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January 26th, 2010 by Steve

The Goldilocks device

Not too big and not too small, that’s how the analysts firm Deloitte has described the next big piece of tech in 2010. Yes 2010 will be the year of the tablet computer, another weapon in our arsenal of connectivity and portable entertainment (to go alongside the netbook, smartphone, mp3 player and portable games device).  It seems that while technology is getting ever smaller so the bags we carry around with us have become ever bigger (and heavier).

While previous attempts to launch tablet PCs have been largely unsuccessful, in no small part thanks to Microsoft related involvement, Apple are leading this new product category so it’s bound to be a success (just like the Pippin, Apple Newton and Apple Eworld)? While I am sceptical as to exactly what hole in our lives tablet computers will fill (it’s not a phone and it’s not a PC), I am looking forward to Apple unveiling their new device this month. I’m getting bored of my Samsung netbook, iPhone, iPod and Nintendo DS and want to see what piece of tech will be ‘just right’ for me in 2010…

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September 3rd, 2009 by Chris Measures

The end of the PC?

Traditionally, hardware sales have been seen as the strongest indicator of the health of the IT economy. Back in gloomy March, Gartner predicted a whopping 12 per cent decline in PC sales in 2009 as businesses and consumers put off upgrades.

However recent figures from Intel are putting a rosier spin on things. It has raised its guidance for the rest of the year and believes the industry will sell as many computers in 2009 as 2008.

What this sunny prediction masks is a fundamental shift in the market. It used to be your computer choice was laptop or desktop. Now new categories like netbooks, tablets, ereaders, sub-notebooks and even mobile phones are the computing choice for a lot of people. Fine for chip makers like Intel, but a worry for traditional PC manufacturers as the lines blur between computing, mobile and consumer electronics. Sales this Christmas promise to be crucial – watch this space to see who the winners are.