What will your *next* computer purchase likely be?

Think of the Chromebook as a 'terminal' for accessing the 'cloud'. It's sorta like an 11.6" tablet with USB, HDMI, VGA and a physical keyboard, but better. No annoying updates. Nothing complicated to learn. No expensive software to buy. Starts in seconds. For $199.

 

Chromebook will be another ill-fated attempt in the last 40 years. It's not for home, it's not for big corp. only those mean-girl type of SMB with little IT knowledge's CEO with only cost-squeezing mindset risen from a book-keeping background, asking questions like "how do you justify a color display?" will like it. This time, she asks the IT Manager, "how do you justify a Windows 8 computer for $500 while a Chromebook is only $199?"

Btw, Apple MacBook Air comes with OS X and last upgrade was $39 range. How much is the Windows 8 top version upgrade today? add that to your Windows based notebook, and you'll see which computer is over-priced. My daughters said to me, "Dad, please don't put Windows on my notebook. I don't have space for it. "

Microsoft is still in Bill Gates's dream of having one computer on everyone's desktop. But now is the time ready for tens or even hundreds of digital-brains in every tax-paying family. Is Microsoft giving a solution for it? Not even close to that.

Microsoft Plan O = Outdated. It's Blue.

 

Bill Gates's last full-time day at Microsoft was June 27, 2008.

Forbes - Bill Gates

 

No way. No one is going to create a multipage Word or PDF document, Excel spreadsheet or PowerPoint presentation on a phone, unless they have no other choice.

 

Not everyone creates Excrl, Word or PowerPoint documents everyday but most people using a smartphone will text a message or photo (of ant kind) or two everyday.

 

Those that create Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc. documents would not be able to keep up with their competition if they were trying to work solely on a smartphone.

An entire mountain of dirt can be moved with a teaspoon. Many would probably start looking for a a more appropriate tool however.

 

But they can come close, if they use an app like LogMeIn (Ignition, I think), to get to their Desktop PC from their so-called smart phone.

Just a thought ...

Cheers!

 

Yes, I've had to do the same in a pinch with my cellphones. The problem is trying to read the screen. Squashing 24 "-30" diagonal screens down to 5-1/2" diagonal is one hell of a reduction. And yes, I know you crank it up to full size and then scroll around. But that's like trying to look through a little 3" x 5" (index card size) hole. By the time I've fiddled around trying to find and get Excel loaded, my competitors have already sent in their bids.

 

Yeah! it's like trying to watch a baseball game through an old-style keyhole. I would carry my iPad, but it's the original one, and I cannot upgrade/update the OS. Too many apps, like LogMeIn, require a higher level of the iOS than this old baby can handle.

And then, even if I could, I'd have to use my smart phone as a 'hot spot' to connect with WiFi somewhere, so I would have half a chance of seeing a realistic sized screen.

Takes me back to why I like Windows-based PCs, as compatibility is not always an issue. I was just too unsure of the quality of the Windows Phones when I got my smart phone a year ago. Now, they're supposedly much better and since they run the Office Apps, they might be better tools, not toys.

But like you point out, seeing a spreadsheet or a large DOC on a small screen is simply not the way to work on office docs, if they're going to clients, and such.

Cheers!

-a.

 

Exactly. Smaller screens are fine for consuming most content, creating content, not so much.

 

Forget Widows Smart Phone.

 

Microsoft's Windows Phone is making progress, especially with those who are first-time smartphone buyers. According to the latest research by Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, in the first quarter of this year, Microsoft is up more than 50% over the same quarter last year.

 

Time seems to be infinite and in the vanishing future, Windows Phone will be as good as an Android phone or an iPhone. Who can wait?

 

Say WHAT?

 

Progress is made, and is made not as much as others.

Apple iPhone is good because it's better integration with Mac and a good integration to Windows. I don't see Windows Phone has any integration with Windows 7/8 and have not hearing any integration with Mac.

So, Windows Phone is an integral item from the weaknesses of iOS devices and Android devices.

 

My current PC is a home-grown desk top. It turned out so well that I'll probably do it again when this one gets old.

 

I have had an HP Pavilion sitting in a spare room for a couple of years. It has an original P4 2.2GHz (single-core), and then-new 4GB RAM, but the HD controller died. Since it's on the m-board, I've not been able to resurrect it and finding a simple add-on card to control the HDDs and CD/DVD R+W seems to be difficult, for some strange reason.

I keep the box because I hope to someday get it running again, as I loved that PC - it gave me more than 7 years service without a hitch.

And if I can get it up and running again, it will be my 'next' computer!

Cheers!
-a.

 

Thank You for your insight. I fully share your view. The distinction between laptop and desktop strikes me as extremely important. I do not own a desktop and cannot even imagine owning one. And I see sufficiently many students with a laptop PC. Indeed, it is their computer of choice. So, I do not at all see the "death" of the PC.

 

[FONT= "Trebuchet MS"]I've been using both desk- and laptops for years now, and do have a need for both. If I had to use only a laptop, I'd have way too many USB boxes for add-ons and stuff to plug into when I got home ...

This way, I carry a laptop when I need one outside, and rely on a desktop at home, then sync them together so that they have the same data ...

Probably not terribly efficient, but it is comfortable.

Cheers![/FONT]