[Ouderkirk]

HP is not being stupid at all. Laptops and desktop computers will go the way of the VHS tape.

The new tablet stuff has rendered them obsolete and as the tablets become more powerful there will be no need for personal computers as we understand them, outside of core infrastructure.

[DonaldC]

I’ve not used a tablet myself, but it seems more an entertainment curiosity to me. Maybe others can give some insights i don’t have.

[Myrddin]

Tablets are fine for the end user. I'm a software/hardware developer. I need to keyboard/mouse, big screen, large RAM and large disk to do my job. What I produce may well end up on a tablet target, but that is a piss poor device to use for development.

[RitchieAprile]

I do not agree about desktops. Developers and gamers need
to be able to replace the major subsystems (memory, video options, HDD) and need to support big memory hogging apps.

Try running MS Developer Studio or SoftImage on a tablet
and you will discover that workstations will be with us for the forseeable future.

[Dick Holmes]

HP not stupid? Coulda fooled me. They're dumping the tablet they launched a month ago.

Laptops are still what businesses use on the road. Besides, they had free advertising, all those HP logos on their stuff people use at the office and at home. And what about the volume discounts they get for buying huge amounts of components? Aren't they gonna miss that, whatever they choose to make?

[chaosagent]

HP is not being stupid at all. Laptops and desktop computers will go the way of the VHS tape.

The new tablet stuff has rendered them obsolete and as the tablets become more powerful there will be no need for personal computers as we understand them, outside of core infrastructure.

---

Yes, but didn’t HP discontinue their tablet too?

[Abathar]

I do CAD-CAM work here, no way a tablet can begin to do what is needed in that area. They may be fine for the social media and other simple input apps, but anyone who is serious about worker production in an office setting will always take a PC over any small tablet now.

The best of both worlds is having both, but workers will be far more productive in a non-virtual office setting with a dedicated workstation to input on, and also far easier to control sensitive data if you are working in that area also.

[mad_as_he$$]

Just Best Buy has OVER 150,000 HP tablets in stock. They have sold about 80,000. HP is lost in the tablet world.

[roamer_1]

The new tablet stuff has rendered them obsolete and as the tablets become more powerful there will be no need for personal computers as we understand them, outside of core infrastructure.

That is clearly wishful thinking. REAL, productive work cannot be accomplished on a tablet. Mighty handy for e-mail, PIM, and going surfing on YouTube... Maybe useful taking inventory, and might replace the written tickets waitresses use, but try and crunch accounting, creating graphics and imaging, running a spreadsheet, or even writing a novel on a tablet - It ain't gonna happen. There just isn't enough real estate on a tablet, not to mention power.

[ctdonath2]

As a rabid fan of the iPad, I can assure you desktop computers are far from obsolete.

[truthguy]

HP is not being stupid at all. Laptops and desktop computers will go the way of the VHS tape.

The new tablet stuff has rendered them obsolete and as the tablets become more powerful there will be no need for personal computers as we understand them, outside of core infrastructure

What rubbish. Yes, smart phones and tablets will satisfy the type of person who only wants to do Facebook, send email, text message and surf the Web. That's true. But for real stand alone computing power the PC will be around for a very long time. You cannot do architectural or engineering design or spreadsheet on a Ipad. I use a ton a CAD design and it would be impossible to run on a IPad. Yes, PC sales will go down somewhat but there will still be a need for these machine. I have a very powerful laptop and see absolutely no use for a tablet.

[Publius6961]

The new tablet stuff has rendered them obsolete and as the tablets become more powerful there will be no need for personal computers as we understand them, outside of core infrastructure.

*YAWN*

I've been hearing the same crap from overeducated nincompoops most of my life.

From IBM claiming in the 50s that the world market for their biggest computers was 5 (Five,) to the ridicule of the personal computer (who needs one of those? What are they going to do with it?)

The latest innovation is cloud computing.
Wow.
No local hard drive to worry about. No software purchaes -ever.
Your data will never be lost!

Right. At what price?
Why, a monthly charge FOREVER!

Stop paying the monthlies?
Lose all you electronic records forever.

Such a deal!

Now it's the tablet thingies.
Yeah.
That's going to take the place of my 30-inch widescreen monitor where I can actually read and see several applications at once.
True, I can't put it in my pocket, but when I leave my house I actually have a life. I run all my equipment. None of it runs me.