although the simularity is almost identicle, there is a fundemental diference.

Mr President, I'd like to be the first to welcome you to Slashdot...

Re:10 signs the PC era is over...

[Robber Baron]

Shouldn't Duke Nukem Forever be on that list somewhere?

Don't bother registering to read the article:

[humungusfungus]

Article synopsis:

---

Hello,

My name is Bill Gates. I might very well watch my huge multi-billion dollar empire fade into obscurity and impotence if,

a) The PC era is over
b) You believe the PC era is over

In light of these facts, I have an announcement:

"The PC era isn't over."

You can stop holding your breath now. Carry on!

PS I'm not saying he isn't right, but come on........

Re:Myopic...

[extrasolar]

And we all need more than 640K of RAM.

Personal Mainframes?

[Maljin Jolt]

I strongly disagree with Mr. Gates. I would gladly replace all of 22 PCs in my kitchen for a mainframe.

Re:Shocking

[grammar fascist]

I think his point is that vampire robot monkeys are poised to take over the PC market, and as soon as they do, we're going to see a proliferation of web sites dedicated to selling vampire robot monkey motorcycle parts and lard disguised as toothpaste, and that they'll eventually take over the world with an underhanded plot involving massive traffic jams and gum disease.

I could be reading him wrong, though.

Re:I have to say that he is right

[Just Some Guy]

When IPv6 is finally implemented, IP address will be much longer than your phone numbers Then you will appreciate the use of FQDN

Dang. You beat me to it.

Scenario One:

Me: OK, mom, the pictures of your grandkids are at 2001:470:1f01:224:1::2. Wait, do you have a pen? That's two zero zero one colon... oh, OK, I'll slow down. That's two. Zero. Zero. One. Colon. No, not "dot". Yeah, I know they use a lot of dots, but this one's a colon. No, you have to press shift first - that's a semicolon.

Scenario Two:

Me: Pictures of the kids are online at www.strauser.com. That's right! Your own last name, right there on the Internet! No, they can't get your social security number. No, seriously. I bought it. The government didn't just assign it to us. No, you don't have to change your email address. Come on, ma, it's supposed to be cute, and no one's gonna steal your identity just because I registered our last name. Ma? Hello?

You know, now that I think of it, he may have a point.